Factsheet 13c – September 2005

General towing requirements

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Light vehicle towing

A light rigid vehicle (for example, a car or ute with a gross vehicle mass up to 3.5 tonnes) may only tow one vehicle. A light tractor, however, is allowed to tow two light vehicles at a speed not greater than 50 km/h.

Towing a trailer and a motor vehicle

A heavy rigid vehicle can only tow both a trailer and an unpowered rigid vehicle if either:

• the rigid vehicle tows a semi-trailer, which tows an unpowered rigid vehicle, or
• the total gross mass of the combination is less than 20 tonnes and the rearmost vehicle is a light trailer or other light motor vehicle.

Towing two motor vehicles

A heavy rigid vehicle can only tow one unpowered heavy rigid vehicle.

A heavy rigid vehicle can tow two rigid vehicles without power only if:

• the gross mass of the combination is less than 20 tonnes, and
• the last vehicle is a light rigid vehicle, and
• at least one towing connection between consecutive vehicles is a rigid bar or A-frame.

Inter-vehicle spacing

The space between any two consecutive vehicles in a combination must not exceed 4 metres (m).

Overall length

The overall length of any combination of vehicles must not exceed 20 m.

Outside turning circle

A combination truck and towed vehicle or vehicles (excluding collapsible mirrors) must be able to complete a 60 degree turn, both to the left and to the right, within a 25 m diameter circle (wall to wall).

No part of a vehicle in a combination, other than its tow coupling, may come into contact with another vehicle in the combination when performing this turn.

Mass ratio of towed vehicles

For a rigid vehicle (truck, tractor or ute) towing one heavy vehicle, the ratio of gross mass of the towed vehicle to gross mass of the towing vehicle must not exceed 1.5.

This requirement doesn't apply if the speed of the combination vehicle doesn't exceed 40 km/h, or the vehicle is operating under an overweight permit with a vehicle axle index above 1.1.

For a rigid vehicle towing two vehicles, the ratio of the gross mass of the rearmost vehicle to the total gross mass of the rigid vehicle and the first towed vehicle must not exceed 1.5.

Speed of towing vehicles

Vehicles towing trailers (full, semi or simple) or other motor vehicles are limited to a maximum open road speed of 90 km/h.

Drivers of these vehicles still need to obey lower speed limits set for particular roads.

Speed of tractors when towing

Tractors may not tow trailers at a speed exceeding 50 km/h, unless the tractor meets all heavy motor vehicle requirements.

Speed of heavy vehicles without suspension

The maximum speed of heavy vehicles without springs or other effective cushioning suspension is limited to the lesser of 45&nb

km/h or the manufacturer's rating (typically the tyres will have a maximum allowable speed).

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