Can one be fined.

cobberandco · Veteran Member

Can one be fined.

Joe50 · Guru

Hmmm, could be a tricky one, depending on what state you're in. I'm in Queensland and about to collect my recently bought Hino bus which has already had the seats removed. However, because it's already been complianced as a motorhome with a GVM of 5,725kg, I have to have an LR/MR or higher licence even if the bus itself is currently less than the 4,495kg limit for a car licence.

-- Edited by jpw50 on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 12:43:40 AM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Towing limits are described by actual weights, not by ATM.
I do not believe you have any problem, but I am not a lawyer.

Drivers licence requirements are described by GVM, not by actual weights.

Cheers,
Peter

Zoomtopz · Guru

probably not from th coppers.

maybe from th 'mermaids' , ya kno 'th c*#*s with scales'.

No tolerances these daze .

even lawyers can't understand it most of th time either

Big Gorilla · Guru

Even if you were a little over weight, the chances of being weighed and fined is minimal. Have you ever heard of the law pulling up caravans, and checking weights... biggrin biggrin

cobberandco · Veteran Member

Thanks for the responses. They have all been helpful. Now if I can only get the wife to reduce her questionable necessities gear, so I can add my essentials !!!

aussietraveller · Guru

I wish you the best of luck cobberandco this is something I have never been able to achieve.

Explorer · Guru

Big Gorilla wrote:
Even if you were a little over weight, the chances of being weighed and fined is minimal. Have you ever heard of the law pulling up caravans, and checking weights...

BG Hi,

Was pulled up checked over and weighed along with all vehicles travelling west on the Nullaboar just out of Penong last year.

Have been told of Qld Transport having spot checks.

Mike

Big Gorilla · Guru

Explorer wrote:
Big Gorilla wrote:
Even if you were a little over weight, the chances of being weighed and fined is minimal. Have you ever heard of the law pulling up caravans, and checking weights...
BG Hi,
Was pulled up checked over and weighed along with all vehicles travelling west on the Nullaboar just out of Penong last year.
Have been told of Qld Transport having spot checks.

Mike

OK, never heard of it happening before, but obviously there are checks from time to time...

ozjohn · Guru

You're quite legal if you stay at or below the 2500Kg.
However with a payload allowance of a piddling 320Kg. (Prado max of 2500Kg - TARE of 2180Kg) you're really going to struggle keeping the laden weight of the van below 2500Kg, especially if you fill the water tanks.
A more realistic payload would be in the vicinity of 500 - 550Kg and possibly more if you want to start adding things like jerry cans etc.
maybe time to upgrade the tow vehicle to something more suitable for the van.
Best of luck,
ozjohn.

Australian National Towing Regulations

TOW WEIGHT

In December, 1998, agreement was reached by all States Ministers of Transport to implement national towing regulations. In essence, the national rules state that A motor vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass (G.M.V.) not exceeding 4.5 tonnes must not, without the approval of an authority, tow a trailer with a mass (including any load) exceeding;

* The capacity of the towing apparatus fitted to the vehicle.
* The maximum trailer mass specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

Plus the requirement of VSB1

* The specified ATM of the trailer.

Put simply, the most you can tow is the amount specified by the vehicle manufacturer, the capacity of the towbar or the ATM of the Trailer. -
WHICH EVER IS LEAST.

PJK · Senior Member

Might pay to check with your insurance provider as well, and get their response in writing.

If you had an accident they will use any excuse to not pay.

PJK

justcruisin01 · Guru

Big Gorilla wrote:
Even if you were a little over weight, the chances of being weighed and fined is minimal. Have you ever heard of the law pulling up caravans, and checking weights...

YES they were doing them at Mary bough qld a few days back along with the trucks.

I have been pulled in my self a I saw a motor home in a check point a few weeks back

It's time to start believing it.

MaryJane · Senior Member

I've been on this merry go round lately. I believe Ozjohn is correct. I'm getting a new van built so unsure where it will tare, but I've a fair idea. I've even stood on the bathroom scales with my genny, with fuel and cover, and know it weighs 22kg!!
I believe, with planning, I will keep under 2500kgs comfortably, and I'm planning how I will stack the back of the Prado for weight distribution etc.
In my research, I've encountered folk that don't believe it's possible to keep under ATM, but I don't need to take a coffee machine or breadmaker etc etc

Also, caravan dealers have been the worst for saying if my plate states ATM, as 2,567kg ( example) then I'm not legal.
Reading logical information, and common sense, prevailed. If my van only weighs 2,400kgs, fully loaded, then that's all it weighs.
Therefore I'm legal.
My opinion only!
Good luck, and at least I have only me to consider when piling in the clothes and essential accessories!!!

Tim thetruckie · Senior Member

Have a read here .

http://caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=46535&p=658778#p658778

the ginger nomad · Senior Member

People,you also need to look at GVM ie the total weight of tug and van,if you carry extra load in the tug and are up near the max of the van you could be illegal!
John

Ontos45 · Guru

Big Gorilla wrote:
Even if you were a little over weight, the chances of being weighed and fined is minimal. Have you ever heard of the law pulling up caravans, and checking weights...

Yep mate, in Normanton Far Nth. Qld. end of fishing season. Everyone filled their fridges/freezers with excess catch and were over-weight when checked by scalies and police during a blitz .......some years ago now.

Big Gorilla · Guru

Big Gorilla wrote:
Even if you were a little over weight, the chances of being weighed and fined is minimal. Have you ever heard of the law pulling up caravans, and checking weights...

I withdraw my comment. Obviously I'm well out of touch...

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We have a Prado too, and while choosing a caravan, we asked salesmen the weight of each one we looked at. A couple of caravan salesmen became rather aggressive in suggesting the Prado would "Tow MUCH more than 2.5 tons" . One bloke even insulted Mr D for being over cautious. We soon learned to look at the compliance plate ourselves, and ended up buying a caravan we hadn't previously considered, just because the sales people were sensible about staying within the vehicle's limit.