Recommended Trailer Speed (hope this isn't duplicated)

[Brad O]

Hi All , I just purchased a Sea Trail (Ausmarine) trailer I've noticed the recommended max speed is 90Kph on the manufacturers plate! I've owned one previously and towed at 110 Kph no problems. Are there insurance issues I have to worry about or does the recommended max just cover the manufacturer for any liability if something goes wrong?? Regards

[The-easyrider]

Good question and I am keen to hear the answer but I feel compelled to go out into the cold and check my trailer.

[cgibbo308]

just checked the nsw rta site and all its says is dont exceed the posted speed limit. i am sure that, some years ago the speed limit when towing was 80 or 90ks. since the rta has now stated that there is no speed difference between towing and non towing, all i can come up with is..
the wheels/tyres that they have fitted to the trailer must be only rated to 90kph....
mind you, you wouldnt want to be going any faster than 90k in 4th gear if you have a overdrive 5 speed box (fuel wise)
any other ideas???

[cormorant]

I wouldn't accept that- well listen to what they tell you but???.

Speak with the company and seek a explaination and a replating or a refund. Especially if you described your purpose to tow on open road and freeway when buying.

Trailer manufacturers list trailer details with the road authorities and subsequently police can/ or will be able to access this. With automatic speed cameras and numberplate readers in cop cars this can only lead to a problem.

Insurance nightmare if there is a accident or you have a speed infringement while towing.

I suspect it is a tyres or wheels issue or some other underspec item.

Does it by any chance have the 12 inch wheels??? A lot of those tyres / rims were only ever rated to 90km/h and police know it along with their small weight carrying capacity..

[thylacene]

agreed, plated to 90 will stand up in court regardless get it re~plated or conform. We have a litigious society, it sucks but that's life

I'd rather be fishing

[Brad O]

Thanks for your comments so far. Tyres are 13" Light Truck with a S speed rating i.e. 180Kph. I wonder what factors make the difference as far as max speed is concerned?

[finga]

I reckon it's the hubs and bearings restricting the speed.

I'd be upset about the speed limiting.
Did they mention that to you when buying or picking it up?

[oldboot]

I undertook a myth busting effort on the wheel tire and bearing speed restriction premiss a while ago.

Ya cant legally fit a tyre rated only at 90Kmh to any road going vehicle in australia, likewise the rim...cant recall the minimum rating but it equates to the "r" tyre rating.

There are some rims branded "for trailer use only"..but I did not find any speed restrictions within legal speeds.

There are load restrictions on some of the smaller tyres that come into play.......and there are maximum tyre preasuers imposed on some rims, that does not allow the maximum load to be achieved for a tyre on that rim..... but that does not concern speed

There are load at speed tables in the rim and tyre manual... but they do not come into play at legal road speeds on road tyres.

I spoke in detail to one of the engineers at a bearing company.....even the smallest legal wheels are well within the bearing specification at 110Kph.
Think how fast the Morris Mini went on 10 inch rims, and they were not known for bearing failures either on the road or in competition.

One thing we need to find out.....is this 90KPH....."recomended".....or is it plated as "Maximum permitted"

Either way.......I would not have a trailer thus plated.......and I would be very interested how it stands legally and per VSB1 and the regs and standards it is sourced from.

I do not believe it would be legal to manufacture a trailer for road use that was not safe and capable at 110Kph.

cheers

[stue2]

Not sure what trailer you have. Is it posible that it's because of the tow arm being bolted instead of welded?

Cheers, Stu

[trueblue]

I'l have to go and read my trailers manufacturers plate now...

[cormorant]

New traler running 13" rims?????? Bugger that for a joke. Pain in the but finding cheaper tyres if you are at the weight limit of your trailer.

So my tractor ( which is registered) has tyres that can do 100km/h??? Off to fit the high high high range option. I know what you are saying though. Tractor tryes used to be rated at 50km'h I think and I saw some fancy ones recetly rated at 65km/h. at light loadings the higher the speed. Basically tehrating had to be higher than the vehicles capability.

[stue2]

Yep even the little 8" china woodsplitter tyre has 55mph rating.

As stated in the National Australian Towing Regulations

Since December 1998 all trailers can be towed at the speed limit for that particular road with the exception of Western Australia.

You should remember that in some cases motor vehicle manufacturers place speed restrictions on a vehicle when towing over a certain mass. Ford only permits 100km/h if the load is less than 1200 kg. At 1600 kg this drops to 90km/h. The speed further reduces until at 2300 kg, 80km/h is the maximum. Holden takes a similar approach but also ties the vehicle speed to the type of towing equipment fitted. Spending a few minutes reading the trailer towing section in the owners manual is highly recommended.

Looks as though they presume you are towing a boat trailer that is over 1200kg and under 1600kg with a Ford or Holden, which could make that plate on the trailer plausible

Although here is another from crikey adventure tours that suggests 90kmh in Tassy and the West

Australia has a set of national regulations for weight limits for towing vehicles. Speed limits may also apply. In most States, motorists are required only to observe normal speed limits as signed. On some of the Northern Territory’s outback roads where there are no limits, caravanners are asked to drive at a safe towing speed. In Tasmania a 90 km/h limit applies. In Western Australia a 90 km/h limit applies where the caravan weighs over 750 kg and 100 km/h for caravans under 750 kg

So question. What State was the trailer purchased in. Might be the answer to this weight issue.

Cheers Stu

[trueblue]

too right re the 13" rims - I have to buy light truck tyres at nearly $100 a corner because there are bugger all options available

[stue2]

http://www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/safe-towing.html
http://www.campertrailers.org/towing_regulations.htm

Sorry forgot to post the links that I used

[oldboot]

Yeh ford and holden have always fiddled about with tow ratings....the most likly reason for the restriction from ford and GM is warranty related associated with the transmission and drive train.

bothe ford and holden seem to have a range of different towing ratings depending on the engine transmission and towing pack options...unlike toyota who have one set of ratings for a particular model and no speed restrictions.

Yeh my old XF longreach ute used to start smelling a bit after pulling up the hills from the boat ramp, and that was with only 700KG on the tail and nothing over 80Kmh.

Part of the towing pack options for both ford and GMH was an additional transmission cooler.

cheers