Towing Caravan at 110KMH

[Fatso]

Traveling north on the Inian Ocean Drive WA yesterday it dawned on me after leaving the metro area that the vehicle behind by a couple of Ks towing a van was keeping pace with me at 110kmh ! , when i turned off and he went passed there he was with a comadore towing what i would gues to be a 2000kg + caravan . The mind boggles at what some people do and i only hope he makes it to where ever he was going safely for himself and other road user,s .
The speed limit for a van over 750Kg is 90Kmh in WA . Some mothers do av em !!!!!!

[BMKal]

As far as I know, WA is the only state which has a lower speed limit for vehicles towing a caravan etc. I once got busted just north of Norseman for towing an almost empty 6x4 garden trailer at just over 110 behind a commodore ute. To be honest, this speed limit is just bloody ridiculous.

In other states, you can tow a caravan at the posted speed limit (which is quite often 110 km/h on major roads, even in the states with a general speed limit of 100). ;)

I have towed large caravans at around the speed limit many times over the years, and never had any problems. Admittedly, most of this has been done with larger tow vehicles (Disco's / Rangie Classic and Ford F100) but I also had a V8 Commodore wagon for quite a few years - it had no problem pulling the caravan safely at 110.

Yesterday on the way back from Bunbury to Perth, I was following a decent size caravan at 110 for quite a while - it was having no problems and was very stable and "in control" at all times. Was quite surprised when I eventually passed it to see that the tow vehicle was a Kia / Hyundai 4WD wagon about the same size as a Freelander. :)

[bob10]

Traveling north on the Inian Ocean Drive WA yesterday it dawned on me after leaving the metro area that the vehicle behind by a couple of Ks towing a van was keeping pace with me at 110kmh ! , when i turned off and he went passed there he was with a comadore towing what i would gues to be a 2000kg + caravan . The mind boggles at what some people do and i only hope he makes it to where ever he was going safely for himself and other road user,s .
The speed limit for a van over 750Kg is 90Kmh in WA . Some mothers do av em !!!!!!


Some years ago, when travelling from Sydney to Nambucca Heads , not far from Nambucca, a vehicle towing a van flew past us, I got off the road for him, he was coming up fast behind me. About 20 kms on, there was wreckage spread out alongside the road, like a plane crash. Nothing left of the van, car off into the bush. No-one hurt, but ruined their holiday , that was a good lesson for me, Bob

[weeds]

sure he might be breaking the law by travelling over the allowed speed limit but i see nothing unsafe with doing 110km/hr if the set up is right

[goingbush]

the guy probably read this thread http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/183184-grey-nomads-things-ive-learnt-last-few-days.html

[Lotz-A-Landies]

As far as I know, WA is the only state which has a lower speed limit for vehicles towing a caravan etc. I once got busted just north of Norseman for towing an almost empty 6x4 garden trailer at just over 110 behind a commodore ute. To be honest, this speed limit is just bloody ridiculous.

In other states, you can tow a caravan at the posted speed limit (which is quite often 110 km/h on major roads, even in the states with a general speed limit of 100). ;)

I have towed large caravans at around the speed limit many times over the years, and never had any problems. Admittedly, most of this has been done with larger tow vehicles (Disco's / Rangie Classic and Ford F100) but I also had a V8 Commodore wagon for quite a few years - it had no problem pulling the caravan safely at 110.

Yesterday on the way back from Bunbury to Perth, I was following a decent size caravan at 110 for quite a while - it was having no problems and was very stable and "in control" at all times. Was quite surprised when I eventually passed it to see that the tow vehicle was a Kia / Hyundai 4WD wagon about the same size as a Freelander. :)Actually if the GCM of the vehicle combination is over 4.5 Tonne, then you may find that the truck speed limit would apply in other states outside WA.

This however the rules would apply to Landcruisers and Land Rovers but not to Falcons and Commodores which only have a maximum trailer mass of around 1.75 Tonne. At least that was what the EA and EB had.

[JDNSW]

In 1963 I was travelling south of Townsville on the Bruce Hwy in the Series 1, at about 50mph. I was passed by a Silver Cloud towing a triple axle van about 30' long, travelling at a speed of at least 70mph.

Those with a long memory will realise that at that date the Bruce Hwy was a single lane of bitumen. I saw him coming in the mirrors and pulled off.

John

[Lotz-A-Landies]

In 1963 I was travelling south of Townsville on the Bruce Hwy in the Series 1, at about 50mph. I was passed by a Silver Cloud towing a triple axle van about 30' long, travelling at a speed of at least 70mph.

Those with a long memory will realise that at that date the Bruce Hwy was a single lane of bitumen. I saw him coming in the mirrors and pulled off.

JohnThose with a longer memory will remember that in Qld there was a 45MPH speed limit for trailers and caravans.

[Fifth Columnist]

I can legally tow at 130KPH on French Autoroutes.
Tried it once, didn't like it, but I regularly tow on tarmac at 110KPH (70MPH)

[GJP]

The 1998 National Towing Regulations, state that the maximum speed in WA for towing is 100 km/hr, in all other states the stated road speed is also the maximum speed for towing (other than trucks).

However it is all dependent on the tow bar and towed mass as being compliant to the tow vehicles stated lawful towing capability.

This is particularly highlighted with Ford and Holden whereby the increasing mass being towed sharply decreases the maximum allowable speed, eg a Ford towing a 2300kg mass only has a maximum 80km/hr capability (manufacturers specifications)

These matters are very important as you can easily void insurance, warranties and possibly other.

You need to be very aware of what your vehicles lawful towing mass is even before you get on the highway and even think about speeds.

[TheTree]

Hi

One of the most sensible road rules in the UK is that vehicles towing anything, and trucks, are not allowed in the right hand lane of freeways or motorways.

The speed limit is a little lower, 60mph v 70mph general limit, i.e. about 100kph and 110kph

Don't even start me on how bad Aust drivers are in general!

Steve

[UncleHo]

Nah! yo got it awaal rong Steve,in Qld on highways you get in the outside lane in ya Moterhome and sit there at 90 klicks while the bloke with ta Karavan behind his ageing Toyjo flogs it at 85 Kph ;) just fast enough to pass Ma Pa an da kids in the Suzi Swift :D


Meanwhile the B-double driver sits fuming trying to keep to schedule :(

[TheTree]

Nah! yo got it awaal rong Steve,in Qld on highways you get in the outside lane in ya Moterhome and sit there at 90 klicks while the bloke with ta Karavan behind his ageing Toyjo flogs it at 85 Kph ;) just fast enough to pass Ma Pa an da kids in the Suzi Swift :D


Meanwhile the B-double driver sits fuming trying to keep to schedule :(

Hahahaha way to funny :p

[MR LR]

I think the national towing limit is 100, but that's not the point I'm making.

Are you suggesting it's safe to tow at 110 in any of the other states an territories in Australia, but as soon as you crack 90 in WA you're going to kill a bus load of nuns?

Like come on!

[Fatso]

I think the national towing limit is 100, but that's not the point I'm making.

Are you suggesting it's safe to tow at 110 in any of the other states an territories in Australia, but as soon as you crack 90 in WA you're going to kill a bus load of nuns?

Like come on!

Probably did post enough info , IOD is not the sort of road to be doing 110kmh with a caravan behing at some locations , can be windy and hilly , the point i was trying to make was this van was way to big for the tow tug ie comadore , it looked twice as long and high as the tug, my estimation of 2000kg was probably a bit lite on , it looked like the tail wagging the dog . Any way i could not give a fidlers elbow what speed people drive at , problem bilong them .

[Tombie]

We regularly tow the boat (2700kg) at 115km/h and this is done without issue...

Plenty of well set up tow rigs can do much higher with stability...
I've overtaken on many occasions well above the 'recommended' limit to ensure I'm passed the other vehicle in short order...

There is no reason to think that a Commodore or Falcon can't tow either...
For decades, vans were hauled all over this country behind the less refined versions of these vehicles without issues...

Holden for example on the VE (previous model) specify 2,100kg which is within the limits of the van described in the first post...


Speed Limits When Towing
Open road speed limit.
Please note that the normal open road speed limit is 100km/h unless sign posted otherwise.
South Australia.
Normal sign posted speed limits apply.
ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria & ACT.
As for South Australia.
Tasmania.
90km/h when towing a caravan or trailer.
Western Australia.
100 km/h when towing a caravan or trailer..
Northern Territory.
Safe speed for prevailing conditions on the open road.
Motorists should remember that in some cases motor vehicle manufacturers place speed restrictions on a vehicle when towing over a certain mass. Ford only permits 100km/h if the load is less than 1200 kg. At 1600 kg this drops to 90km/h. The speed further reduces until at 2300 kg, 80km/h is the maximum. Holden takes a similar approach but also ties the vehicle speed to the type of towing equipment fitted. Spending a few minutes reading the trailer towing section in the owners manual is highly recommended.

[TheTree]

Hi

"Spending a few minutes reading the trailer towing section in the owners manual is highly recommended."

RTFM is highly recommended but this is Australia, no-one reads that boring stuff :p

Steve

[PhilipA]

The best I have experienced was a couple of years ago on the F3 ( now M1).

I was doing about 110 in my RRC towing my camper, when I saw a Statesman pulling an at least 18 foot dual axle full caravan coming fast in the mirrors.

I saw him at about 1Km back and he passed me in seconds. I estimate he was doing at least 140 maybe 150.

The rig looked stable but it boggled me how much fuel he must have been burning at that speed from the drag of the van.

I thought why have a van if you want to travel at that speed? Boy if he had an accident it would have been a good one.

Regards Philip A

[LandyAndy]

My D2 struggles towing my boat at 110kmh when fully loaded for the trip to/from Albany.
Oversize tyres,too low revs in 5th.
HOWEVER,120kmh,did the boat fall off??? Different beast;);););););)
Running 4th gear at 100kmh fixes the issue,boat??? what boat???
Andrew

[davrac]

As far as I know, WA is the only state which has a lower speed limit for vehicles towing a caravan etc. I once got busted just north of Norseman for towing an almost empty 6x4 garden trailer at just over 110 behind a commodore ute. To be honest, this speed limit is just bloody ridiculous.

In other states, you can tow a caravan at the posted speed limit (which is quite often 110 km/h on major roads, even in the states with a general speed limit of 100).

Tasmania is 90kph when towing any trailer from memory. Not sure if its really enforced though.

[Fifth Columnist]

The world record (unofficial) is held by a Frenchman towing his racing powerboat with his Porche on the Paris - Nice Autoroute.
His speeding tickets show 250Km/h (155Mph)

[MR LR]

The world record (unofficial) is held by a Frenchman towing his racing powerboat with his Porche on the Paris - Nice Autoroute.
His speeding tickets show 250Km/h (155Mph)
Yes! Something for me to beat :D