The importance of correct caravan weight for safe towing safety cannot be overstated, and the number of initiatives designed to help raise awareness of the issue continues to grow.
In Queensland, for example Gympie police say – following the tragic loss of seven lives on the district’s roads so far this year – it recently hosted a caravan weighing event to promote road safety in the Wide Bay Burnett area.
The Police Crime Prevention Unit said there was a great turnout from local motorists with 25 caravans weighed on the day.
It says this highlights the eagerness from the community to learn about how they can be compliant, respectful, and safe on the roads.
The safety workshop and weighing session in Gympie was well attended. PIC: Qld Police
In New South Wales, the Wentworth Shire – like many other councils have previously done – has announced a series of free Safe Towing Workshops and professional weighing sessions to be held in May.
The initiative, funded by Wentworth Shire Council and supported by the NSW Government, aims to ensure that drivers towing trailers, horse floats, boats, or caravans are operating safely and legally before embarking on their next journey.
Some 25 vans were weighed at the session. PIC: Qld Police
The council says incorrect vehicle loading and non-compliance can lead to the voiding of insurance cover, as well as significant fines and demerit points. And it says the workshops are particularly timely for travellers heading to Queensland, where the council says towing enforcement is currently high.
Mayor of Wentworth Shire Council, Cr Daniel Linklater, said safety on the roads was a council priority.
“These sessions provide our community with professional weighing services valued at $350 for free, helping drivers understand their actual towing capacity and load distribution,” he said. “Whether you are a seasoned caravanner or new to towing, this expert guidance ensures you can travel with peace of mind knowing your rig is safe and compliant.”
Participants will gain practical knowledge on maintenance ‘must-dos,’ brake controllers, load equalisers, and safety chain configurations. The Safe Towing Workshop includes a one-hour interactive workshop followed by a group vehicle inspection and discussion.
The whole issue of caravan weight in the grey nomad community has become a hot button topic, as ever-greater focus is put on reducing the road toll.
Commenting on the Grey Nomads website, one contributor argued that government weighbridges should be available for free use, when they are not monitoring heavy vehicles.
“This is already available at some sites,” he said. “Simply position axle/axles or tow-ball on the scales, and read the weights from a visible screen … then adjustments can be made immediately for the safety of all.”
He said this might include repositioning of cargo, or draining water tanks until excess cargo can be disposed of.
“There’s no excuse for relevant government departments to ignore this potential life-saving access to taxpayer funded weighbridges,” the contributor said.
Others though argued that not everything could be free, and that there were mobile weighing companies that can come to vanners and weigh their rig.
Of course, there are also plenty of voices arguing that more should be done to make sure caravanners are fully educated at point of sale, and that some responsibility must also lie with manufacturers.
“The compliance plate should include the weight of all the permanent things added to the caravan including the extra solar cells, extra battery, extra fresh water tank, grey water tank, etc., so that new owners know where their weights starts from,” said one Grey Nomad website correspondent. “And, yes, the manufacturer should provide a weighbridge report so new owners can see that the compliance plate is correct … manufacturers should not be allowed to sell a caravan which cannot be used legally.”
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Nothing will change until the authorities start fining RV manufacturers and agents for any overweight that can be attributed to falsifying compliance plates or installing extra gear that results in overweight.
I think it is a necessary step we all should take at some point just for peace of mind really. Had my rig weighed about 18 months ago: fully booted and spurred so to speak. Was pleasantly surprised that we passed all criteria for ute and van. Had it done with a commercial provider. Now, with a loading list reflecting that which was on board at the time, we are confident of remaining within specs.
Just make it the same as I have to do with a HV go through the rolling wight sites, simple
We run 4 hire vans and encourage hirerd not to carry water in the tanks if they are going to a CP. Only fill water tanks at the closest fill point to non-potable water sites. Also provide info about packing the vans and encourage professional weighing once fully loaded. More public weigh bridges in WA would help.
I purchased a 24.75 Jayco Silverline Outback from Jayco agent at Tingalpa South side of Brisbane while looking at the caravan we were approached by John the salesman who said “Interested in this van ” We said we sure are. John came back with ” What vehicle do you intend to tow this van with” our answer was A 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series. at that point John said “Great we can talk further about this van” John went on to say if we had said any one of the popular Utes he would have said he can’t sell this van to us but would have shown us the same van in a 21ft model.
Turned out it was Jayco policy.
Gordon Petersen.
A real true sales man, the one that sold our van, said our vehcal was compliant, which we foud out that it was not, having to buy one that was.
Every time I hear about caravans being overweight and compliance issues, it’s always in Gympie Qld. Gympie at this stage does not have a Caravan Park.. so why does the rest of Australia not check weights? I’ve been on the road for over 10 years travelling Aust and not once have I ever been pulled up and had my rig weighed. Mind you I have no issues if I did as I always get my rig checked every 12 months.