Thread: A Frame Towing

Interesting thread, and timely for me. I saw on a motorhome thing the question asked re a Qld hitch brand name and suitability for a certain towed vehicle not mentioned on their site. It got me wondering. If I needed to relocate a D2 and my OKA a long distance simultaneously the A frame idea might be cheaper and possibly more stable than a hired trailer. So. is it possible? Err, the OKA would be in front, before you ask. This would not be something I would want to do for touring. Whole point of the OKA is it is a camper that can go nearly anywhere as it is.

Originally Posted by Tins

Interesting thread, and timely for me. I saw on a motorhome thing the question asked re a Qld hitch brand name and suitability for a certain towed vehicle not mentioned on their site. It got me wondering. If I needed to relocate a D2 and my OKA a long distance simultaneously the A frame idea might be cheaper and possibly more stable than a hired trailer. So. is it possible? Err, the OKA would be in front, before you ask. This would not be something I would want to do for touring. Whole point of the OKA is it is a camper that can go nearly anywhere as it is.

G'day Tins,

If you venture into Queensland here is some information sourced from the nice folks at the Department of Transport and Main Roads, accessed 5th December 2023 from, Towing equipment | Transport and motoring | Queensland Government. There is also a separate publication on A-Frame towing. However, the webpage asks for a username and password to be able to access the document. I have not registered to access the document.

The website does detail the following ...

To provide for adequate levels of vehicle stability, handling and braking performance, it is necessary to maintain a towed mass ratio of not less than 3.5:1. This means the mass of the towing vehicle must be at least 3.5 times the mass of an un-braked vehicle being towed (that is, if the mass of the towed vehicle is 1,000kg, the mass of the towing vehicle must be no less than 3,500kg). If the towing vehicle is less than 3.5 times the mass of the towed vehicle, the brakes on the towed vehicle must be used.

I think with the OKA doing the towing you should be right with the towed mass ratio!

Kind regards,
Lionel

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

G'day Tins,

If you venture into Queensland here is some information sourced from the nice folks at the Department of Transport and Main Roads, accessed 5th December 2023 from, Towing equipment | Transport and motoring | Queensland Government. There is also a separate publication on A-Frame towing. However, the webpage asks for a username and password to be able to access the document. I have not registered to access the document.

The website does detail the following ...

To provide for adequate levels of vehicle stability, handling and braking performance, it is necessary to maintain a towed mass ratio of not less than 3.5:1. This means the mass of the towing vehicle must be at least 3.5 times the mass of an un-braked vehicle being towed (that is, if the mass of the towed vehicle is 1,000kg, the mass of the towing vehicle must be no less than 3,500kg). If the towing vehicle is less than 3.5 times the mass of the towed vehicle, the brakes on the towed vehicle must be used.

I think with the OKA doing the towing you should be right with the towed mass ratio!

Kind regards,
Lionel

Err, my OKA is only GVM'd at 5000, so no...

I'd lay odds you'd get away with it, as long as you drove sensibly.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

I'd lay odds you'd get away with it, as long as you drove sensibly.

Who? Me?

Originally Posted by V8Ian

I'd lay odds you'd get away with it, as long as you drove sensibly.

I'd probably avoid Marulen.

Hello Tins,

From the information provided by the very nice folks at the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, if the tow vehicle is less that 3.5:1 than you can have someone in the vehicle that is being towed and they can apply that vehicle's brakes. You just need to provide your own helper to share the trip with you.

You could hire out the spare seats to backpackers. That could cover your fuel costs.

Kind regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by Tins

I'd probably avoid Marulen.

Yeah, well it's not on the Newell.