Thread: Chris' ute tub trailer build

Originally Posted by wheelinround

I believe its over length here and not knowing where your going you may find it difficult in getting around due to that length.

Hey Wheelingaround,

Thanks for the heads up, but are you able to be more specific with your concerns? I checked out RTA's web site re trailer registration, and the only stipulation i can tell regarding compliance in NSW is that the trailer must comply with VSB01 (as is the same in Vic).

At the moment, the total length of the trailer is 4.1m, of which the drawbar is 1.75 m (so drawbar is 43% of the trailer length). The drawbar was meant to be 1.6 m (which would have been 41%). For example, on the standard 6'x4' box trailers ive rented down here the drawbars are 1.25 m (or 4') so the drawbar is 40% of the total length. Ive measured the drawbar length here from the front load surface to the end of the coupling. Its defined differently in VSB01 (ie from the axle).

In terms of length, the only specs I can find in VSB01 are:

Sect 21.1 says no trailer can be longer than 12.5m (so im way under)

and the rear overhang (Sect 21.2) "Rear overhang must not exceed the lesser of 3.7 metres or the front load space" - (In my case the rear overhang is equal to the forward load space, thats why i probably need a little forward load area, which will be toolbox and bike rack, just to be 'safe').

Have i missed something?

Cheers Chris.

Chris its been a while since I checked and am doing so now found this http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...2_dec_2010.pdf

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...s/vsi/vsi5.pdf

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...vsi18_rev2.pdf

This more about driving with in NSW

Chris I can not locate the old specs and it seems the RTA is breaching laws writing these up the way they are in percentile not in plain language.

The main thing here now is if built in NSW ALL trailers must have Engineers cert or was.

If I recall box trailer set ups had to be no more than 4ft from the rear of the vehicle ie from the tow ball to the front of the trailer. I can't locate that spec now.

The main reason for distance between towball and front of trailer was to stop people stepping through (which they used to).

Thanks for the links Wheelinround,

From what i can tell these documents capture the requirements from VSB01, which captures them from the relevant ADR's, but are simpler than VSB01 to understand. One would hope that, as 1 big country, we have the same rules state-state.... When i moved to Vic i was certainly surprised to see people U-turning at lights everywhere...luckily i havent had to argue the case with a NSW Highway Patrol officer, as i tend to forget the situation is different in NSW.

In VSI52, Page 4, their is a spec for maximum drawbar length:

"Measured from the centre of the axle/axle group to the centre of the drawbar coupling pivot point with the drawbar level, must not be more than 8.5 metres "

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Chris its been a while since I checked and am doing so now found this http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...2_dec_2010.pdf

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...s/vsi/vsi5.pdf

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...vsi18_rev2.pdf

This more about driving with in NSW

Chris I can not locate the old specs and it seems the RTA is breaching laws writing these up the way they are in percentile not in plain language.

The main thing here now is if built in NSW ALL trailers must have Engineers cert or was.

If I recall box trailer set ups had to be no more than 4ft from the rear of the vehicle ie from the tow ball to the front of the trailer. I can't locate that spec now.

The main reason for distance between towball and front of trailer was to stop people stepping through (which they used to).

Chris National regulations are coming for road rules and ADR taking all to long (I recall back in the 70's doing my trade talk of it).

Your problem with driving in Sydney now is going to be Chicane's and small roundabouts. Law here now is you can not run over them any part of your vehicle (small ones anyway).

Having been in the Trailer and Caravan Industry for 20+ years, that's the first time I've heard of having to have a drawbar less than 4' because of people stepping between the car and the trailer...
(If someone was to try and walk between the tow vehicle and trailer while stopped at an intersection, then in my opinion, that's a Darwin Award just waiting to happen.)
Generally, the 4' space between front of load space and towball is the longest drawbar you can have and still keep a 6x4 trailer under the 10' mark for trailers being exempt from registration. Other than this, a trailer's drawbar can be any length up to 8500mm from axle group centre.
Not all trailers are built the same, boat trailers for instance, or lawnmowing and camper trailers where a permanent box is mounted to the front. So where do you measure the front of the trailer to towball from...? This is why "drawbar length" is measured from axle centre to towball, irrespective of style/design of trailer.

I can't see anything in the RTA links provided that's different from the VSB1. I do know that some registering authorities like to think that they know better than everyone else, and require you to jump through more hoops to get your trailer registered, but I can't see the cost effectiveness of having to get a $300+ Engineer's report for a basic home built box trailer.

Yonee can't recall when but there were a number of instances here in Sydney where 6'+ draw bar had people walking between car and trailer and stepping through them and injury serious happened.


Yep registry to registry can be APIA even over the phone same as signatory.

I did say its been a while since checking regs I used to do it often to keep pace.

Thanks for your concerns wheelinround. I know the route im headed on pretty well, and i have only one (large) roundabout to contend with at Seaforth. Im more worried about our more "experienced" Volvo drivers wandering lanes after i turn right onto Military Rd at the other side of the tunnel (they dont have the Volvo / Echidna joke down here).

I guess to put it in context, the trailer is no longer with no longer wheelbase (or drawbar length the way Yonnee defines it above) than a JetSki trailer or even small boat trailer. Certainly down here, on a few smaller roundabouts, i have to come into the turn maybe 30 cm wider than i would ordinarily (which may then be more like the trajectory a 'normal' driver would take anyway). I keep an eye on the wheels in the rear mirrors - as a general rule i find that a good training for towing anything.

Im worried to hear about potential Darwin award candidates from Sydney. Im an ex (though not in spirit) Novocastrian, so know which side of the river(s) the water flows best.

G'day Chris, congrats on the build. ...Just wondering how you went with rego?

Cheers
Rachael
Camper Trailer Australia magazine
[email protected]

Originally Posted by drwormy

Thanks for your concerns wheelinround. I know the route im headed on pretty well, and i have only one (large) roundabout to contend with at Seaforth. Im more worried about our more "experienced" Volvo drivers wandering lanes after i turn right onto Military Rd at the other side of the tunnel (they dont have the Volvo / Echidna joke down here).

I guess to put it in context, the trailer is no longer with no longer wheelbase (or drawbar length the way Yonnee defines it above) than a JetSki trailer or even small boat trailer. Certainly down here, on a few smaller roundabouts, i have to come into the turn maybe 30 cm wider than i would ordinarily (which may then be more like the trajectory a 'normal' driver would take anyway). I keep an eye on the wheels in the rear mirrors - as a general rule i find that a good training for towing anything.

Im worried to hear about potential Darwin award candidates from Sydney. Im an ex (though not in spirit) Novocastrian, so know which side of the river(s) the water flows best.

Hi All,

Maiden trip Melb-Syd empty then retuning full went very smoothly. Picture attached at one of our rest stops. Only problem was front white reflectors falling off (bloody cheap double sided tape). It has front white LED lights, so im not sure if i actually need the reflectors as well?

LED TRUCK/TRAILER LIGHT FRONT OUTLINE MARKER 2.5M CABLE | eBay

Yeah, she looks heavy. I think she was heavier than she looks. Wishing i had taken the brake advice early on (or rather changed my order after i got the brake advice). Packing the items one by one didnt give me any concerns.. it was only when i pulled away from the curb for the first time up the hill that the.....weight... on my problem became apparent. I'm not game to publish my estimate of the total weight of the load (but the tyres had a max load rating of 635 kgs each). So lets just say i was very careful about maintaining my safe braking distance. Its getting hand-me-down tyres from the car next week with 750 kg load rating..... so maybe i can get more into the trailer!! Just kidding - already thinking of how i can cost effectively upgrade to 1.5T axle and brakes, however it wont be often ill want to put that much in the trailer.

I found i had to pump them up to the maximum pressure to stop a vertical vibrational mode coupling transversely.... the first 50 kms were a little unsettling due to this, but after some more air it was 110Km/hr perfect tracking all the way to Melbourne. I was amazed how well the Forester pulled up the steep hills such as around around Mitagong. Only a few changes up to 5th were required and i got 8.8L/100km for the 900kms!! Oh and the car was jammed packed (mostly books) as well. I should have taken the roof box as well!.

Unfortunately we've been too busy to unpack it all yet, so havent made any further headway - i wanted to design and build a 5 bike rack that could be easily bolted/unbolted to the A-frame before camping at Easter.

20130303_175744.jpg

No worries Rachael. As it was <750 kg category it was self assessed (ie without inspection in Victoria). The appointment took less than 10 minutes.

Originally Posted by rld_dg

G'day Chris, congrats on the build. ...Just wondering how you went with rego?

Cheers
Rachael
Camper Trailer Australia magazine
[email protected]