Towing Speed Limits

ozjohn · Guru

Towing Speed Limits

Crashtac · Veteran Member

G'Day I read somewhere on here before a bit about towing speed limits and couldnt find it again. I found the following web site that anyone with questions about the subject should look at. http://www.campertrailers.org/towing_regulations.htm At the moment all states except WA have the same laws which is you can do the sign posted limit if your rig is capable of it according to the manufacturer. WA is 100kmh with the same exception. This exception is pretty important as Ford reduces the speed limit of their vehicles according to the weight being towed as does Holden. My previous van had a maximum towing limit of 100kph on the compliance plate. So I would suggest if in doubt contact both the maker of your tow vehicle and your van to get the max towing speed for your rig, but remember it is the max limit not the limit you have too travel at and drive to the conditions of the road and what you feel comfortable at.

Cheers Andrew

Duh · Guru

Crashtac wrote:
G'Day I read somewhere on here before a bit about towing speed limits and couldnt find it again. I found the following web site that anyone with questions about the subject should look at. http://www.campertrailers.org/towing_regulations.htm At the moment all states except WA have the same laws which is you can do the sign posted limit if your rig is capable of it according to the manufacturer. WA is 100kmh with the same exception. This exception is pretty important as Ford reduces the speed limit of their vehicles according to the weight being towed as does Holden. My previous van had a maximum towing limit of 100kph on the compliance plate. So I would suggest if in doubt contact both the maker of your tow vehicle and your van to get the max towing speed for your rig, but remember it is the max limit not the limit you have too travel at and drive to the conditions of the road and what you feel comfortable at.
Cheers Andrew

Here's another link on towing generally;

http://www.towingguide.com.au/content/definitions.html

Olley46 · Guru

Some places in WA have a max speed limit if towing, signs state the towing speed and it is 90KMH any towing vehicle.

Lance C

Delta18 · Guru

Olley46 wrote:
Some places in WA have a max speed limit if towing, signs state the towing speed and it is 90KMH any towing vehicle.

Lance C

Not ANY towing vehicle Olly, B Doubles are limited to 90kmh but all others, trucks, semis & car/caravan/trailer are 100kmh limited.

Cheers Neil

Tim thetruckie · Senior Member

Delta18 wrote:
Olley46 wrote:
Some places in WA have a max speed limit if towing, signs state the towing speed and it is 90KMH any towing vehicle.

Lance C
Not ANY towing vehicle Olly, B Doubles are limited to 90kmh but all others, trucks, semis & car/caravan/trailer are 100kmh limited.
Cheers Neil

Can you please point me to the regulation that limits B Doubles to 90 kph ????

Bit strange that 1 class of heavy vehicle be limited to 10kph lower than any other .

Ontos45 · Guru

Older members will remember when the towing speed limit was 80kph. not the posted speed limit of a 100+kph. (NSW anyway).
When will people remember that the posted speed limit IS NOT the mandatory speed you have to travel at. If you feel better traveling at 80-95kph. (as long as you are not impeding traffic flow) you may. Pull over before you do have a congo-line behind you but enjoy your towing experience, remember better late than dead on time.

Peter

mongrel · Guru

Could not agree with you more Peter. It is unfortunate more drivers don't think this way...Alan

Delta18 · Guru

Tim thetruckie wrote:
Delta18 wrote:
Not ANY towing vehicle Olly, B Doubles are limited to 90kmh but all others, trucks, semis & car/caravan/trailer are 100kmh limited.
Cheers Neil
Can you please point me to the regulation that limits B Doubles to 90 kph ????
Bit strange that 1 class of heavy vehicle be limited to 10kph lower than any other .

Ha ha, don't know where I pulled that from! confuse

Tim thetruckie · Senior Member

Delta18 wrote:
Tim thetruckie wrote:
Delta18 wrote:
Not ANY towing vehicle Olly, B Doubles are limited to 90kmh but all others, trucks, semis & car/caravan/trailer are 100kmh limited.
Cheers Neil
Can you please point me to the regulation that limits B Doubles to 90 kph ????
Bit strange that 1 class of heavy vehicle be limited to 10kph lower than any other .
Ha ha, don't know where I pulled that from!

Delta it is uninformed and incorrect postings like this that causes a lot of problems for transport drivers .

Maybe you were getting mixed up with road trains which up to a couple of years ago was 90kph in all states except the NT . A couple of year ago SA raised the limit from 90kph to 100kph north and west of Port Augusta and WA to the best of my knowledge also has 100kph for road trains .

Muzzlehatch · Senior Member

I have never towed a caravan before but have sat behind a few. Recently I did a tour of Tasmania in an old camper van that could scarcely raise a trot and whilst I pulled over at every opportunity I found the whole thing a bit challenging.

The truckies are on the clock and are patient provided you aren't being useless. Most caravans do the righty. I will be getting a UHF radio so I can communicate to tell other road users of my intentions. I already slow down on the straights and flash to clear.

Any suggestions, protips or Etiquette standards I might be able to put into practice to be a safe and professional operator ?

TIA

chaslib · Senior Member

Tim thetruckie wrote:
Delta18 wrote:
Tim thetruckie wrote:
Delta18 wrote:
Not ANY towing vehicle Olly, B Doubles are limited to 90kmh but all others, trucks, semis & car/caravan/trailer are 100kmh limited.
Cheers Neil
Can you please point me to the regulation that limits B Doubles to 90 kph ????
Bit strange that 1 class of heavy vehicle be limited to 10kph lower than any other .
Ha ha, don't know where I pulled that from!
Delta it is uninformed and incorrect postings like this that causes a lot of problems for transport drivers .
Maybe you were getting mixed up with road trains which up to a couple of years ago was 90kph in all states except the NT . A couple of year ago SA raised the limit from 90kph to 100kph north and west of Port Augusta and WA to the best of my knowledge also has 100kph for road trains .

that mention of the 90klm rule for B-Doubles or Road Trains is in the current NSW RMS Heavy Vehicle Rule book, but applies Only under certain circumstances. Don't recall details as I don't have the book with me. So, I guess you need to check out the fine print ...... The general rules state all vehicles over 4.5t limited to 100 .....

-- Edited by chaslib on Wednesday 5th of August 2015 04:25:03 PM

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

I believe it is wrong to indicate that it is clear to pass, I find it very confusing if I see the RH indicator flash just as I pull out to overtake, to me it means that the vehicle in front is about to move to the right.

If I am being overtaken I maintain a constant speed and only lift my foot once the overtaking truck has fully commenced their overtaking, to slow down earlier, risks the overtaking vehicle running into your rear as they have picked up speed to overtake and have planned their manoeuvre and speed before pulling out to pass.

Have had a CB in the past but would not be installing one now and have been caravanning for at least the last 30 years and fail to see the advantages over the downsides of operating a CB
Cheers
David

Spydermann · Senior Member

Towing speeds are are also limited to the tyres on what is being towed. Small trailer tyres have 72 MPH stamped on them. The tyres on boat trailers and small trailers that cannot be fitted with decent car tyres have these low MPH (yep MPH).

Towing near the limit on coarse bitumen for well over an hour at a time will chew up the tyres and you will see canvas very quickly - and the fuel needle showing empty.

-- Edited by Spydermann on Wednesday 5th of August 2015 07:44:42 PM

hako · Guru

Spydermann wrote:
Towing speeds are are also limited to the tyres on what is being towed. Small trailer tyres have 72 MPH stamped on them. The tyres on boat trailers and small trailers that cannot be fitted with decent car tyres have these low MPH (yep MPH).

Towing near the limit on coarse bitumen for well over an hour at a time will chew up the tyres and you will see canvas very quickly - and the fuel needle showing empty.

-- Edited by Spydermann on Wednesday 5th of August 2015 07:44:42 PM

Strange you should say that about those small trailer tyres - coming back to Toowoomba today on the Logan Mwy we saw 2 10" tyre casings about 5km apart.....hate to see what it did to the rims and the trailer.