Thread: A Frame Towing

In Vic the rules are listed on the Vicroads web site. Try looking on the sites for all the different states.

http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/mediafiles/...ame_towing.pdf

This document states that if you comply with the details within you can tow in any state or territory.

Major limitation is that for an unbraked set up the towing vehicle must weight must be 3.5 times that of the towed vehicle. I expect that a 80" is about 750kg therefore your towing vehicle would need to be 2625 kg.


Extract from the above linked document.

“A”- Frame Towing

Introduction


This bulletin is intended to assist persons that wish to undertake “A”-frame towing of a motor vehicle in a
manner that satisfies the Australian Road Rules.
“A”-frame towing is the term used to refer to towing a motor vehicle, which has its front wheels on the road
and is connected to the towbar of the towing vehicle by a triangular shaped frame commonly known as an
“A”-frame.

The Australian Road Rules state:-

294(1) The driver of a motor vehicle must not tow another motor vehicle unless:
(a) either:
(i) the driver can control the movement of the towed vehicle; or
(ii) the brakes and steering of the towed vehicle are in working order and a person who is licensed to
drive the towed vehicle is sitting in the driver’s seat of the towed vehicle, and is in control of it’s brakes
and steering; and
(b) it is safe to tow the vehicle.
You will need to check with the Road Transport Authority in which your vehicle is registered to determine
whether you need to make application and, if so, what evidence you will need to supply for approval to be
considered.
Persons who tow vehicles in accordance with this bulletin will be able to tow legally in all States and
Territories. However, in order to ensure that potential problems with enforcement officers are minimised, it
is recommended that a copy of this bulletin, together with any reports, approvals or other documentation, is
carried in the vehicle at all times.
This bulletin provides a guide for the individual seeking approval for the simple (un-braked) “A”-frame towing
of a small motor vehicle. Persons who wish to tow vehicles equipped with proprietary or individually
constructed systems incorporating braking of the towed vehicle will need to seek advice from their respective
Road Transport Authority.
Persons wishing to undertake “A”-frame towing may need to seek advice from a recognised engineering
signatory or a professional chartered engineer to ensure that the “A-frame” device that they intend to use
meets the technical requirements of this bulletin.



Legal Requirements

• Both vehicles constituting the combination must meet registration requirements and be roadworthy.
• The coupling and towbar must not obscure the number plate or lights on the rear of the towing vehicle
when the towed vehicle is not attached.
• Regulations prohibit towing more than one vehicle or trailer at once.
• Nobody is allowed to ride in the towed vehicle.
• When towing, the maximum speed at which you may tow is 100 Kilometres per hour or the posted
speed limit whichever is the lesser.
• Following distances outside built-up areas - On roads outside a built up area that do not have more than
one lane in the direction you are driving, there are specific minimum following distances for long vehicles.
If your vehicle is 7.5 metres long or longer (including any load), you may not follow closer than 200 metres
to a similar vehicle in front of you.The exception is when you are overtaking.
• Stopping on carriageways - If your vehicle including trailers and load is longer than 7.5 metres or has a
total mass of more than 4.5 tonnes you may not:
• Stop on a carriageway in a built - up area for longer than one hour unless engaged in picking up or setting
down goods; or
• Stop on a carriageway outside a built up area except on a hard shoulder or in a truck bay or other area
set aside for parking of goods vehicles.



Here is the RTA bulletin

http://www.macrac.com.au/images/PDF/...wing_vsi41.pdf


Here is the Vic roads one

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rd...rametowing.pdf

This one from NSW says pretty much the same (clearly states that you need an Engineer's certification of your A frame)

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...g_nov_2007.pdf

This one from SA says pretty much the same

http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/pdfs/...port/int99.pdf

and the NT

http://www.transport.nt.gov.au/trans...tins/ibv65.pdf

And on page 7 of this Qld doc it has the same stuff even using some of the same photos as per the first WA one listed/referred.

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/reso...rmation_V2.pdf

Sorry! Did not find the Tasmanian document but I the RTA one should apply.

Read to your heart's content

The camper/truck crowd use a approved system ie (engineers cert) system.
This is not the same state for state.
The A frame must be strong enough for the job (engineers cert)
If the vehicle is beening towed is over two tonne it must have a breakaway braking system.
The brakes on the towed vehicle is operated via air / vacuum or eletric system like a trailer from the towing vehicle and safety chains fitted .
Alot of people use a vacuum cylinder which is a quick release set up via pins which works on the towed A frame vehicles brake pedal.
No operater is needed in the A framed vehicle or signage with the above set up.( No one most likely allowed in the towed vehicle.)
Towed vehicle lighting can be provided via the towing vehicles trailer plug using extra lights temperarly fitted on the vehicle or the towed vehicles standard lights.
Note when I was a recovery mech in the army where possible lift towing behind the wreaker truck a ON Tow sign was used and lighting provided by the wreaker ( On Tow sign had lights on it ) and a inter vehicle braking hose used from the wreakers air brake supply coupling(trailer coupling) to a port on the towed vehicles brake treadle valve ( therefore operating brakes)
No one allowed in the towed vehicle.
I am now coming to a grey area.
These rule used to apply and I think they still do as few people need to do it and it was done alot a in the old days and no one has had need to change the laws.
A vehicle being flat towed via tow rope or flat towed via A frame with universal quick release fitting or chained and dogged to bumper must have a licensed driver in the towed vehicle to assit in steering, assit with brakes and operate lights as required.
The towed vehicle must display a In tow or On tow sign.
Towing vehicle must be driven at a safe reduced speed.
This will be different from state to state.
I think it would be wise to check out the laws in black and white.

Originally Posted by slug_burner

http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/mediafiles/...ame_towing.pdf

This document states that if you comply with the details within you can tow in any state or territory.

Major limitation is that for an unbraked set up the towing vehicle must weight must be 3.5 times that of the towed vehicle. I expect that a 80" is about 750kg therefore your towing vehicle would need to be 2625 kg.


Extract from the above linked document.

“A”- Frame Towing

Introduction


This bulletin is intended to assist persons that wish to undertake “A”-frame towing of a motor vehicle in a
manner that satisfies the Australian Road Rules.
“A”-frame towing is the term used to refer to towing a motor vehicle, which has its front wheels on the road
and is connected to the towbar of the towing vehicle by a triangular shaped frame commonly known as an
“A”-frame.

The Australian Road Rules state:-

294(1) The driver of a motor vehicle must not tow another motor vehicle unless:
(a) either:
(i) the driver can control the movement of the towed vehicle; or
(ii) the brakes and steering of the towed vehicle are in working order and a person who is licensed to
drive the towed vehicle is sitting in the driver’s seat of the towed vehicle, and is in control of it’s brakes
and steering; and
(b) it is safe to tow the vehicle.
You will need to check with the Road Transport Authority in which your vehicle is registered to determine
whether you need to make application and, if so, what evidence you will need to supply for approval to be
considered.
Persons who tow vehicles in accordance with this bulletin will be able to tow legally in all States and
Territories. However, in order to ensure that potential problems with enforcement officers are minimised, it
is recommended that a copy of this bulletin, together with any reports, approvals or other documentation, is
carried in the vehicle at all times.
This bulletin provides a guide for the individual seeking approval for the simple (un-braked) “A”-frame towing
of a small motor vehicle. Persons who wish to tow vehicles equipped with proprietary or individually
constructed systems incorporating braking of the towed vehicle will need to seek advice from their respective
Road Transport Authority.
Persons wishing to undertake “A”-frame towing may need to seek advice from a recognised engineering
signatory or a professional chartered engineer to ensure that the “A-frame” device that they intend to use
meets the technical requirements of this bulletin.



Legal Requirements

• Both vehicles constituting the combination must meet registration requirements and be roadworthy.
• The coupling and towbar must not obscure the number plate or lights on the rear of the towing vehicle
when the towed vehicle is not attached.
• Regulations prohibit towing more than one vehicle or trailer at once.
• Nobody is allowed to ride in the towed vehicle.
• When towing, the maximum speed at which you may tow is 100 Kilometres per hour or the posted
speed limit whichever is the lesser.
• Following distances outside built-up areas - On roads outside a built up area that do not have more than
one lane in the direction you are driving, there are specific minimum following distances for long vehicles.
If your vehicle is 7.5 metres long or longer (including any load), you may not follow closer than 200 metres
to a similar vehicle in front of you.The exception is when you are overtaking.
• Stopping on carriageways - If your vehicle including trailers and load is longer than 7.5 metres or has a
total mass of more than 4.5 tonnes you may not:
• Stop on a carriageway in a built - up area for longer than one hour unless engaged in picking up or setting
down goods; or
• Stop on a carriageway outside a built up area except on a hard shoulder or in a truck bay or other area
set aside for parking of goods vehicles.



Here is the RTA bulletin

http://www.macrac.com.au/images/PDF/...wing_vsi41.pdf


Here is the Vic roads one

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rd...rametowing.pdf

This one from NSW says pretty much the same (clearly states that you need an Engineer's certification of your A frame)

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...g_nov_2007.pdf

This one from SA says pretty much the same

http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/pdfs/...port/int99.pdf

and the NT

http://www.transport.nt.gov.au/trans...tins/ibv65.pdf

And on page 7 of this Qld doc it has the same stuff even using some of the same photos as per the first WA one listed/referred.

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/reso...rmation_V2.pdf

Sorry! Did not find the Tasmanian document but I the RTA one should apply.

Read to your heart's content

My-be we could have these bulletin as "STICKY"?

The Qld. web-site is rather ambiguous as to whether someone needs to be in the towed vehicle to operate brakes and steering. In the past before Qld agreed to be a party to the NAASRA Uniform Road Rules, the Qld. Police always took the attitude that one could not tow on an a-frame in Qld. Many a person with a small car on an a-frame behind a mobile home could attest to this, being pulled over and told someone with the appropriate driver's licence had to be in the towed vehicle, or put it on a trailer, or unhook it and drive it.

Thanks for the information, particularly to Slug Burner. It will take me quite a while to go through it all.

On initial glance in NSW to tow a 1.2 tonne series 1 it is not a lot different to towing a 1.2 t trailer.

Breakaway brakes or chains/cables

Towed vehicle does not exceed towing capacity of the towing vehicle and equipment

Engineered A frame

Towing vehicle to be able to stop in the required braking distance

Other items such as turning circle etc. It does seems that as long at the entire rig can meet the stopping distance additional braking is not required.

Thanks

I personally investigated the issue of "A" frame towing with the NSW RTA Technical Department. These were the rulings for NSW, I make no claim about any other state.

Firstly the "A" frame.

• The A frame must be able to couple and uncouple at any alignment between the two vehicles. (So this does away with the welded triangle with fixed coupling.)
• The "A" frame must be an RTA approved type or must have an engineers certificate. (Including the weight specifications.)
• The attachment of the "A" frame to the towed vehicle, including safety chains must be certified by an RTA recognised engineer.
• There must be safety chains affixed between the "A" frame and the towed vehicle of a capacity appropriate to the towed vehicle and similarly to the towing vehicle.

Secondly the towed vehicle.

• The towed vehicle must be road registered.
• There must be stop and turn signals and at night a tail light and light illuminating the number plate of the towed vehicle displayed at the rear of the towed vehicle which are operated from the towing vehicle.
• If the towed vehicle weighs more than 750Kg there must be either (i) A competent person in control of the brakes on the towed vehicle. (The competent person does not have to have a licence and may even be a competent child.) (ii) a device to operate the brakes from the drivers position of the towing vehicle. (If the towed vehicle mass is greater than 2 tonnes then a breakaway brake system may be required.) The exception to the above is where the brakes on the towed vehicle are not functioning then there does not need to be a competent person in control.

BTW: the unladen weight specification of an 80" Land Rover is 1.2 tons.

The Towing vehicle:

• The towing vehicle must have towing equipment certified as capable to tow at least the equivalent of the weight of the towed vehicle/"A" frame combination.
• The towing vehicle must have manufacturers certification to tow at least the weight of the towed vehicle/"A" frame combination.
• The combination of towed vehicle, "A" Frame and towing vehicle must have an RTA recognised engineers certification.

The only "A" Frame currently recognised by the NSW RTA are marketed by Winnebago and cost about $8,000.00.

Hope this helps people in NSW.

Diana

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

The Qld. web-site is rather ambiguous as to whether someone needs to be in the towed vehicle to operate brakes and steering. In the past before Qld agreed to be a party to the NAASRA Uniform Road Rules, the Qld. Police always took the attitude that one could not tow on an a-frame in Qld. Many a person with a small car on an a-frame behind a mobile home could attest to this, being pulled over and told someone with the appropriate driver's licence had to be in the towed vehicle, or put it on a trailer, or unhook it and drive it.

The RTA note listed by Slug Burner specifically says no one is to be in the vehicle. As usual it looks like Qld is behind everyone else and I thought it was no longer a police state since Joh got voted out.

Garry