Trailer Question on Importing Boat from US?

[Kleyny]

Hey RC,

Whats the Gross Vehicle Mass on the Chevy?

neil

[wrxhoon]

For that size and weight of trailer you can't use a actuator in Australia - full stop . The Aussie rules say breaking has to be able to be done from the cabin of the vehicle.

No point having 2 chains on one bolt - one bolt failure or weld failure and both gone - 2 bolts fine.

Welding rated chain - not a good idea but simplest way to get it complying ( I like the high tensile bolt idea.

I don't believe 2" are allowed.

USA hitches can be inspected and certified by an Aussie engineer but once over 2XXXkg and requiring braekaway and in cabin control no point.

Send them a template of Aussie hitch you will use so they drill the holes and put a larg enough plate on the drawbar or webbing in it etc

ADR light incorporate reflectors and most USA ones didn't

he anal blue slip inspector is a good thing as it keeps us all safe and will protect you from your own insurance company


That Aussie dollar is starting to look very attractive again.

As for the bolt I said you put a one inch bolt through the drawbar, dou you think you can ever break that ? You will break the draw bar before you break the bolt , then you weld the chain one on one side of the bolt and the other on the other side! I can assure you that will comply with ADR , personally I prefer the chain to be just bolted on with 2 x1/2" bolts one on each side but that wouldn't comply.
2" couplings are allowed under ADR , I have done several as is the USA built actuator as long as its under 2000kg.
I have a USA coupling on my trailer now ( took out the master cyl and made it so it doesn't move ) and I have sensa brakes, all S/S calipres, rotors etc .

USA trailer lights don't comply for the reasons I gave before so no point using them besides they are very cheap here even for LEDS.
Inspector doesn't need to be annal, all he has to do is measure the trailer, length , width, where the lights are located , clearance lights , reflectors , axle/ axles location to make sure it complies with ADR guidelines .

Pommy matt,
No problems at all mate if you need any more info you can pm ( I hope you have your import aproval for this trailer) . Make sure the GVM on the trailer is under 2000 kg, if it is over then you need a lot more money for brakes , the GVM will be on the plate , like the one I posted above, tell them to send you a picture .
If the GVM is above 2000 it doesn't matter if your loaded rig is under you have to comply with the actual GVM. You can't de-rated , not legally anyway.

In Australia we are not allowed to use the body of the trailer for earth, when you get your trailer she will have a funny plug for the wirring anyway so you have to get rid of it . Very simmple to wire up buy a 5 core coil of trailer wire, some lights and do it yourself , all up less that $150.

I forgot to tell you you will need a weighbridge ticket as well, should be about $25 in your local .

[leezor]

I brought a brand new Loadmaster Alloy trailer in last year from Florida and had no problems at all getting it registered with the American hitch.

When I ordered it I told them specifically it was being exported to Australia and they made sure it complied with our ADRs.
Only modification I made to it was installing a set of amber indicators, and a second set of clearance LEDs, no problem.

First thing you will need to do is take it over a weigh bridge when you get home, take the weigh bridge cerificate into Mainroads they will measure it up, and if it is all good register it no problems. No VIN or compliance plates where on mine and it was registered without any fuss.

And as for towing the boat, mine was over 2.6mt wide and I towed it legally in Qld WITHOUT any special permits. Simply follow the performance guidelines, such as oversize signs, flags and an amber rotating light if towing at night, not a problem.

[cormorant]

Aust standards are referred to in the trailer bullitens and from memory there is only mention of 50mm up to 3500kg and 127mm. I still have some 70mm balls and couplings I was stopped from using by inspectors 15 years ago on plant trailers which are all ball and pintle or pin.

From memory if it ain't 50mm, stamped on it with adr compliance and kg weight limit it ain't complying.

Not a arguement I would want to have with 10 ton gorilla called a insurance company. The Aussie standard does not accept foreign compliance as far as I know so saying the hitch and ball is good for 12000lbs in the USA is a non event as each country measures them differently and has different material standards and markings. My opinion is you are better off not having a non compliant hitch and ball on a trailer so you don't have the insurance hassle if something terrible goes wrong.

I know our standard is good but have no idea of the USA standard or how they test etc . Yep I like the USA coupleings and they are quality in my opinion but I won't use one on a aussie road. An Aussie engineer who stamps them as compliant without the full manufacturer details and support is asking for invalidated insurance and a problem one day. Yes I know endineers who are doing it for boat trailer packages coming in from the USA and I know there has been issues on reregistration and queeries back to the person who provided the blue slip. The company selling them if there is a accident may end up in a serious court case one day as they are aware of the issue but are saving a buck by not changing couplings.

[rat_catcher]

Out of interest, how much is the conversion and ADR on the Chevy? It's something i've thought about but havn't researched yet.

Darren I have sent you a PM.

[rat_catcher]

I am going down to the marina later today to measure the trailer. Will be interesting to see what it is.

I measured the trailer and it is 96" wide, so under the 2.5m max width as-is. I convert this to 2.44m.

[rat_catcher]

There are hundreds of trailer manufacturers over there. I don't know any in San Fran or California, but know plenty in Florida.

I have a list now. Posted on THT and got some good responses plus a couple of PMs with prices.

Much cheaper than I thought, but now not sure if I need to do anything but re-wire and install a proper break-away braking system on each wheel as per ADR specs.

[rat_catcher]

And as for towing the boat, mine was over 2.6mt wide and I towed it legally in Qld WITHOUT any special permits. Simply follow the performance guidelines, such as oversize signs, flags and an amber rotating light if towing at night, not a problem.

Yep I have already done all of the research on towing > 2.5m width for indivisible loads. I am comfortable with what is needed.

I even spoke with Peter Webster at F&B to get a clarification on something.

Note that F&B has the 3rd edition of their Trailers & Towing mag coming out soon so maybe this would be a good read for people interested in this type of towing.

[rat_catcher]

Do I note from the first post that the boat has a beam of 2.67M.....that is the boat is 2.67 meters wide?

If so....it will still be illegal to tow unless you plan on tilting it on its side.

Yes that is correct and based off my research and own reading of the QLD Transport "Indivisible Load" rules I believe I can tow it with certain restrictions, such as flags, signs, flashing lights, etc. plus restrictions on some days of the year and some locations.

It will not be tilted on its side.

[rat_catcher]

Magic tilt or EZ loader do them in 98" as a special order. I imagine other would as well.

The current trailer with the boat is an EZ Loader.

[rat_catcher]

Rat_catcher - if you are saying that you will be owning the boat in the US for a year before bringing it over here, then you should be OK GST wise.

That is correct. I am living in the US at the moment and when we shipped all of our personal belongings this way we had to complete Customs paperwork saying we owned the stuff and we paid no duties.

I still have to find the specific Aussie legislation to read it, but I believe the same applies when we ship our personal belongings back to Australia.

So shipping a truck and a boat that we have owned here in the US is just part of our personal belongings and thus not dutiable.

I still have to confirm this part though.

[rat_catcher]

Not sure on the GST issue if you owned it for 12 months, check it out with customs, I know you pay GST and maybe import duty if you don't own it for 12 months or if you are not a USA resident .

Yes I think being a US Resident is part of the key to this too. I still firmly believe I won't pay any import duties but still have to 100% confirm this.

If you making a new trailer as Dicko said you can have it made 98' wide, I thought you was buying a used rig.

Yes looking at a used rig, but also interested in looking at getting an Alloy trailer made here to help lessen the weight of the towed rig. With the boat I want (Glacier Bay 2690) I am right on the 4.5 tonne limit. The GB 2670 is lighter as it doesn't have the pilothouse with galley and dinette and thus comes under 4.5 tonnes easily. Plus I like the idea of an alloy trailer for maintenance issues and they are damn cheap to get made over here.

[rat_catcher]

Whats the Gross Vehicle Mass on the Chevy?

For the specific model I am looking at here which is the 2500HD Crew Cab LTZ 4x4 Duramax Diesel and Allison Transmission;

• Gross vehicle weight rating: 9,200 pounds

I believe that the GVWR here in the US is the same as the GVM in Australia. I will throw in these other capacities for anybody interested.

Crew cab payload: 2,331 pounds (4x4 LWB 6.6-liter)
Crew cab maximum towing capacity: 13,000 pounds (4x4 LWB, 6.6-liter)

Note that even though it is legal to tow 13,000 pounds (5.9 tonnes) here in the US, this vehicle is only allowed to tow 4.5 tonnes in Australia after the RHD conversion and modification to meet ADRs.

[rat_catcher]

Much cheaper than I thought, but now not sure if I need to do anything but re-wire and install a proper break-away braking system on each wheel as per ADR specs.

After reading the other posts above it sounds like I might also need to change over the coupling and tyres too.

[rat_catcher]

Here are a couple of pics for those interested. I know I always like seeing pictures! This is the Glacier Bay 2670 with 2 x Yamaha 150hp four strokes.