Warrant Of Fitness
Trailers must have a current WOF and registration.
Speed
The open road speed limit for light vehicles towing trailers is 90km/h.
Wheels
Trailer tyres now come under the same scrutiny as car tyres and wheel bearings and tread are now checked.
Coupling
The trailer must have a secure coupling, which should include a double-locking mechansim, or a locking pin. When hiring a trailer, ask the hirer to demonstrate the coupling works correctly.
Safety chain
The trailer must have an adequate safety chain, permanently attached to the trailer. There are additional requirements for trailers over 2000kg.
Lights
Trailers require working tail- and front-position lights. Hire centres should supply suitable connectors, but your car also needs a correctly wired socket.
A trailer doesn’t need indicators and brake lights, provided the lights on the towing vehicle are visible to drivers behind you, or you can make visible arm signals out the window but it’s best to have indicators and lights fitted.
Brakes
Trailer brakes aren’t required unless the loaded weight is over 2000kg. Even without separate brakes, both car and trailer must be able to stop from 30km/h in less than seven metres. Over 2000kg, different rules apply.
Weight
Maximum load weight depends on the car and trailer. Some cars can’t tow more than 500kg so you should check your car’s handbook for towing limits.
You should note, if you have a new car, that exceeding your car’s towing limit may invalidate the warranty if you later have a problem with your gearbox or brakes.
If you have a really big rig, like a heavy 4WD and an eight metre long caravan, you could exceed the allowed gross vehicle mass for a car licence, of 4500kg. You need a class 2 (truck licence) to drive any combination that exceeds 4500kg. A typical six cylinder car, plus a six metre caravan and load, should be comfortably below the limit.
Load security
Any load must be secure.
The load can overhang the rear by up to four metres (measured from the axle). If it overhangs by more than one metre, it must be flagged with a fluorescent flag (white, red, orange or yellow), sized 400 x 300mm.
The load can overhang sideways up to 1.25 metres from the centre line of the trailer, but must be flagged if it extends more than 200mm beyond the sides.
At night, you need to mark any extended loads with white or amber lights to the front and side, and red lights to the rear.
Load distrubution
Stack your trailer so around 10 percent of the total weight pushes down on the tow ball. Put your heaviest items slightly forward of the axle, to reduce the tendency to sway.
Dimensions
You can tow a trailer that’s up to 2.5m wide, 4.25m high when loaded, and 11.5m long, as long as the combined car and trailer length does not exceed 20 metres.
Insurance
Not all car insurance policies cover a trailer while it’s being towed. Check your policy.
