There’s nothing more exciting than packing up the family, hooking up the boat and hitting the road towards the next distant location. Holidays are what most of us live for however there is always quite a bit of preparation that goes into it before heading off.
Quite often we neglect or accidentally overlook the importance of looking after our boat and trailers whilst travelling long distances. It doesn’t matter if your boat scales from a paddle-powered craft, a small tinnie or even a 25-foot offshore rig, we have a few travel guidelines to ensure every trailer is maintained.
In the Australian heat and upcoming summer holidays, it’s extremely important for you to take note of these 5 practical tips to ensure you are conforming with some general safety and legal requirements.
Australian Towing Compliance Laws
There are three compliance safety laws stated in Australia that you should note, to ensure your trailer and vehicle are abiding by such regulations.
- If your trailer and boat exceed the 750-kilogram gross trailer mass, you must have an efficient brake system that operates on all wheels of at least one axel.
- If your trailer and boat exceed two tonnes, the efficient brake system must be designed to be operated by the driver during a normal driving session as well as a system that will automatically hold the brakes of a trailer (for a minimum of 15 minutes) in an event that it may break away.
- The maximum mass that a vehicle can tow is variant of the tow bar capacity or the vehicles towing capacity. Whichever is least.
Withstanding Tyres
It’s important to be conscious of the wheels on your trailer during long hauls along our hot Australian highways. Once your trailer reaches high-speeds and distance, there is a level of friction and heat that can deteriorate your equipment. Towing your boat interstate can put a lot of pressure on the wheels bearings, so a pre-trip inspection of problematic parts and en-route inspections are highly recommended.
Common Sense
Whether you are an experienced driver or new to towing it’s important to always be aware of your trailer’s size and how wide to make your turns. We recommend displaying a “Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicle” sign in the event you have to occasionally take over the second lane to make a safe turn.
Sufficient stopping distance is another highly important tip to ensure there is enough clearance between you and any vehicles that are in front of you. You don’t want to be the first person on an accident scene – literally.
Strap it or lose it
Over long haul distances, driving speeds can vary. We recommend strapping down any compromising boat covers and canopies as well as checking all adjustable straps or buckles. Your equipment has to withstand strong highway speeds, therefore, to avoid any damages to your own boat and surrounding cars, it’s best to inspect these regularly. Any lighter accessories should also be stowed away as they are more vulnerable to blowing out of the boat at high speeds.
Stay sharp
Towing your boat interstate is not an easy task. Staying vigilant and ensuring you have enough rest beforehand will make it a lot easier to note any concerning changes during your drive. Most importantly enjoy your journey to the next destination. It’s not a race and recklessness will get you into trouble. Check your speed because remember, It’s a speed limit, not a speed target!
At National Finance Solutions, we pride ourselves on being one of Australia’s most trusted finance brokers. We proudly provide an outstanding range of services, specialising in leisure asset finance at the most competitive rates. If you need a loan to help upgrade your boat or caravan trailers for the next dream holiday, the team at National Finance Solutions will work hard to quickly source the funds you need at a rate you can afford. Call National Finance Solutions on 1300 13 50 50 or get an online quote today.
Image source: Mazda Australia
