Towing Your Caravan The loaded mass of your trailer must not exceed: the capacity of the towbar; or the maximum towing mass specified by the tow vehicle's manufacturer; or the maximum ball weight specified by the tow vehicle's manufacturer. The Driver Apart from adding to the driver's legal responsibilities, towing requires a greater degree of knowledge and skill than normal driving. When towing, you should: allow for the extra length and width of the trailer when entering traffic; apply the accelerator, brakes and steering smoothly and gently to avoid sway, especially in wet or slippery conditions;

avoid applying the towing vehicle's brakes if the trailer begins to sway or snake. If the trailer is fitted with brakes that can be operated independently, apply the manual control firmly. Otherwise continue at a steady speed or accelerate slightly until the sway stops; maintain a space of at least 60 metres between you and the vehicle in front to allow for a longer stopping distance; engage a lower gear in both manual and automatic vehicles to increase vehicle control and reduce brake strain when travelling downhill; allow more time and a greater distance in which to overtake. When towing, your vehicle's capacity to accelerate is reduced; if possible, reverse with a person watching the rear of the trailer; where areas are provided, pull off the road to allow traffic building up behind you to overtake; be aware that towing is more stressful than normal driving and is more likely to cause fatigue. Therefore, more rest stops should be planned.

Loading Trailers

It is important not to overload your trailer. You should not exceed the maximum load specified or recommended by the trailer manufacturer, nor should you exceed the tyre or coupling capacity. Trailers now have attached to their drawbars a plate displaying the ATM which is the maximum allowable weight.

As a general rule, the ball mass (the mass towards the front of the trailer carried by the tow ball of the towing vehicle) should be about 10% of the total laden trailer weight. The ball mass can be measured either at a weighbridge by resting only the jockey wheel on the scale, or by placing a ball mass scale under the coupling then taking the weight off the jockey wheel. Depending on capacity, bathroom scales can also be used.

Weight Distribution Hitches

The trailer's drawbar should preferably be level when being towed. Towing applies a downward force on the rear of your vehicle which is referred to as 'ball weight'. This weight will be carried by the rear suspension, which can cause the back of the tow vehicle to sag. In response, the front of the vehicle will rise and the steering will feel light, due to the lower weight on the front wheels. This can cause loss of steering and braking performance (increased wear and tear on the rear suspension and tyres will also result).

Weight distribution hitches will help return your vehicle close to the original dynamics by re-distributing the effects of this ball weight to the original balance between front and rear suspensions, thus levelling out the vehicle/trailer combination.

Some vehicle manufacturers require the use of a Weight Distribution Hitch to be able to tow to their stated maximum capacity. You are legally obliged to use them in such situations.

Remember Weight Distribution Hitches are not a means lowering the ball weight, and you still cannot tow more than the maximum ball weight as set out by the vehicle/towbar manufacturer. You should always consult your vehicle owner's manual for the true towing capacity of your vehicle and match that with the correct towbar. Fitting of weight distributing hitches is not recommended with old style over-ride brakes, as the hitch interferes with the application and release of the brakes, and may cause brake malfunction.

Sway Control

When the weight of a loaded caravan or trailer is transferred via the towball connection to the tow vehicle suspension, a Weight Distribution kit, matched to the towball weight is the first essential sway control. This restores the tow vehicle front wheel traction and tow vehicle stability.

External factors such as cross winds and overtaking trucks and buses create significant side thrust forces that increase in intensity with increasing caravan/trailer size and load. If these forces are noticeable after fitting an appropriate weight distributing kit, an added sway control unit should be fitted.

Below are three examples of Sway Control devices that are commercially available:

Friction Sway Control

This is a device of universal application to all caravan/trailer combinations regardless of towball weight or coupling height. It is adjustable to accommodate small to large rigs and normal to severe highway conditions.

AKS 3004 Stabiliser

With this device, friction pads apply a high level of pressure on the towball. Their high damping force resists sudden movements, either horizontally or vertically to stabilise the caravan when being towed. This stabiliser must only be used with an anti–rotating tow ball.

Dual Cam Sway Control

This is applicable only to caravan/trailers having heavy towball weights (exceeding 180kg), and with a coupling to ground clearance of 450mm. Whereas the Friction Sway Control is adjustable, the Dual Cam has a fixed setting.

The guidance of an experienced installer is advisable with any of this equipment.

5th Wheeler Towing

The towing capacity of a vehicle (truck or ute) towing a 5th Wheeler (or gooseneck caravan) is calculated in a different way to that of a normal car or ute. With a 5th wheeler the towball is located in the tray of the vehicle, usually over the centre of the back axle. In this position the tow vehicle can carry much more weight than it could if a caravan was connected to a towbar at the rear of the vehicle.

Traditionally 5th Wheelers have high ball weights (at least double that of an equal sized caravan) and the wheels are placed much further back than a caravan. When calculating the towing capacity of a vehicle to tow a 5th Wheeler many factors have to be taken into account such as the GCM (Gross Combined Mass) because a great deal of weight is “carried” by the tow vehicle. You must also select a tow vehicle which has sufficient axle capacity to tow the laden vehicle.

When considering a suitable vehicle to tow a 5th wheeler, expert advice should be sought from a specialist 5th Wheeler manufacturer, dealer or a qualified Transport Engineer.

A-Frame Towing

A motor vehicle can be flat-towed behind a motorhome using a device commonly known as an A-frame. An A-frame consists of a triangle-shaped frame which provides a means of towing another vehicle without lifting the towed vehicle off the ground.

There are a number of strict legal and safety requirements of A-frame towing which you must need to consider however could include but are not limited to;

• Gaining approval to tow with the use of an A-frame;
• Attachment mechanism requirements for both the towing and the towed vehicles;
• Dimension requirements;
• Towing ratio requirements;
• Braking, lighting, signage & steering requirements; and
• Manufacturers’ requirements.

Vehicle owners must check with the relevant road authority of their state/territory to determine the requirements of A-frame towing and if it is acceptable.