It is very important to understand and know the facts when towing your mobile cabin or tiny home on wheels. Each state can differ so please to check and stay up to date with your states current regulations and guidelines.
Planning is key to a successful trip. So to make it easier for you, below we have provided a few links to the key information you might need in one place.
Towing a large cabin is quite different to towing perhaps a small handyman trailer – it requires additional driving skills and safety precautions. Please carefully review the Queensland Safe Towing Guide or your local state equivalent to assist with the safe use of the trailer.
Safe Towing
A correct tow-ball mass is critical to safe towing. It should not exceed the mass listed on the tongue of your tow-ball and/or in the tow vehicle’s manual. If the tow-ball mass is too heavy it will lift the front end of the vehicle and reduce its ability to safely brake and steer.
If the tow-ball mass is too light dangerous trailer sway is more likely.
To change your tow-ball mass redistributes your payload. Sometimes it can be as simple as moving your payload from the front of the trailer back over the axle or the trailer’s centre of gravity. Otherwise, you may have to reduce the payload altogether.
As the majority of Cabin owners add extra weight to the front of their cabin (furniture, filing cabinets computer, etc) Trailer Tech cabins generally have a 50/50 weight distribution to allow for this added extra front load. Thus for safe delivery, your cabin may have additional frontal weight added (sandbags) inside the cabin to provide appropriate tongue weight. These can be removed and replaced with your furniture then check your tongue weight and adjust the load position as necessary for safe towing.
A general rule of thumb is that tow-ball mass should be 10-15% % of the loaded weight of your trailer.
Safe Towing
A correct tow-ball mass is critical to safe towing. It should not exceed the mass listed on the tongue of your tow-ball and/or in the tow vehicle’s manual. If the tow-ball mass is too heavy it will lift the front end of the vehicle and reduce its ability to safely brake and steer.
If the tow-ball mass is too light dangerous trailer sway is more likely.
To change your tow-ball mass redistributes your payload. Sometimes it can be as simple as moving your payload from the front of the trailer back over the axle or the trailer’s centre of gravity. Otherwise, you may have to reduce the payload altogether.
As the majority of Cabin owners add extra weight to the front of their cabin (furniture, filing cabinets computer, etc) Trailer Tech cabins generally have a 50/50 weight distribution to allow for this added extra front load. Thus for safe delivery, your cabin may have additional frontal weight added (sandbags) inside the cabin to provide appropriate tongue weight. These can be removed and replaced with your furniture then check your tongue weight and adjust the load position as necessary for safe towing.
A general rule of thumb is that tow-ball mass should be 10-15% % of the loaded weight of your trailer.
You can use a bathroom scale and a box to measure the tongue weight of smaller trailers.
Place the coupler of the loaded trailer on the scale at normal towing height (Figure A). For heavier tongue weights, use the second method (Figure B).
Be sure to perform these measurements on a level surface and with a leveled trailer.
Place the coupler of the loaded trailer on the scale at normal towing height (Figure A). For heavier tongue weights, use the second method (Figure B).
Be sure to perform these measurements on a level surface and with a leveled trailer.
To use the method in Figure B, follow these guidelines:
- Always place the trailer tongue 1 foot from the pipe on the support brick
- Multiply the reading on the scale by the total distance between the 2 support pipes
- Use a brick that is the same thickness as the scale so that the 2 x 4 is level when you weigh your trailer
For example, if the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the scale is 2 feet and the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the support brick is 1 foot, then you would multiply the reading on the scale by 3 to get the tongue weight. If the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the scale is 3 feet and the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the support brick is 1 foot, then you would multiply the reading on the scale by 4 to get the tongue weight.
What is GVM Check and Why is it Important?
GVM Check helps make sure your vehicle is not over loaded!
Find out more about GVM Check, and GVM safety - https://gvmcheck.com.au/gvm-mobile-vehicle-towing-weight-checking/
QLD Towing Vehicles and Trailers -
https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/vehicle-safety/towing/towing-vehicles-and-trailers
https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/vehicle-safety/towing/towing-vehicles-and-trailers
NSW Towing Vehicles and Trailers -
https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-safety-and-rules/vehicle-safety-and-compliance/towing-a-caravan
https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-safety-and-rules/vehicle-safety-and-compliance/towing-a-caravan
VIC Towing Vehicles and Trailers -
https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/building-policy/caravan-parks-and-movable-dwellings
https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/building-policy/caravan-parks-and-movable-dwellings
WA Towing Vehicles and Trailers -
https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/road-safety-commission/towing
https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/road-safety-commission/towing
SA Towing Vehicles and Trailers -
https://www.police.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/955023/2021-Caravan-or-Camper-Trailer-Factsheet.pdf
https://www.police.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/955023/2021-Caravan-or-Camper-Trailer-Factsheet.pdf
NT Towing Vehicle and Trailers -
https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/263029/road-users-handbook.pdf
https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/263029/road-users-handbook.pdf