Thread: New Towing Guides

I have replaced the un-rated shackles, supplied with the caravan, with slightly larger rated ones. The rating on my shackles is WLL 1T, the largest shackle that will fit into the Mitsubishi/Hayman Reece towbar. The caravan ATM is 2010 kg, the safety chain is mild steel gal, with a slightly smaller diameter than the shackle. Herein lies the problem, the shackles are the largest that can be used yet below required rating. The chain must fail the requirement dismally.
Maybe I need to supplement the existing set-up with a doubled length of number eight wire, cobb and co-ed between the vehicles.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

I have replaced the un-rated shackles, supplied with the caravan, with slightly larger rated ones. The rating on my shackles is WLL 1T, the largest shackle that will fit into the Mitsubishi/Hayman Reece towbar. The caravan ATM is 2010 kg, the safety chain is mild steel gal, with a slightly smaller diameter than the shackle. Herein lies the problem, the shackles are the largest that can be used yet below required rating. The chain must fail the requirement dismally.
Maybe I need to supplement the existing set-up with a doubled length of number eight wire, cobb and co-ed between the vehicles.

Ian, your 1000kg WLL shackles are more than enough for a 2010 ATM van from a legal point off view. Do you run 1 or 2 chains ?

Originally Posted by pop058

Ian, your 1000kg WLL shackles are more than enough for a 2010 ATM van from a legal point off view. Do you run 1 or 2 chains ?

Paul, I have and use two chains but as I see it 1000 + 1000 falls 10 kg. short of the actual load.

Before I posted this I sat for about 45 minutes trying to work out what I need for my 750 kg box trailer and who I am to attach it to my falcon standard tow bar and still comply. I some times tow a car float short distances loaded with a vehicle on it, I know its not legal but the trailer has electric brakes and well made and I drive accordingly to all conditions. To do this today I would have to have my tow bar modified beyond belief to attaché it to my Falcon and this is going to cause a lot of reengineering by back yarders that don't under stand engineering principles.
I would love to meet the person that dreamt up this miss leading load of hard to understand law I feel reasonably safe in saying that a big percentage of people today do not under stand the mechanic of tow bars or what suits what needs eg A person ( JIM) buys a second hand car you choose car B over car A because it has a tow bar he needs it because he has a 6x4 box trailer that's used for rubbish every now and then and take the dirt bike out bush
Now both Ford and Holden have at least 2 or 3 different rated tow bars, ^ months later he buys a caravan from a friend Jim now has a car with a light weight tow bar and a van weighing near 2 tone loaded this would make all these new rules useless but he has complied with all the latest regulation.


Oh I near forgot I hope to be able to attach hammer lock links to my tow bar
Hodgo

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Paul, I have and use two chains but as I see it 1000 + 1000 falls 10 kg. short of the actual load.

The maths does not work appear to work that way mate. According to the guidelines, your 2010 kg van requires shackles (well only one really) rated at a W.L.L. of around 500 kgs.

The two 1000kg shackles you have are legal for a Van of 4000 kg ATM.

Just out of interest, what brakes to you have on your van ??

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Paul, I have and use two chains but as I see it 1000 + 1000 falls 10 kg. short of the actual load.

Better double up the fence wire and use two Cobb and cos. Maybe a hobble strap or two.

Originally Posted by pop058

The maths does not work appear to work that way mate. According to the guidelines, your 2010 kg van requires shackles (well only one really) rated at a W.L.L. of around 500 kgs.

The two 1000kg shackles you have are legal for a Van of 4000 kg ATM.

Just out of interest, what brakes to you have on your van ??

This recommendation certainly appears to have been written by a chair polisher with no knowledge of the subject.

The brakes are 4 x Alco electric, sans break-away features.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

I have replaced the un-rated shackles, supplied with the caravan, with slightly larger rated ones. The rating on my shackles is WLL 1T, the largest shackle that will fit into the Mitsubishi/Hayman Reece towbar. The caravan ATM is 2010 kg, the safety chain is mild steel gal, with a slightly smaller diameter than the shackle. Herein lies the problem, the shackles are the largest that can be used yet below required rating. The chain must fail the requirement dismally.
Maybe I need to supplement the existing set-up with a doubled length of number eight wire, cobb and co-ed between the vehicles.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Better double up the fence wire and use two Cobb and cos. Maybe a hobble strap or two.

I'm onto it Brian.