The rumbling debate about whether drivers towing caravans should require a special licence to do so has once again exploded into the spotlight.
There has been widespread media coverage this week of comments from Tony Maddison, director of towing technology company WiTi, calling for van owners to be required to undergo an accredited towing course along with passing a test for a licence before they hit the open road.
Mr Maddison told the Courier Mail that overweight and unstable caravans were ‘a big problem’ in Australia and were causing serious accidents.
“In most cases, drivers only need their car licence and they can hitch up three tonnes or more of caravan and take it out on the roads with no training whatsoever … which is just crazy,” he told the newspaper.
Queensland Police check a caravan weight last year. They say many vanners are unaware they need to comply with three different weight categories. PIC: Queensland Police
The Courier Mail also spoke to Joel Tucker, RACQ’s road safety manager, who said the body supported ‘a closer examination’ of the contributing factors of caravan crashes in Queensland.
“(We) believe the most important caravan safety initiative for the Queensland Government to support today is more training for caravanners,” he said. “For example, knowing how to set up your caravan and making sure weight limits are not exceeded is vital.”
He revealed that, at RACQ caravan training courses, about 50% of caravans were overweight, which he said was both illegal and unsafe.
For his part, Caravan and Industries Trade Association Australia CEO Jason Plant told the Courier Mail that a compulsory licence for van owners was not necessarily going to solve the problem, but he welcomed calls for increased driver training.
“Our industry needs to provide a holistic approach for driver support and training to make sure our roads are safe and drivers feel confident to go exploring as many times as they like,” he said.
With the issue now getting widespread media attention, and publications such as the Courier Mail calling on its readers to express their view on the merits otherwise of introducing towing licences, it’s fair to say the debate is likely to heat up in coming months.
Getting accident statistics specific to caravan accidents is notoriously difficult to access, but the Courier Mail says Queensland government data indicates there were 50 fatalities and almost 1,000 hospitalisations from accidents involving cars towing trailers or vans in the state between 2017-2021.
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Really! Instead of harassing the BLATANTLY OBVIOUS caravaners who are doing the right thing, why isn’t a type of task force set up to pull over the people traveling in a V shape down the road, or doing 130 with a 4t trailer doing the cha cha behind them. Weigh them on the spot and either educate them or fine them. Maybe a national towing speed might be a good idea?
How do you actually identify a “blatantly obvious” caravan driver who could be well over the allowed weight limits??? Doing 130kph with their trailer doing the cha cha is complete rubbish. The vast majority of states have a 100kph towing limit on vans. More mobile weigh stations are needed along with a lot bigger fines. A towing licence is a must considering the amount of deliberately overloaded vans and the inexperienced drivers.
Totally agree
As stated, you only have to look at the rig to see the chains dragging and with most Ute’s with 3500 towing capacity, 22 ft van, tool boxes and bike racks and kayaks on the roof , wife and kids, fuel and all the rest of the car loaded lol, I have seen a few like that and there is no way they are legal. And not to mention speeding like that.
Should only be 90 KLM for caravans
Why should it be only 90kph for caravans if you can’t travel up to 100kph you shouldn’t be towing a caravan you need to go and drive a road train to see how frustrating it is when people sit on 80 or 90 I have be driving trucks for 50 years and now tow a caravan you would have to be an idiot to suggest it 90 percent of people who tow caravans should not be doing so
Yes old right-wing caravaners overloading their cars and vans. Bring in licencing asap. Yes I do have a van.
Agree best part about a certain licence for them it can be taken away as for those doing the rite thing they have nothing to worry about
yes i believe it should be for first time caravan owners.
i use to have customers come in and pick up caravans that were 24ft before the a -frame, that had never towed before and had no idea.
i have been towing large boats and caravans, since l was 18 and im now 55 and have not had one crash.
what about people that tow large boats
Why stop at caravans? Let’s include horse floats, vehicle trailers, furniture trailers as well. You cannot single out caravans. As for being overweight adequate policing will soon sort that out. Surprised the governments are missing that cash raiser!
Fully agree Don’t stop at caravans If they are going to do it do it for everyone towing a trailer include the people that hire trailers or the ones taking rubbish to the tip. Licence upgrades doesn’t stop trickiest from having accidents being unroadworthy and driving with overweights loads but heck will get more money for the government
Well said mate ! And your right about people going about there business and doing the right thing towing their van. The old chestnut again caravans eh ? What about trucks horse floats car trailers hire trailers the list is endless !
I have a HR licence and I tow a 3.5 tn van, I agree with a certificate of
Competency after doing a course on caravan towing and reversing. I had to park a caravan for a bloke that couldn’t reverse his van , he was 93. Now come on that was ridiculous.
WA is the only state in Australia that has a maximum speed of 100 kmh for towing, and I’m talking anything from a box trailer to a caravan and everything else in between. We were at Mataranka Springs 2 years ago and I was speaking to a bloke that had a Dodge RAM. His words to me were if you cannot do the speed limit whilst towing then get off the road and let the real drivers go, bearing in mind the State limit it the NT is 130kmh. IT’s people like him that need to be educated not only on weights but also speed. A NATIONAL not State licence needs to be implemented, every state has their own laws so it has to be National for it to work.
I think NSW has a 100km/h max for caravans.
100kmh for a GCM over 4.5t
I agree
Drivers licenses do not make people better drivers, motorcycle licenses do not make people better riders and towing licenses will not make people better at towing. It creates more bureaucracy and is another means of revenue raising without any benefit. How does having a license translate into safer vans on the road – simple it doesn’t.
It’s for the benifits of any trailer user to learn how to manoeuvre and save driving techniques.
A additional certificate and RTA endorsement.
Wearing glasses has been in place on your licence too
A lot off it comes down to comon sence lift the foot dont talk to mummy while driving and look back at the road and c u r over the white line.
Can’t agree more Brett. It’s been my experience most owners with overloaded or badly loaded caravans, horse floats etc are well aware of the problem but choose to do nothing about it. Making drivers get another licence is, in the main, a waste of time and is revenue raising as you mentioned. Fining drivers is about the only thing that will change attitudes, that and perhaps throwing a few in the slammer when their overloaded missile causes an accident.
Agree, a licence other than becoming another way to raise revenue will not change some people attitude on weights, maybe a compulsory training course before they pick up their new van
Having an endorsement on your license shows you have had to pass a test while towing a trailer or caravan. I have a heavy vehicle license, and had to do tests to get it. It’s not a freeby, you have to be able to complete the test correctly so I can’t see what the issue is with getting an endorsement for towing a caravan
Agree. I,ve had a heavy artic licence for 40 years. You must sit and take exams, prove your capable on the road and be knowledgable about your weights and loads. 1/2 day classroom session and 1/2 day involving weights, reversing and correct loading of van should be compulsory.
Jock I agree with you completely but ist not about completing the test it’s about being COMPETENT first and foremost
That means about 90 percent of people will have to stop towing which would be great
I agree, read my previous post pls
Here in Victoria, I know that there has been talk for years in regards to licensing.
Towing my own van, I try to keep my weight under the limit.
However, a towing course which I completed should be mandatory
In 2021, a total of 163 people were killed in accidents involving heavy trucks. So you finding 50 deaths in a 4 year period is a bit sad. Sound more like fear mongering again by your stats. I do agree people need more education on van weights but hells bells have you without a degree in math ever tried to work out car to van axle load rating. In 2021, there were 1,123 road crash deaths. so cars are the most accident prone and they have licence system.
Joanne – you are mixing statistics to form a false conclusion. The number of vehicle movements is the criteria for comparing accident rates. Cars do tens of thousands movements daily in any given area while caravans only measure in the hundreds. I don’t have the data at hand but accident per thousand of vehicle movements is the base on which to compare.
How about making the roads safer first , then talk about a licence hmmm…
No David. Your comment is what a lot of people do. Find something else or someone else to blame. How many times do you have to be told DRIVE TO THE CONDITIONS. 60 yrs at the wheel all licences.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks they need to weigh them and fine them and take demerit points as everyone knows at present if you get weighed they just give you a warning and send you on your way.
Agree. Get caught over weight, hand out appropriate fine and don’t let them carry on until weights are correct. If that means off loading or getting another vehicle to assist in carrying equipment, then so be it. Puts a big damper on holidays, but they’ll soon learn.
Lance
There are so many variables within the discussion regarding driver education and licences for people towing caravans. Having towed caravans and trailers of varying sizes over the years (fortunately without an accident) I have realised that driver awareness of the unit hanging off the back of the tow vehicle is an essential element as well as being aware of how much weight, balanced packing, etc all come into play. I also strongly believe that the old adage from many years ago that the towing vehicle should be as equal or heavier than the towed vehicle is the way to go. Maybe I have the wrong idea in being doubtful of the ability of a small light vehicle being able to pull a large heavy caravan or trailer out of a swaying (fish tailing) situation. As I have now changed from towing a caravan to driving a motorhome I won’t express an opinion on driver training versus licences becoming compulsory. I believe the biggest majority of drivers towing caravans are aware of their responsibilities when towing but at the same time realise that there are many on the road who don’t know, or don’t care, about having that extra weight hanging off the back. For these people maybe education is the way to go – it’s too late once the accident has occurred.
Regarding towing speed. In WA we have a max speed limit of 110 and 100 kms/Hr for trucks and towing. When not towing on the open road I would much prefer to overtake a caravan that is travelling at 90 than one which is doing 100km/Hr. Regarding caravan weights, too many people think a typical dual an Ute can tow 3.5T legally. They do not take into consideration the towing vehicle’s GCM. In other words the tail is wagging the dog syndrome!
I’ve a truck driver and towing traliers for 40 years, now retired and do some weekend trips with the caravan, I was tyre kicking in a caravan sales yard on the Gold Coast listening to the advice of the salesman. Wrong, Wrong Wrong, A Mitsubushi Pajero cannot tow a 3.5 ton caravan. This is the problem Wrong advice. When I was 21 I had a HR holden ute and towing a 25 ft caravan most likely 3 ton. Its sat in a V position and to have steering All I could do was 45 K/hr. Maybe drivers need some common sense. No more rules
Those were the days. Fairlanes were the vehicle of choice back then when it came to towing .
If the trailer is fitted with any form of braking then an Australia wide endorsement should be required, this way any person towing a trailer will be required to be aware of and to check weights. To get the endorsement training about weight compliance and load restraint would need to be verified as well as knowledge of speed limits while towing.
The dogs breakfast of individual State Laws governing GVM, GCM and BTC upgrades is not helping. The crazy situation exists where a tow vehicle upgrade is legal in one State but not considered legal in an other. People want to comply with the rules only to be thwarted by conflicting rules and regulations.
On the question of licensing I tentatively agree. It could be introduced in the same way skipper licenses were introduced for those on the water. Practical and theory test for those new to towing and theory only for those with experience.
Problem is, and always had been, the fraudulent behaviour of RV manufacturers in deliberately overstating the load-carrying capacity of their products – – and of course with the complicity of government regulators and trade associations.
When manufacturers build vans like a dog trailer and not a pig trailer there will be less road carnage.
We recently purchased a van which being first time owners, we relied on the sales people to give us accurate information. The van we purchased was indeed illegal for us to tow, and we questioned this multiple times during the process. The sales people spent a few hours installing electric brakes and an Anderson plug to our vehicle before they hooked up the van. My husband has years of towing large trailers, driven big trucks etc. I myself can tow a large trailer and reverse one confidently, but this was completely different. We made a very slow drive home with limited steering and sometimes none. We could have been killed or killed some other innocent person getting home. The van never left our driveway once we got it home. We contacted the RV sales people and after months of arguing, they agreed to give our oney back. I agree that even though you have towing experience or feel confident rowing something large, that you should have to do a course and have a special licence. We bought a large van because with the rental crisis, we wanted to know we could comfortably live if something were to go wrong. Like people have commented before, you need to take a test to drive larger trucks, buses etc and it should be the same especially for larger vans with dual Axel’s atleast. If you can’t reverse a van then you shouldn’t be allowed to tow one. Also learning to drive In windy or other conditions, weight distribution etc. Its not a box trailer it is a lethal weapon on the roads if you don’t know what you are doing.
Downsize, there is no need to tow 3000kg or more vans around.
Absolutely true…However some peoples ego,s are just too big (like their rigs).
We have been pretty much full time for nearly 20 years and were well over roughing it 50 years ago. Ego has nothing to do with it
Hey what about people who live fulltime in caravans. I do
Yes its time. I want to know that the person driving towards me knows how to handle what is essentially a deadly weapon.
Same here because i have had some terrifying moments with drivers who overtake into on coming traffic and i have to find some way of getting off the road with some idiot barrelling down at me doing in excess of 110 kph i have nothing against a caravan licence but if you cant drive a car whats the point of sticking it up cavavan owners
I have no problem with new towers having to do a short safety and practical test just like you do to get a recreational ships license. As long as it’s just a note on your existing license like motorbike, boat, personal watercraft and not a separate license with extra fees.
I wholeheartedly agree that novice caravan owners should be required to do a training course in order to buy and tow a caravan. I have been towing caravans since 1967 and still do, without ever having had an accident. I have seen some horrendous configurations which are a recipe for disaster.
I think some slack should be allowed for those of us that have towed caravans for 5 years or more, but should still need to get our licenses endorsed.
I’m generally opposed to new rules and regulations which continually erode our freedom, but I have been saying for years that aspiring caravan travelers should do a course.
Basil P
Agree Basil. However, how do you know who is a novice van driver, especially if they say they are experienced and have never towed a van
You mention that there were 50 fatalities and almost 1000 hospitalisations from accidents involving cars towing trailers or vans in the state between 2017-2021. Are you implying that these people caused the accident? Interestingly I also just read an article about a truck that tried to overtake a caravan and caused the accident that claimed his life. As sad as that is, it is a relief that the people towing the van weren’t also fatalities.
Many moons ago one had to complete a job safety environment analysis.
Perhaps a similar form could be used with regards to caravan purchases.
something like , what vehicle are you going to use for towing, what size van would you like to purchase, is the vehicle specifications within the safe operation to do so , is there any hazards related to using this combination, you guys get my drift where this is going and that is at the point of purchase, no sales man double talk fill the form out and any risk should be highlighted and then scored, all good to go or a fail.
Then down to the purchaser to do a general knowledge on weights and loading if the above is met for this purchase and again meets expectations or does not.
just food for thought for a starting point.
A licence endorsed to tow will have little merit if the above are not met in some form or another.
When does the chain of responsibility start with the people selling the caravan and the people who design it.
Constant licensing checks . Most caravan owners have been driving for years.
More costs to caravanning. It never ending businesses to make more money .
Accidents and incidents will occur due the increase numbers owners.
It shouldn’t be compulsory but common sense should prevail. Take some training if you haven’t don’t it.
Being promoted by those with a strong financial vested interest and the unthinking mob pick it up.
If you are going to have a special licence for caravans, where do you stop. Why not people towing boats, trailers, machinery. No difference. Great little money earner for government that is for sure.
You can not stop stupid people, doing stupid things whilst on the road.
Great idea to bring in a towing licence, I have a motorcycle & boating licence, why not a towing licence
Common sense.
The applicant should need to pass a knowledge & practical exam.
A towing licence should be required by anyone who does not already have a HC/MC licence, simple we already know what weights and measures means. We also know how fast it goes pear shaped!
So true, so many impatient drivers who need to have arrived yesterday at their destination.
Why cantthere be a “light combination licence for all light weight towed vehicles, carravans. Boats, cartrailers. Any thing attatched to the back of a tow vehicle up to say 4.5 tonne to be fair.
I live in a caravan park and the record so far is 25 attempts for one man to get his little Jaco windup.
Did u help him?
Reversing a caravan has nothing to do with towing on the road as we don’t reverse our caravans down the road. I know some good drivers who can’t back a trailer,
Everyone have good ideas and great ways to help solve so me e issues. I believe that all Caravan owners when travelling around this great country have a Lig Book Similar to Truck Drivers, take the same breaks as them and also know what their correct weights are for both Tug and Trailer. All new caravan owners just starting out should do a towing course and get their licence endorsed by the State Governments of same and those who have been driving for years just prove to he government Examiner that they are able to reverse their trailer and have been driving for a long time and know their weights get their licence endorsed too. On top of all this ALL CARAVAN/MOTORHOME Owners have installed in their vehicles a UHF Radio and on the rear of their trailers/motorhomes their Channel uses 18/40 etc. These are just suggestions for a discussion/Debate. Just put it out there.
100% there should be a certain level of knowledge and experience shown by someone who is towing a 3 ton missile. I tow a camper trailer myself and have no problem getting certified to tow it. Anyone who actually gives out about getting tested to tow a trailer should definitely be regulated. Just don’t make it difficult to do the testing and noone will have a drama with it
If states bring in a compulsory special licence to tow a caravan then it is only fair that they bring in a compulsory licence to become a member of parliament.
If you tow something behind a vehicle, you should be licensed. You have to have a licence to drive a truck, whether it be small or large, a bus, a motorcycle. Why the government has allowed this practice of hooking up and going on the road with no experience for years is mind blowing. Oh ,that’s right, we can’t upset people in case they don’t vote for them.
After being a truck driver for 35+ years, and yes, I have a caravan too, it amazes me the lack of knowledge caravan owners have regarding the extra weight they’re towing and the responsibilitythey have at thier control. I personally have had a good response from about two thirds of van owners over the years when I have tried to explain or help them. The other third you usually see in a ditch or spread out over the highway, blaming someone else for thier misfortune.
Can you imagine the media coverage and the fines if I decided not to get a licence and just drive a semi or a road train around the country?
If you tow, you should have a licence endorsed to do so.
Ego’s usually hurt others as well as yourself.
I see many truck drivers who presumably have a licence but don’t know the laws, such as the 2 trucks who tried to convince me to pass them on blind hills with double white lines.
I think it should apply to anyone who takes a van out on the road. So many grey nomads lend their caravans to their kids for a holiday and they don’t have their parents knowledge or experience in towing it. Also, you can buy a caravan for sale on the side of the road and just drive off with it, knowing nilch!.
Yes, I believe people towing caravans should have a special licence.
The issue is people will not voluntarily do so.
A prerequisite of caravan registration is to produce a licence.
The registration covers the cost of the licence.
As an ex service and warranty manager for a caravan manufacturer, my opinion is not to have a licence but a compliance certificate for each caravan and vehicle set-up. So each vehicle and caravan is correctly loaded, level on the vehicle etc., and each time the tow vehicle or caravan is charged the certificate would need updating, to ensure every set-up is correct. Because a licence will not control weight and incorrect loading. It’s scary how many caravans you see coming at you, that are just an accident waiting to happen.
I personally think what is a special licence going to do I honestly think there should be a a speed limit on towing the world has gong crazy everyone wants to pass you
Most definitely a course so be made compulsory
They say there was 50 fatalities and over 1000 hospitalizations in Qld all well and good but they dont say how many truck driver fatality’s there were or hospitalizations that have occurred and these drivers are heavily regulated now, so i dont see how having a special licence to tow a trailer to the dump will solve any problems. It’s the idiot behind the wheel that is the problem.
Yep I agree with you Clive, 100%
A license for “newbie’s ‘ is a good idea. I have been towing vans of various sizes and weights for 50 years without incident, however we have seen these past 5 years some very bad van drivers. Mainly towing brand new large vans behind brand new 4WD’s.
I think their should be a half day affordable course for car license drivers.
But just because you do a course doesn’t mean people are going to stay within the law, it doesn’t happen with any other license.
People need common sense which is not to common.
At least if you do a course it can help some people. And the course must be affordable not to people a lot of money.
All you do gooders need to really wake up just after another way of revenue raiser have a good think of what you idiots are saying maybe you lot might think seriously about fixing your rural roads here in the so called great state Qld ask any truck driver and they will all say the same thing worst roads in Australia and educate all drivers not just caravan you got idiots in trucks cars buses it’s the mentality of people these days
I feel that anyone buying a new caravan now should definitely be put through a training course in towing a van. Anyone who has owned a caravan for several years and can prove it, would be experienced enough not to be required to do a course. When I see these 5th wheelers traveling along, I believe the drivers of these Riggs should have a heavy vehicle licence (if they don’t already)as it is almost the same as driving a truck combination. I have been towing a van for more than 12 years and hold a (truck)light ridget license now . With more traffic on our roads now it is more important for this course to be implemented.
I have a 5th wheeler and in my opinion it is much safer towing this combination than a caravan hanging off a tow bar on the back of the vehicle. It all in the weight distribution point.
I think the argument should be taken back to the manufacturer and dealer, especially the manufacturer. How many of these vans are overweight and unstable even before they leave the lot? Many of these big off road style vans look big and unstable before they even hit the road. Where are the test results and specs that prove that they are stable and at what rated speeds. What is the recommended rated and maximum speeds for the design? Have these vans been tested in real world road conditions passing trucks and in crosswinds with a pothole or two? And don’t forget the dealer. How many of these vans get loaded up with after market accessories and add on’s that make them even heavier. Do they even check? Lets see the evidence that the vans are fit for purpose before they get registered.
Where does it end just more red tape to jump through and money coming out of already stretched budgets just to live our lives. I’m a semi driver constantly towing 45 tonne loads but would need a licence to tow my 3 tonne van would drivers like me be exempt having already accredited driving experience with heavy loads ???? This is a slippery slope before long you would need a special licence to tow a tandem trailer with a car on board which can still be up to 21/2 to 3 tonne then there is horse floats a couple of horses and trailer can be easily over 2 tonne where does it end if we keep going over regulation will destroy our way of life
Totally agree the last thing we need is more regulations. Perhaps some serious fines and demerit points for offenders might be a better deterrent. You don’t see overloaded trucks like we did.
Also better road behaviour from all users in my opinion is the bigger concern.
The most common comment from overweight caravaners is “ How will they (police/insurance) know”? Spoke to a policeman whose job was accident investigation, he told me police weigh everything, right done to your toothbrush, in the event of an accident that totals a van. They then advise the insurers, who assume your tanks and gas cylinders were full at the time of the accident. That’s “ how they will know”! Also amazed at the number of caravaners that don’t understand tare, GVM and GCM weights. Perhaps a specific licence will, at least, educate them, even if it doesn’t change behaviour.
But your kidding yourself if you think that these people are going to change their attitude, at a recent weight test I was the 6th van combo through, 3 before me had failed due to overweight on both car and van. That’s 50% in the first hour and no-one was in the least surprised, the worst being over 800kgs overweight. How is a license going to stop that. I believe we need to have unit like the old “Flying Squad” operating on any road or highway stopping , checking and weighing all towing vehicles and issue defects and fines the same way that ALL truck drivers have had too since JC play fullback in Jerusalem. So lets stop talking about it and give the power and budget to Compliance do their job and making the state safer.
If that means that vanners don’t come to QLD their loss not ours.
Absolutely agree unless there’s a history of driving articulated and/or heavy vehicles eg ex truckies etc. Someone can hook up a massive 5th wheeler or caravan to a large 4WD with no previous experience with towing, weights or correct loading etc. Basically you can go from driving around in a tiny car, never having towed anything, to legally towing these massive rigs with no experience whatsoever. I’ve driven heavy vehicles most of my adult life for which I had to have a HR licence. I still have my HR & drive a large motorhome because I’ve never driven an articulated vehicle & would never change to towing a van without doing some sort of course. I can reverse a 40ft bus but reversing a trailer or van is a whole different thing.
Arrogance, impatience, and downright stupidity when a human gets behind the wheel is rampant across all sectors of the driving community. One only has to look at the current death rate from road incidents in NSW and no doubt other states as well. All too often this can be witnessed every day on our urban and open roads.
Signaling one sector for special attention is not the answer. All drivers need be made aware, at the beginning, that the consequences of their decisions or actions they make whilst behind the wheel of a motor vehicle could be fatal or result in a permanent disabling injury.
Just look at the other headline article in this publication about the death of a truck driver.
Well , I must be the only one that sees caravans being towed on the freeway overtaking cars and other vans well over the speed limit, these the D#@! H%$&@ need to be TARGETED, not the Vaners that are doing the right thing.
Surley common sense can’t be dead!!, but here we go again, just shotgun the whole country for the sake of dealing with the minority that don’t abide by the rules.
Honestly it wouldn’t matter how much driver training, regulations and restrictions etc etc imposed you are never going to cure stupid. Human beings make mistakes it is a natural progression to being alive. The nanny state phenomenon is taking over our world we don’t need anymore regulations.
If more free public weighbridges were made accessible it would be so much easier for caravanners to be more aware of their weights.
Totally agree with Lynn’s comment. More public wiegh stations required.
Will it be expected to have a caravan weighed professionally on each outing at the costs currently out there? My wife and I did a caravan towing course but it wasn’t accredited Including reversing tips into caravan park spots. Enlightening for sure and I have been towing heavy boats and tandem trailers for years.
There is more to this debate than some of the comments here.
Not too many weigh bridges where you can check your weights either. Sometimes would be nice to be able to put the caravan over a public weigh bridge rather than paying $100’s of dollars to have a company do the full check over. This would then provide opportunities to keep on top of your weight before you travel.
Also caravan designs are in most cases skewed to have most of your weight to one side with fridge and kitchen on the one side of the van. So people will naturally load the kitchen side of van.
Lastly why do we need to take everything with us? Boats, bikes, and every appliance under the sun. We are living in a caravan full time and we don’t have half of the things we see holiday travellers with…it’s ridiculous!…and how often do you see people using the bikes? Kids excepted…lol
https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/nmi-public-weighbridge-list.xlsx
There you are, a list of all the public weighbridges in Australia, if your over 160 tonnes you’ll be stuffed but I’m sure you will find one that will do the job. Just a hint do it after hours, nothing worse than being stuck behind someone who doesn’t quite understand the weighing procedure. Its all set out for you to do what you need just takes sometime the first.
Don’t agree with licence but do agree with an accredited course for new caravaners. I did a two day course for towing an off road camper trailer along with my wife. It was good refresher training for me and great skills training for my wife. One issue that affects us all is the complex equation required to get your caravan / towing weight correct. Would be great if there was a cost efficient solution that is able to be accessed Australia wide. Lets gets positive and supporting for reducing caravan accidents.
How about incorporating the cost of a caravan driver education course in tbe cost of the van and then the course is completed prior to picking-up the van?
I think it is a good idea to have some training before picking up your new van.
I had no in struction on the van that I picked up, and when I got home, I found that the caravan was not locked on to the tow ball, and the safety chains were”nt connected.
They were in such a hurry to get us out of there.
Guy, I hope you have learnt the golden, trust no-one but yourself to make sure its done safely. Also if you stop for a while and all of you are away from your van, check that the pin is still in the tow hitch, little ***** darling like to remove the pin to see what chaos they can cause.
Yes for the towing licence but if you have a truck drivers licence it should be just added to you drivers licence like your truck drivers licence
I agree there are so many vans and Ute’s with the chains almost dragging on the road and doing 110, 115 down the hyw. I think a licence is just going to make the states more money, but a simple test to see if you can back a van and a few simple questions should be enough to add to your current licence. And it should also be same rules as truck drivers. 100 k speed limit and 0 alcohol
I believe speed has a lot to do with caravan accidents we tow our 21ft van and are often overtaken by other vans and you can see them twisting and swaying it makes you cringe because a lot of these have young family’s in there vehicle I firmly believe in a different speed categorie for towing should apply cheers
