Thanks ET. I didn't make it clear it is for the front of my DX to take a standard tongue or winch cradle. I will check out XLR8 when next in Perth.
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Thanks ET. I didn't make it clear it is for the front of my DX to take a standard tongue or winch cradle. I will check out XLR8 when next in Perth.
FYI ....
Many, many years ago in NSW it was legal to tow a vehicle ( with transit insurance ) with a "straight bar". A standard tow coupling one end with safety chains, a solid or heavy walled tube, & chains the other end, with a driver inside, for a short distance at low speed to a repair facility. I part owned a panel shop at the time and we used to tow them from our storage facility to the shop. About 2klms away. The towed vehicle also had to have a sign saying "under tow", a working hand brake and brake lights, or portable ones fitted. Times have long changed. Illegal now because of insurance requirements.
But, it is legal in NSW with the "right" gear like below, am I right?Quote:
Originally Posted by bazzaboy
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...5&d=1506050614
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...using-a-Patrol
Bazzaboy is talking straight bars and chains as the attachment device.
I don't know anywhere that config is legal these days.
Correctly set up A frames and assoc variations or manuf are 'generally' OK as they use either 3 points or rigid attachment IE not chains as a primary attachment.
I say generally as some states have weird local variations to their regs still but AFAIK Hitch N Go etc etc are OK but must be professionally installed and certified (at least in some states
the original posts asks legal or not so i suppose you could tow it with a shoe lace really..
I'm confident in saying that the method I described is no longer legal anywhere in OZ today. I also could be wrong, but I was under the impression that all the tow hitch configurations used behind motorhomes/RV's, all require welded or bolted attachment points on the vehicle being towed.Quote:
Originally Posted by dom14
And unless there is and automatic brake setup & indicator/brake lights etc via the trailer socket/plug there has to be a driver in theQuote:
Originally Posted by the evil twin
vehicle under tow to apply brake/indicators etc.
Am I right?
Yeah, in the OP I wasn't paying much attention to legality of it, but rather the technical possibility of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Avo
I am interested in laws each state has enacted with regards to towing a vehicle using a vehicle above techniques though.
So far, as far as I understand, there has to be a driver in the vehicle under tow unless there is setup to apply brakes and indicators etc in sync with the towing vehicle.
You MUST have 'auto brake setup' etc so it isn't an 'unless' and you cannot have anyone in the vehicle under tow.Quote:
Originally Posted by dom14
No kidding!!! That's the law all around the country??!!Quote:
Originally Posted by the evil twin
you asked so don't be so rude.....Quote:
Originally Posted by dom14
Seriously, I didn't know that. So far from what I'v gathered from the conversations in this thread I thought having somebody in the driver seat of the vehicle under tow is not only legal but a requirement when there's no automatic way to signal towing vehicles indicators. Now, I'm learning that is not the case. This means towing as I indicated would end up as illegal unless the "automatic brake setup" is wired up/set up via the trailer plug or something. Having nobody in the vehicle under tow is also new news to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Avo
Interesting reading this thread. In NZ towing another vehicle is very legal provided you meet certain requirements.
Ie, if it is a 'non mechanical linkage' (rope, chain, strap etc) then the towed vehicle must have someone in it to operate brakes steering lights etc.
if it is a 'mechanical linkage' that can pivot on the towed vehicle side then, as above it must have an occupant in it.
But if the mechanical linkage is fixed on the tow vehicle and can only hinge vertically (ie the generic A frame), then the only requirement is that the vehicle has auto brakes if its detaches (over 2.5tonne for any towed vehicle) and has a light bar on it that has brakes and indicators. So most people just bolt a couple of brake and indicators to a 2x4, tie it to the back of the towed car somehow and plug it into the tow vehicles trailer light socket.
If the A frame is fixed to the towed vehicle, then the vehicle can't turn on it own. The vehicle centre line and the tow hitch centre line will always remain in-line and the front wheels will turn on their own to accomodate this. In NZ, so long as the car youre towing is under 2.5tonne and has a warrant of fitness and is registered, then its legal to tow. Over 2.5 tonne and we have to have autolock brakes.
So no towing the long wheel base safaris, but the shortys (GVM 2400kg) are allowed.
Some of the laws here in Oz are just tax collection in disguise. :), but I guess it happens everywhere more or less.Quote:
Originally Posted by tuckertrucker
Unlike in New Zealand, here on Oz, we have slightly different rules and regulations from state to state. It can end up in 'funny' situations sometime, but that's the price have to pay for the country's being geographically big. It's far far lot 'funnier' in America I think. They have some five hundred states and trillion different laws and interpretations for the same situation. ;) :D