Confusion

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Confusion

exa41 · Guru

I am not quite sure , some talk in other posts about the need to be rated but I don't think that applies in Vic, I don't think they have to be crossed as there isn't any strength gain but you certainly don't want it to come off the tug even if it does come off the ball. A chap I know had his tandem break the A frame off his trailer coming out of Yarra Glen ,killed a poor lady coming in the other direction , others on here may have more info but that's all I know .

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Thanks for your reply there does not seem to be a clear understanding of this nationally, will see what others say

Safe traveling

rockylizard · Guru

uncle wombat wrote:
Hi all, has anyone heard about someone being booked by Victoria police at Bairnsdale over "D" shackles being used on tow vehicles: I was informed today however that Vic police are not doing this as there is no legislation in place covering this, I guess the questions are
1. Do the chains have to be crossed - if van exceeds 2,000Kg
2. As long as the D shackle is same as chain spec then it should be ok - correct
3. If Caravan does come off tow ball should the Shackles be rated so they break to allow the caravan not to take tug with it ( this I find confusing if you have WD Bars are they designed to break away as well) - NO ... chains are supposed to 'catch' the A-frame and stop it all coming adrift and hitting the ground.
4. If caravan does come away from tug then doesn't the break away system come into play. - YES - but only vans over 2,000Kg have the Break-Safe system.
So you can see why confusion

Gday...

The above is the best of my knowledge - should I not be correct, others will come along and provide correction.

Cheers - John

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Thanks for the reply, its a confusing topic as i found out today vic police say no legislation covering it but there are other views on the net

Safe traveling

tcp99 · Senior Member

No confusion at all. Strange people who put cr*p on forums that always happened to a friend never them. If it's not the shackle garbage it's Big 4 buying Australian Camps, "Illegal immigrants" getting all this free stuff. The internet has provided 1,000's of urban myths and if you disprove one then the poster says better to be safe than sorry. I say don't be a liar.

Baz421 · Guru

Uncle wombat,,, there shouldn't be confusion as the attached file shows the legal requirements across OZ since 2009.

All states and territories have adopted VSB1. Just one of a series of VSB for commonality.

Please read as your questions should be answered in there.

JackoFJR · Senior Member

I have been told , if a weigh bridge is open in NSW all vehicles 4Ton or over must stop and be checked , now this has come from a couple of truck drivers , they claim that means caravans .

I'm thinking its another one of these bloody " urban myths "

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Baz 421, thank you for that, its plain and simple much appreciated

Safe traveling

Desert Dweller · Guru

We heard a rumour that from now on all RV drivers must wear Navy Blue singlets, be tattooed & eat greasy hamburgers. aka Truck Driver style. LOL.

WobblyNut · Senior Member

I am Not confused by it.

With over fifty years of Navy & Truck driving experience -

Baz - thank you for th adr bit - on page 27 it covers it .

a chain RATED to 3500kg or a certified wire.

As I said some months back "Our vans ARE a large investment & if you want to put

a shackle on that would not hold your van from hitting the ground"

Yes I have had a car trailer come off , the ball , the trailer hitch broke. Two good chains &

2 good shackles saved my trailer.

Jacko , there are only 3 bridges in NSW where you Have to "enter"

Southbound Pac hwy 12 Mile creek

North & Southbound Mt White .

AND you normally get "re-directed" back to the highway.

Everywhere , at NSW checking stations . You Have to Be directed to enter the station.

Like at a RBT site.

NeilandRaine · Guru

Just to add another, I believe the locking device on the tow hitch (not sure of the right terminology) should be locked down. I might be wrong.

done dreaming · Senior Member

But do we still have to wear our red G strings

migra · Senior Member

It is suggested that to prevent the tow hitch from dis-engaging off the tow ball, a quick release device should be used e.g. D-shackle or r-clip or similar and not a padlock.

The reason is, if your van is involved in a accident they can quickly release the van from the tow vehicle.

A padlock should only be used to secure the van when not towing.

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Hi Everyone thanks for the replies Baz 421 and WobblyNut have given me enough to go on, Baz 421 I will let the local police now as they themselves are saying "I know nothing" (Shultz)

Baz421 · Guru

JackoFJR wrote:
I have been told , if a weigh bridge is open in NSW all vehicles 4Ton or over must stop and be checked , now this has come from a couple of truck drivers , they claim that means caravans .

I'm thinking its another one of these bloody " urban myths "

Urban myth. The SIGNS AS YOU APPROACH THE WEIGHBRIDGES STATE - EITHER ALL VEHICLE OR IF DIRECTED OVER 4.5 TONNES GVM MUST PULL IN.

NO MENTION OF GCM FOR CARAVANS ETC.

Baz421 · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
We heard a rumour that from now on all RV drivers must wear Navy Blue singlets, be tattooed & eat greasy hamburgers. aka Truck Driver style. LOL.

Ah that's my problem,,,wrong colour singlet,,lol

Pejay · Guru

I believe in Qld, you have to have two chains on vans and they have to be crossed.
Now for a little story of ours from last year - we were out west of St George (Qld) when our off road camper trailer came adrift, we had an orag (?) coupling on it, similar to treg, and as by law only required one chain as the weight was only 750kg, however, had we had the two chains on it, they may have saved it, but I am not sure, as it was the steel plate below the coupling split and hence the trailer went for a 360 spin. On our new one on order we are certainly having the second chain added to the A-frame.

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Thanks everyone

Bruce and Bev · Guru

The signs in NSW also say (on dual carriage ways) that trucks and buses over 4.5 T must be in the left lane. If youre concerned about your weight, then move into the right lane when you see the warning sign about the weighbridge in front (now I wait for the flack from those who will berate me for suggesting this lol)

rockylizard · Guru

Bruce and Bev wrote:
The signs in NSW also say (on dual carriage ways) that trucks and buses over 4.5 T must be in the left lane. If youre concerned about your weight, then move into the right lane when you see the warning sign about the weighbridge in front (now I wait for the flack from those who will berate me for suggesting this lol)

Gday...

The 4.5 tonne relates to GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) .... not the probable GCM (Gross Combination Mass) of your van PLUS tug.

Baz421 wrote:
Urban myth. The SIGNS AS YOU APPROACH THE WEIGHBRIDGES STATE - EITHER ALL VEHICLE OR IF DIRECTED OVER 4.5 TONNES GVM MUST PULL IN.
NO MENTION OF GCM FOR CARAVANS ETC.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 23rd of July 2015 07:59:20 PM

TommyG · Senior Member

Spot on. People who just forward crap without bothering to check if they are sending real information are as bad as those who make the crap up in the first place. A lot of the time because people send emails with multiple addresses attached, gives villains' a great opportunity to harvest legit email addresses. these low life's have friends too and they love to get emails with heaps of other addresses.