Compulsory or not

Tomzys · Senior Member

Compulsory or not

Fastcoach · Senior Member

no.

fpw · Veteran Member

RE: Compulsory or not NO

BasilBruhaha · Veteran Member

RE: Compulsory or not

Radar · Guru

And a big no, no.

I have been /was in the transport industry for 45 years all the training in the world don't make you a better road user or maybe I hate to think what they would be like other wise, after seeing what I saw going on over those years.

If your not confident yes go have some training. It will help. Most times people will not agree and say that was a waiste but they will of learnt something from it to be used latter.

I am mostly against where the government get involved and laws become a money making venture.

While I was at my last employer I gladly went to any training they had going, learnt lots probily a bit late but took it on board.

On a good day I can back a trailer anywhere I would like but there is some days where I should of stay in bed. Ralph

PS. This will bring in the road train drivers.

-- Edited by Radar on Friday 11th of July 2014 10:49:24 AM

kandagal · Guru

No - I used to drive & reverse an 85tonne truck in a mine so driving/reversing a motorhome is a piece of cake.

Santa · Guru

Yes yes yes

With particular attention being paid to loading and weight distribution, we constantly see accidents involving caravans caused by lack of basic loading, driving skills and excess speed.

Time to toughen up.

Fastcoach · Senior Member

There's enough government intervention in our lives already. I see the Victorian Government has been thinking about dropping the alcohol level to .02. Seriously. I would love to hear the stats on how many crashes could be directly attributed to drivers whose blood alcohol level was between .05 and .02.
Back to the topic though, and my greatest concern about having educated drivers who tow things, is that it would largely put a stop to the entertainment in camping sites as late arrivals try to back into places they have no chance of getting into. I could watch it for hours, beer in hand, and never get bored!!

Meredith · Senior Member

No

We did a Tow-Ed course when we first got our van and it was useful for both of us, but particularly for me who hadn't even towed a trailer in my life. But I don't think it should be compulsory.

Cloak · Guru

Just to be different....
I dunno?

Glenelg · Guru

it's NO from me.

mongrel · Guru

I really don't as I have not had to worry about a van as yet.I have driven large trucks and semis but not for a long time .
When my time comes and I hope it is not to far away I will probably do a towing course just as refresher more than anything else.
It does not hurt to learn. As it has been said on the forum about people who have experience ,still have problems.
My thoughts for what it is worth.
Mongrel.

Hydeeeho · Senior Member

A BIG NO

miroku12g · Senior Member

NO

hako · Guru

NO

stumpie · Newbie

NO

Wombat 280 · Guru

YES YES , for anyone holding a NSW licence under HC for vans or any articulating rig and anyone with less than a LR for motorhomes. Driving van or large MH is more than point and shoot exercise You may not have had an accident but think on it, just how many have you caused that's the question you need to honestly ask yourself

deverall11 · Guru

I would nor dismiss a YES as yet. For example, a Landcruiser, or the equivalent, plus caravan you are looking at over 5t. You cannot drive a truck over 4.5t on the same license as a car and caravan combo yet the latter weighs more than a 4.5t. We need some sort of consistency. I have also witnessed some people towing a caravan that had a number of things wrong, from wrong loading, unlevelled car and van and general attitude of complacency about the whole thing.
I am certain there are a lot of people who tow caravans who do not appreciate the actual weight of the wholw show and in tuen the momemtum.
Larry

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Meredith wrote:
No
We did a Tow-Ed course when we first got our van and it was useful for both of us, but particularly for me who hadn't even towed a trailer in my life. But I don't think it should be compulsory.

Ditto.

Murraman · Senior Member

Some people adapt to driving something different easy some have difficulties with allowing for the length and physics of towing a heavy caravan. As a previous poster has stated anything over say 4.5 tonne should have to upgrade licence. Now I know that once the government gets involved it can be a can of worms and that part turns me right off.

We seen a Caravan going through our town in the last 2 days, Caravan was a bogie van about 6 to 7 metres long sitting perfectly level, The tow vehicle had the rear nearly touching the road and the front pointing skyward. It was the funniest thing I have seen. But saying that it looked like an accident waiting for a place to happen.

Because I came from a rail back ground and learnt the art of shunting and backing. I have yet to convince my better half that if I cannot see her then I have no idea where I'm going. So I stop get out calmly and explain that she needs to stand where I can see her. Get back in car and yes she stands behind the vehicle again. Now I explain that I could shunt 4x3000hp locos and 84 wagons together and not crush an eggshell. The reason because I could always see the person guiding me.

Now the moral of the story is should the navigator get training to avoid scenes at Caravan parks and the like also. I say Yeeeeeeeeeess

peterblack · Senior Member

NO

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

NO IMHO

It would only be a money making excercise for any government and open to routs

Kendo · Senior Member

First I have no idea of the advantages and pitfalls of 5th wheeling.

As an observation I would point out that you cannot drive a semi trailer (a bigger 5th wheeler in principle I would have thought) without the appropriate license. I could imagine that smaller setups may not suffer the disadvantages of the larger ones. The trick would be "where do you draw the line?".

I would support the idea of a weight / Length limit if there were a sufficient body of evidence to support the need to do so.

I hope I don't look like someone standing with 2 feet grounded either side of the fence (as a short guy I know that's uncomfortable).

I do know that over governance and the "Nanny State Syndrome" is well and truly happening today and we need to be very very careful how far "we" allow that to go.

Well I think I need a Lay down now, that's all been a little deep.

Jeff

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Kendo wrote:
First I have no idea of the advantages and pitfalls of 5th wheeling.
As an observation I would point out that you cannot drive a semi trailer (a bigger 5th wheeler in principle I would have thought) without the appropriate license. I could imagine that smaller setups may not suffer the disadvantages of the larger ones. The trick would be "where do you draw the line?".
I would support the idea of a weight / Length limit if there were a sufficient body of evidence to support the need to do so.
I hope I don't look like someone standing with 2 feet grounded either side of the fence (as a short guy I know that's uncomfortable).
I do know that over governance and the "Nanny State Syndrome" is well and truly happening today and we need to be very very careful how far "we" allow that to go.
Well I think I need a Lay down now, that's all been a little deep.
Jeff

ok have a lay down now, do you want to borrow my twins for a while? seeing as you found them first biggrin

Dougwe would not offer his to anybody.

03_troopy · Guru

Another NO from me too.

D and D · Guru

Most definitely YES. Given the minimal induction provided by caravan dealers and manufacturers to customers many of whom have never towed anything bigger than a 6' X 4' trailer if they're lucky its a miracle there are not more accidents involving RVs.

Chris61 · Senior Member

Santa wrote:
Yes yes yes
With particular attention being paid to loading and weight distribution, we constantly see accidents involving caravans caused by lack of basic loading, driving skills and excess speed.
Time to toughen up.

NO NO NO, I notice you have a motorhome, is this because you can't reverse a caravan?

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Chris61 wrote:
Santa wrote:
Yes yes yes
With particular attention being paid to loading and weight distribution, we constantly see accidents involving caravans caused by lack of basic loading, driving skills and excess speed.
Time to toughen up.
NO NO NO, I notice you have a motorhome, is this because you can't reverse a caravan?

Santa, has a MH because that is their choice.

Legendts · Senior Member

Strictly a personal choice. If YOU think you need to do one then YOU need to do one. Some of us have driven large vehicles for more years than we can remember and that doesn't mean we know it all but most of it is common sense. If you're not sure of something find out.

Patto44 · Senior Member

NO.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.