Towing a trailer in NSW

Au2falcons · 06-06-2006, 07:58 PM

G'day all, just a quick question. Does anyone know if there is a speed limit for towing a trailer in NSW. I do recall something as a learner, just spend ages on the RTA website and can't find a thing.

When towing a trailer i tend to do 10 to 20 k's under the speed limit, depending on conditions and the load, and how the car seems to be coping with the extra load.

A friend asked me this question today, and I thought, I don't know.

Cheers

Adrian.

**Mechan1k** · 06-06-2006, 08:12 PM

It used to be a maximum of 80km/h .... I checked not too long ago as I had a disagreement with someone about the speed limit in NSW ... and it has now changed to whatever the maximum signposted limit is on the road you are travelling.

So on the freeway you can do 110km/h.

It changed to this about 2 years ago ... I found a link on the NRMA website about it.

EDIT: I usually tow at the lower speed as well ... it depends on what I am towing ... but trying to maintain the speed limit with a horse float ... and two 400+kg horses on board ... that like to move a little bit ... it can get a little unnerving at times ... so i always tow under speed limit.

What annoys me though is inpatient people how love to overtake and cut in front after a traffic light has changed to Red ... I gotta then try and pull up without the horses losing their footing and falling in the float (have had a horse drop in a float ... bloody scarey ... and the horse is freaking out as well ... even scareier trying to calm them down).

Anyone with horses knows what I am talking about.

Although picked up a Falcon ute body on a car trailer about a month ago .... towed with the Territory ... didn't realise I had anything behind me on the freeway. Was effortless to tow with.

Au2falcons · 06-06-2006, 08:18 PM

Ahhhh that makes sense..... I remembered the 80km/h bit, so it's changed to the posted speed limit, would explain why the RTA don't list anything. Thanks Simon.

Cheers

Adrian.

**Mechan1k** · 06-06-2006, 08:24 PM

No probs ... I had to go searching for it myself ... cos I didn't believe the person I was arguing with ... I ended up with egg on my face ... how embarrasment ... LOL

Here's the details.
It's a fair way down the page:
http://www.mynrma.com.au/cc4_tow.asp
in WA it is a maximum of 100km/h though.

Au2falcons · 06-06-2006, 08:28 PM

Thanks for the link

peedee · 06-06-2006, 08:41 PM

If that was me mechan1k I would not call it a disagreement as my long term memory is getting better than my short term and years ago when I was towing for a living 80 was the limit but you did some research and I stand corrected, just like talking to missus even when I'm right I'm wrong
peter

**Mechan1k** · 06-06-2006, 08:44 PM

I can't remember who it was that I had a "discussion" about towing ... it was a little while ago though ... and I thought it was 80km/h as well (our older car trailer we got rid of had an 80km/h maximum sticker on it).

I remember saying it was 80km/h ... and I found I was wrong ... hence I looked like a goose in that old thread ...

:

Adrian ... hope that link helped ...as I had to have a read through it as well ... as there are some good pointers on the NRMA site

Au2falcons · 06-06-2006, 08:55 PM

Yeah I had a read through, they say if you have a roadside assistance package your trailer is covered aswell, I have the basic package with them & i'm sure the trailer wasn't covered. If you read through their packages it's only the premium package which offers trailer assistance.......a little misleading.

**Mechan1k** · 06-06-2006, 09:21 PM

Yeah I had a read through the different membership roadside policies ... which reminds me ... mine has lapsed and I need to renew it.

jmc-007 · 07-06-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

What annoys me though is inpatient people how love to overtake and cut in front after a traffic light has changed to Red.

Tell me about it. We tow our race car to Wakefield a few times a year. The ammount of times on Pennat Hills Road jumping in front at the lights is crasy.

Lucky its got Power brakes. !!

The Yeti · 07-06-2006, 01:41 PM

Ive done the horse thing and yea I know what your saying (was worse with the NC) but I find my boat (18" trailer sailer) worse to tow than the old Tuzza in fact I find the float empty its all over the shop, but stick a pair of 16 hand burnt out race horses in her and the BA just chuggs along beautifly

oyob2003 · 07-06-2006, 05:38 PM

Hello mechan1k, I do believe it was me you were having a disagreement with, I know what you are saying about the NRMA, but they do not make the road rules. I think you will find that you can tow to the posted speed limit, but only if your tow weight is 750ks laden, over that weight you can only travell 80ks regardless of the posted speed limit. Can you imagine a boggy trailer carrying a 1,700 to 2,000kg car ect doing 110ks on a freeway and have to stop suddenly. That is why a lot of drivers curse drivers who are towing 20 to 25 meter long caravans sitting on 80ks and driving some high powered car.

oyob2003 · 07-06-2006, 05:51 PM

Goose, no I do not think you looked like a goose as this is what the site is all about helping members with information to help them if they are not sure of a certain things, the weights and towing speeds as said in my above post may have changed, and if they have I would be quite happy for another member to correct me. Tomorrow I am going to ring the RTA to find out for certain because this is getting a bit confusing.

**Mechan1k** · 17-06-2006, 07:32 PM

Yeah thanks for that ... would be good to know more about it.

I know i can get to the speed ... but having to pull up in an emergency with that load on ... is a totally different story.

But I know if I am floating horses ... I hate going anything over a max of 80km/h anyway.

But if it's a car trailer with rubbish on it ... or as a picked up a Falcon ute tub a little while ago ... I have managed to easily get to the signposted limit (and over on the odd occasion).

I find the Territory was too quiet on the freeway ... and I forgot I had a car trailer behind me ... although I only had about 300kg load on the trailer and is was tied down well. No sway ... no clunks ... no rattles ... I made sure I used cruise control on flats though so i didn't creep over the limit.

AlbertM · 18-06-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oyob2003

Hello mechan1k, I do believe it was me you were having a disagreement with, I know what you are saying about the NRMA, but they do not make the road rules. I think you will find that you can tow to the posted speed limit, but only if your tow weight is 750ks laden, over that weight you can only travell 80ks regardless of the posted speed limit. Can you imagine a boggy trailer carrying a 1,700 to 2,000kg car ect doing 110ks on a freeway and have to stop suddenly. That is why a lot of drivers curse drivers who are towing 20 to 25 meter long caravans sitting on 80ks and driving some high powered car.

The law was anything over 750Kg was limited to 80Km/h. That was changed to 100Km/h.

I hope you actually meant 20-25 feet caravans. 20 metres is longer than a semi trailer. ;)

GOF · 12-09-2006, 02:25 PM

When towing the max load Ford specify 80ks max with a sliding scale as the load reduces, check out your owner manual.