Monday, May 30, 2011 at 08:40
Just goes to show that not all cops know the rules either
This from a reply from the NSW RTA
Your vehicle must have a compliant tow bar fitted and it must be correctly rated,the RTA do not have any requirements on "ball weight".
From QLD roads Technical officer
Thank you for your query to the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (the department) with regards to the towing requirements for vehicles. I have been requested to respond on behalf of the department.
The key question to ask is:
Has the vehicle manufacturer specified Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and Gross Combination Mass (GCM) rating for a towing vehicle? Vehicles of category MA, MB, and MC are not required to have GVM rating. Vehicles of any category other than N are not required to have GCM rating.
1. If the manufacturer has specified GVM and GCM rating for a towing vehicle, then it can be loaded up to its GVM (including any vertical load on the coupling joint) and the trailer it is towing can be loaded such that the load on the trailer's axle group does not exceed the lesser of: (a) trailer's GTM and (b) the difference between GCM and GVM ratings of the towing vehicle.
2a. If not, then that creates two possibilities. If the manufacturer has specified GVM but not the GCM rating for a towing vehicle, then it can be loaded up to its GVM (including any vertical load on the coupling joint) and it can tow a trailer loaded equal to or less than the towing vehicle's Rated Towing Capacity. Rated Towing Capacity must be specified by the vehicle manufacturer*. The total trailer mass (including any vertical load on the coupling joint) must not exceed the Rated Towing Capacity of the towing vehicle. This interpretation is consistent with the interpretation used in ADR 61/02 Vehicle Marking
8.1.2.6. Maximum towing capacity (i.e. the ‘Aggregate Trailer Mass’ for which the towing vehicle is designed) (kg)
2b. If the manufacturer has specified neither GVM nor the GCM rating for a towing vehicle, then please seek manufacturer's advice about the Rated Towing Capacity and also the maximum vertical coupling load that the towing vehicle is rated to take.
The ADR definition of Rated Towing Capacity, as quoted below, applies only in cases where the manufacturer of the towing vehicle has specified both GVM and GCM ratings for that vehicle.
RATED TOWING CAPACITY - the lesser of either;
- the rating given to the towing equipment fitted to the motor vehicle or,
- the difference between ‘Gross Combination Mass’ and ‘Gross Vehicle Mass’.
Read 2A which applies.
I rang him and he confirmed what I have been saying as being correct.
Nowhere does it state anything about what the officer said.
In fact NSW directly contradicts him.
Any van apart from European vans, with LESS than 10% ball weight would be very unstable and would tend to snake in some situations.
Dont know hwere the cop got that from but Im glad hes not from around here as all towing guides suggest 10-15% towball weight as a norm.
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