Did you know, I didn’t?

[janderson]

SA Police have now confirmed that it is a legal
requirement nationwide and it’s the driver’s
responsibility to ensure compliance

Australian Design Rules and the Vehicle Standards Bulletin
govern Trailer design and Towbar design. While both are
very clear about minimum strength requirements for safety
chains, drawbars, towbars and towing hitches, there is no
mention of the humble shackle used to connect the safety
chain to the towbar. We’ve recently heard from reliable
sources that South Australian Police have been fining people
towing trailers for not using a rated shackle to connect the
trailer to the vehicle, and while it’s not a legal requirement in
any state as far as our research has revealed, it may be a case
of better safe than sorry, particularly if you’re planning to
travel through SA!
Tvans have a Gross Trailer Mass of 1500kgs, and a Topaz has
a GTM of 1990kgs, so make sure that when you buy rated
shackles you find ones with a maximum Safe Working Load
(SWL) or Working Load Limit (WLL) greater than the gross
weight of the trailer. Generally this will mean and 11mm
rated D shackle or Bow shackle for the Tvan and a 13mm
rated D shackle or bow shackle for the Topaz, but check the
SWL or WLL before making your purchase.
Rated shackles are available from most 4wd
stores, automotive stores, hardware stores, and
specialty lifting and rigging stores.
A great tip when installing your shackles is to attach a lanyard
to the pin and attach the other end to the trailer. This way,
if your pin works its way loose over corrugations, it won’t
just fall off and get lost. Don’t forget to do the same to the
shackle body too…
to ensure compliance.ure compliance.

[threedogs]

Wouldn't trust my camper trailer, Jet ski, Boat what ever on a HARDWARE style shackles, too much to lose. You should always use rated equipment. Why risk a weak link for the sake of a few dollars.



to answer your question, no I didn't know that, thought it was common sense

[growler2058]

Ahh S.A. the police state ;-)

[boots]

X2 I agree

Ahh S.A. the police state ;-)

[Silver]

I have seen some junk used on safety chains, including alloy Karabiners from the $2 shop.

This move also puts a question mark over the use of a padlock alone, instead of a shackle

Thanks for the heads up, and don't forget, if you have two chains, they are supposed to be crossed so as to cradle the hitch if it falls off.

[megatexture]

mine came with one chain so i added a 2nd one to be sure but they both mount on the same location if i cross them over it just crosses at the mount makes no cradle lol

[janderson]

its now all states

[Silver]

mine came with one chain so i added a 2nd one to be sure but they both mount on the same location if i cross them over it just crosses at the mount makes no cradle lol

yep, the two chain cross over deal applies in WA to trailers over a certain weight, according to a mate of mine from there. Probably out of date now :-)

What is also interesting is what keeps a boat in place in the case of a head on, for instance. Not a lot, sometimes :-)

years ago, just Nth of the Pine Rivers Bridge in Brisvegas, we came across a 4 m boat sitting on the road............. then a fair bit further, a car straddling the boat trailer, which was still attached to the tow vehicle................. towies and the law were in attendance, so we didn't stop, but there must have been an interesting story there

[megatexture]

like the one i saw today a Kesmac Forklift (truck mounted) that ran into the front of a house in miskin st indroopilly(brisbane) it looks like it let go from the back of the truck as it was driving up a hill and took off down the hill i drove past in total shock.

[oncedisturbed]

Ahh S.A. the police state ;-)

LOL come to WA, in the rpocess of moving past police state to prison state

didn't have a clue this was the case but thought common knowledge / sense