As the weather turns cooler, the great grey nomad migration north is picking up pace … and police are once again urging caravanners to stay safe on the roads.
Apart from commonsense safety responsibilities like being patient and driving to conditions, Queensland Police say travellers also have to know the limits of their vehicle.
Senior Constable Aleda Day of Crime Prevention – Tablelands said a common mistake for drivers was being unaware they needed to comply with three different weight categories.
“Motorists need to be aware of their vehicle’s gross vehicle mass (GVM), their van/ trailer aggregated mass (ATM) and their combined Gross Combination Mass (GCM),” Senior Constable Day said.
Police say many vanners are unaware they need to comply with three different weight categories. PIC: Queensland Police
“There can be serious consequences for failing to comply with all three weights, potentially resulting in traffic crashes causing serious injury to yourself, passengers, and other motorists.”
Senior Constable Day said the additional weight of a caravan or trailer could have a significant impact on the way a vehicle handles on the road.
“Towing is very different to everyday driving, and it requires additional driving skills and safety precautions,” Senior Constable Day said. “Cornering and the braking performance of vehicles are affected when towing … as a driver, you have a legal responsibility to ensure the towing vehicle, trailer and its load meet all legal and safety requirements.”
Given the number of caravan crashes recently, police and state roads authorities will be clamping down on overweight trailers and ignorance will not be an excuse.
Police say all drivers, including those towing caravans or campers, need to understand the law and take responsibility for their actions. If they are unsure of how much their caravan and car weigh, they are urged to drop into a weighing specialist and have it weighed correctly or drop into one of the free caravan weights days being held in coming months.
One option is VANSafe Queensland, a statewide caravan safety check program launched by Caravanning Queensland in partnership with the Queensland Government’s StreetSmarts Program.
The initiative gives the owners of caravans, campers, and motorhomes the opportunity to get their RV combination inspected and weighed for safety and compliance.
VANSafe Queensland says is a safe zone for all who attend – no fines or breaches will be issued. It is 100% an educational activity with the ultimate aim of ensuring that people are travelling safe and compliant.
It consists of the following activities: Caravan Weight & Safety Inspection; Weight & Towing Masterclass; Towing and Safety Product Displays; Expert advice.
There are VANSafe Queensland events in Rockhampton today and tomorrow; Emerald on May 17, Brisbane on May 27-28; Mackay on July 30-31; Nambour on August 11; Bundaberg on August 12-13; Townsville on September 1; Cairns on September 3-4; Willowbank on September 17; Toowoomba on October 6-8; Charleville on October 13-14; Redcliffe on November 10-11; and Logan on November 12.
Bookings for the events open ahead of each day, and can be made here.
Are you a Grey Nomad member yet? Click here to find out about the discounts, competitions and other benefits on offer.
Getting your whole rig weighed is must! The local Pedders weighed mine and it passed but I found out the rear axle of the car was near its load limit. Fixed by moving my roof rack forward slightly. The cost was a lot less than a fine or insurance claim or worse.
I attended the VANSafe weigh in and was very pleased with all the assist on the day and weighed on calibrated scales used for enforcement. I thought I had it all sorted and was almost on point on the car weights but the van came in near 200k heavier than all my calculations based off the compliance weights. Worth doing as you can then load up with greater safety and balance in mind. All free too.
Sounds great just hope all other state run the same courses
Well, if they will level cars fines like trucks, at a min. of 100 $ a kilogram overweight, then they might just learn.
We have had our vehicle and van weighed and are very pleased to find out that we are compliant and are under weight. Tow vehicle is a Isuzu MUX and 19.6 Jayco Starcraft van.
Twelve years ago we bought our one & only caravan.
We placed all our gear in it while being very conscious of the weight of everything that went into it. That included our clothes & food. Also with water in the tank & full gas bottles.
It was easily legal as far as weight maximums & was well balanced with 10% on the ball.
After 140,000kms of travel it’s still exactly as we weighed it except for a few different pairs of socks & jocks.
Our caravan has no tool boxes, jerry cans, bicycles or anything else attached to it.
Be aware that you can be within the legal limits of your rigs compliance plates but over on vehicle axle weights. We were fine on all weights but over on the cars rear axle.
I’m amazed with attitudes of some that should know better, but the marketing strategies of manufacturers doesn’t help. “Tow capacity of 3.5ton”! Put a 3.5ton van behind a lot of vehicles and they’re way over the limits.
I’ve got a 200 cruiser and with a 2.8ton van on, I’m almost to my limit.
Makes no difference. Your car can still tow 3.5t
I know my weights and always check them before travel. I always check my GCM, GVM, and ensure my ball weight is below 230 and my Caravan weight is below 2300. My ATM is 2444 and my GTM is 2324 but my towing is restricted to max 2300, territory 2WD. I purchased caravan scales and use a tow ball scale as well. I also do a check over the weigh bridge whenever I change my internal packing weights or the packing configuration. I also use my caravan scales to weigh my loaded vehicle axle weights. So I always know before heading off that I am safe. That gives you the confidence when towing. Have been towing vans doing these weight checks for 18 years.
Main culprits are van manufacturers and dealers who are quite happy to sell any amount of heavy expensive add-ons without making sure the innocent owners are fully aware of the ramifications.
We aren’t caravanners, just 4WDers with a slide on camper. But, we still had the maximum GVM upgrade available and happy to know that, fully loaded, there is 200kg to spare. Phew! Not much, but it’s definitely legal; peace of mind.
We live in Melbourne and it would be great if other states offered the same on a regular basis, not aware of it being offered here.
Derek, contact Caravan industry Victoria for the next dates they are running vehicle weight testing. They run them with WIM Technologies (caravan weighing experts).
When is the next weighing in vic around Pakenham
There needs to be a strict “weight discussion” with the salesperson that, basically, just wants to sell a van and leave it up to the buyer to sort out what is safe to tow. This needs to be in writing. The fines…should be passed on to the point of sale. So should the culpabilities in a wreck. That will fix it…real quick.
Spot on Tony, but authorities must be reluctant to hinder the economy.
Would it not be the GTM Gross Trailer Mass, one would need to comply by, as the ATM is the maximum trailer weight not connected to the tow vehicle. Once connected the ball weight takes a percentage of the ATM leaving the GTM.
I had my rig weighed ATM then GVM then CVM then added the ball weight. I did say WHAT THE and he replied thats how it’s done. I tried to explain how the ball weight was already included in the CVM but he was adamant. It was all legal but I have asked at Caravan shows and the sales people say the same thing either physics operates differently when towing a caravan or a lot of people are confused.
ball weight has to do with draw bar and hook up point and is a percentage of the total van only weight it’s easy to work out
A large american pickup, RAM, Chev,etc, can tow a caravan with a total weight of 5.5 tonnes. A motorhome with dual wheels, a more stable rig, weighing 5 tonnes requires a Light Ridgid Licence. It appears that some of these rules are designed and perpetuated by educated fools.
who can argue
actually there are nine different weights and ratings, not just the three commonly known. you need to pay attention to the four axle ratings, the ball mount and the other one – guess what that is …