Have you checked your overhang ?

migra · Senior Member

Have you checked your overhang ?

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Hopefully all of the caravan manufacturers have read and taken note of the regs you have quoted, and no I have not measured my van but then I do trust Jayco not to stuff up in regard to those types of regulations.

dogbox · Guru

some of them got the rego plate height wrong

Bruce and Bev · Guru

if in fact you breach the measurements for rego plates, van overhang and get an infringement notice, you first take it up with the manufacturer through the Dealer. If no joy, then go to your State Dept of Fair Trading or the ACCC. If demerit points, then you may want to appear in Court on a not guilty plea - unlikely any Judge will convict if you haven't altered the RV and its stock standard from the maker

Woody n Sue · Guru

Actually Migra that's not quite the full story I have just checked all state territories and the NHVR sites regarding overhang and believe it or not they all Agree entirely with each other unbelievable I know but it seem to be true on this occasion.

Rear overhang is determined as 60% of the length from the articulation point (tow ball) to the Center of the rear axel or Center of the axel group this is your Wheel Base however the max overhang can not exceed 3.7m.

So if by chance your trailer wheel base is sufficiently long that 60% is more than 3.7m it matters not the max is 3.7m .

If by chance 60% of your trailer wheel base is only 3m than 3m is the max over hang you may have.

What I have not yet been able to identiffy, is when an aftermarket tool box or bike rack ect, is bolted to the rear bumper
Whether this is deemed to be a part of your van or a load, as in Vic I think this is deemed to be part of your load, than this is simply illeagle as you can't have rear overhang past the rear of the trailer regardless of the above dimensions mentioned,and I have a tool box on mine.
Yes I know people do this and put flags on it and so forth but that doesn't change the law.
I will endeavour to ring a VicRoads officer tomorrow and ask the question, will post here what I find out

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

For motorhomes...

Anything on the back (including my spare wheels in this pic, or bicycles etc) is included in the overhang and the same applies to caravans.

In the above case, 1.8m is the maximum overhang (60% of the wheel base).

3.7m is the maximum overhang irrespective of wheel base.

Cheers,

Peter

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

While I certainly do not know how or why or by whom this 60% formula was decided upon I would have to assume that it has some bearing on safety and stability.

On the point of that specific regulation I have noted one motorhome in the CP I'm staying at that would most definitely require an extra pair of wheels to be fitted to comply.

Also on that 60% requirement it would seem to my eye without actually measuring that some of the imported European vans sail pretty close to breaking that regulation.

More drama for some van and motorhome owners, I thought the number plate debacle and the cheating by some manufacturers on the plated tare weights was bad enough.

All I can say is that manufacturers must be held accountable for these types of stuff ups, not the innocent purchaser of such non complying vehicles.

Woody n Sue · Guru

Well I rang a VicRoads officer this morning anything BOLTED on the read of the van he would consider to be the van not the load but of course the overall overhang cannot exceed the 60% or 3.7m max rule.
So I measured my van and I have 15 cm to spare all good here .

WobblyNut · Senior Member

I am 4m hitch to centre . centre to rear 2.85. I'm ok.

this might be why they don't like "overhang"

Woody n Sue · Guru

You know wobbly nut that just might catch the eye of a passing mr plod
Lol

migra · Senior Member

Woody n Sue wrote:
Well I rang a VicRoads officer this morning anything BOLTED on the read of the van he would consider to be the van not the load but of course the overall overhang cannot exceed the 60% or 3.7m max rule.
So I measured my van and I have 15 cm to spare all good here .

Don't you feel better now you know !!!!

migra · Senior Member

Woody n Sue wrote:
Actually Migra that's not quite the full story I have just checked all state territories and the NHVR sites regarding overhang and believe it or not they all Agree entirely with each other unbelievable I know but it seem to be true on this occasion.

Rear overhang is determined as 60% of the length from the articulation point (tow ball) to the Center of the rear axel or Center of the axel group this is your Wheel Base however the max overhang can not exceed 3.7m.

So if by chance your trailer wheel base is sufficiently long that 60% is more than 3.7m it matters not the max is 3.7m .

If by chance 60% of your trailer wheel base is only 3m than 3m is the max over hang you may have.

What I have not yet been able to identiffy, is when an aftermarket tool box or bike rack ect, is bolted to the rear bumper
Whether this is deemed to be a part of your van or a load, as in Vic I think this is deemed to be part of your load, than this is simply illeagle as you can't have rear overhang past the rear of the trailer regardless of the above dimensions mentioned,and I have a tool box on mine.
Yes I know people do this and put flags on it and so forth but that doesn't change the law.
I will endeavour to ring a VicRoads officer tomorrow and ask the question, will post here what I find out

You could write reams on the subject.....I am pleased somebody checked their situation and nor buried their head in the sand hoping the problem would go away.

migra · Senior Member

Of the 360+ people that viewed this thread, I wonder how many went and checked !!!!!!!

Felicia · Guru

Not yet, have to keep pushing OH as he's been told. By the way when we spoke to the manufacturer who has agreed to move our number plate he mentioned he would also be moving the light.

Lynda

migra · Senior Member

Woody n Sue wrote:
Actually Migra that's not quite the full story I have just checked all state territories and the NHVR sites regarding overhang and believe it or not they all Agree entirely with each other unbelievable I know but it seem to be true on this occasion.

Rear overhang is determined as 60% of the length from the articulation point (tow ball) to the Center of the rear axel or Center of the axel group this is your Wheel Base however the max overhang can not exceed 3.7m.

So if by chance your trailer wheel base is sufficiently long that 60% is more than 3.7m it matters not the max is 3.7m .

If by chance 60% of your trailer wheel base is only 3m than 3m is the max over hang you may have.

What I have not yet been able to identiffy, is when an aftermarket tool box or bike rack ect, is bolted to the rear bumper
Whether this is deemed to be a part of your van or a load, as in Vic I think this is deemed to be part of your load, than this is simply illeagle as you can't have rear overhang past the rear of the trailer regardless of the above dimensions mentioned,and I have a tool box on mine.
Yes I know people do this and put flags on it and so forth but that doesn't change the law.
I will endeavour to ring a VicRoads officer tomorrow and ask the question, will post here what I find out

Woody

All caravans must comply with VSB1.

Refer to section 21.2 Rear Overhang

Dog Trailers

Rear overhang must not exceed the lesser of 3.7 metres or 60% of the wheelbase.

Semi-trailers

Rear overhang must not exceed the lesser of 3.7 metres or 60% of the distance between the point of articulation (POA) and the line from which the rear overhang is measured.

Other Trailers

Rear overhang must not exceed the lesser of 3.7 metres or the front load space.