Trailering Regulations

The Road Traffic Legislation on trailers  

·         If your vehicle and boat do not comply with the law then insurance companies can fail to pay your claim when accidents occur. 

·         Most tow bars are built to pull and not to carry weight. 

·         Manufacturers do not want to fit or take the responsibility on tow bars due to the weight issue. 

·         Trailer builders needed to comply with: 

·        Register with the Provincial Authority 

·        Comply with requirements of MIB Inspectorate SABS 

·        Must have all relevant Legislation and SANS specifications 

·        Must build trailers inferiors of specifications and homologation requirements. 

·        GVM = Gross Vehicle Mass 

·        GCM = Gross Combination Mass 

·         If a vehicle’s GCM >3500kg then you need a bigger licence. 

·         After 1998 B drivers licences are issued and then you can’t tow. EB driver’s licences are allowed to tow. 

·         Trailers = GVM up to 750kg only need parking brake (Brick behind the wheel) 

·         Trailers 751kg to 3500kg need parking brake, overriding brake (not managed by the pedal of a car. 

·         Combination:  750kg GVM + Tare of drawing vehicle must be double the GVM of Trailer. 

·         751kg to 3500kg GVM + Tare of drawing vehicle must be more or equal to GVM of trailer 

·         From 14 Feb 2004 – all trailers over 3500kg must have ABS brakes. 

·         All trailers over 7m must have yellow markings. 

·         F250 must have yellow markings on back and sides. 

·         Length of towing (car and trailer) not to exceed 22 meters in total. 

·         You may tow = Car – Boat – Trailer not exceed 22m. 

·         You may not tow another car – must be on a trailer – or only tow it in an emergency. 

Calculation 

GCM 4250kg 

GVM 3250kg 

Tare 2250kg 

Load 1000kg – this includes the driver, assistant and fuel