Towing - Can you tow legally tow items at once?

[ol' boy]

At first you would scoff it this notion, even though i have a friend that does 'Road Train" his firewood trailer and bench saw behind it.

I was told over the weekend, you can actually legally tow 2 items if done in this manner.

Tow Rig > Caravan Towed as a "Fifth Wheeler" > Boat towed behind caravan.
Driver to have a Truck Licence, i'd imagine a Multi Combination, not just a Heavy Combination.

Anyone heard of this?
Not sure if it is a state by state rule and my be different in Vic as WA for example.



Be a real giggle to back up
Obviously it is not a practical thing to do, as the rear towed item would swing wildly with the smallest of steering inputs or changes in road conditions

[enf]

Interesting question OB....

Wouldn't you need a combo license like a road train?

[ol' boy]

Yeah, after more reading, you can do this with a HC Licence
But, apparently the whole idea is voided, because National Road Rule book excludes the towing of anything behind something that is already being towed
(exceptions are B Doubles and Road Trains)

I'd say the Braking system and ADR's of the "Fifth Wheeler" would also be inquestion.

Interestingly, if you search around, plenty of Aussies have done this if only for small distances to move from one camp site to another (say 100ks or so) and its been preform in very remote areas where Policing or even other vehicles are unlikely to come by.
I'd hardly see it as a full time solution.
But i do know a lot of Grey Nomads that want to be able to do this....

I guess the answer would be, just get a Light Commercial Truck with a tray back, mount a slip on Camper on the Truck and then tow your boat.

Or a capable Motorhome that can tow a boat.

[gordon_s1942]

I think I can safely say you CANNOT do this in NSW simply because you cant do ANYTHING in NSW !!!
I would exclude vehicles such as lorries etc where one articulated vehicle can tow a Trailer but that's it.(Mostly 'Tippers')
I know I am on the border where full size B Doubles can come in from the West but cannot pass a road junction going towards Sydney.
I am not sure but I believe that Road Trains or similar can only operate in certain parts of the State.

[peteramjet]

I think I can safely say you CANNOT do this in NSW simply because you cant do ANYTHING in NSW !!!

NSW does allow something similar, but only with approved trailer combinations.

At this time the only approved trailer combinations are the ones that carry portable traffic lights used at roadwork sites - so 2 traffic light trailers can be towed one behind the other in combination.

Definitely cannot do what is in that picture however.

[hazman]

Guy in Western Australia had this setup and the trailer behind the van broke off it's tow hitch and ploughed into a truck killing the driver.
Turns out that it was a highly illegal setup.

[mkhannah]

As hazman says, this was just in the news

[ol' boy]

Wow, how on earth did he avoid jail?

[gordon_s1942]

For years in NSW you could 'rope tow' preferably only over a short distance but that was eventually banned.
Then there was the 'Bar' method using a solid pipe or beam with chains on both ends but I dont think that's allowed now.
Another rule was you could not tow anything heavier than the towing vehicle whether it was fitted with any sort of braking system or not.
I gather today standard 'Box Trailers' now require 'Truck Tyres (6 ply?) as do caravans.

[Bigfella237]

~ so 2 traffic light trailers can be towed one behind the other in combination. ~

If you look at how traffic light trailers are designed, there's no articulation point between the "trailers", so yes they do daisy-chain together but combined units basically form one longer trailer, not two separate trailers...



Andrew

[mtv]

I was told over the weekend, you can actually legally tow 2 items if done in this manner.

In the words of Daryl Kerrigan... tell him he's dreamin' son!

[gordon_s1942]

Nothing would surprise me to see that this specific combination has been approved and restricted to this combination and to specific users along with a slew of requirements as to the construction, length, mass, braking etc.
Anything that isnt covered directly would then most likely be covered by the rules and regulations regarding Trailers in general.

[ol' boy]

Nothing would surprise me to see that this specific combination has been approved and restricted to this combination and to specific users along with a slew of requirements as to the construction, length, mass, braking etc.
Anything that isnt covered directly would then most likely be covered by the rules and regulations regarding Trailers in general.

The funny thing is, i have a mate that does "Road Train" some items on rare occasions, he had been pulled over twice.
The policeman was just scratching his head, ask him if he had been drinking, mate said just a couple.....
Officer replied, well just get home and disconnect that other trailer.

Probably too much trouble to look up the "code" to start the infringement notice.

[gordon_s1942]

Never ask a 'Traffic' Policeman for information regarding road regulations.
I asked the Motor Registry for some information (forgotten on what now) and was told to 'ask the Police as they administer all that now' so I did and GUESS what ???? Go ask the Motor Registry !!!!

[lsemmens]

I didn't know you are not allowed to "rope tow" any more, I'd happily do it again if needed. Mate towed me home to Adelaide from Barmera once when I blew up my gear box. If we were coming up to traffic lights or the like, I was able to stop his car smack on the line every time, even though I was the towee. We used his engine for towing and my brakes for stopping (nothing wrong with his brakes, just worked that we could keep the rope taut which made it a lot easier when moving off again.

[Kevaclone]

There are a couple of problems with towing a second trailer. The first being the total towed weight. Especially if a large caravan is involved. The total towed mass would probably exceed the rating of the tow vehicle
The second would be the fact that no trailer has a tow rating
Third would be braking. Getting the second trailer to brake first so it doesn't shove the first one all over the road when stopping in a hurry
The forthwould be handling. Some people can't even get their one trailer to tow without swaying, A second trailer would just make that a whole lot worse
Having more weight on the rear of the first trailer would cause it to sway.
And lastly. Who the F**K wants all those stupid old C**ts dragging two trailers up the highway. Bad enough when they are towing just one