Please Note: In this Towing Guide, the word 'trailer' refers to caravans, camper trailers, tent trailers, horse floats, boat trailers and box trailers.
Caravan
Modern caravans are built using either a timber, aluminium frame, or sandwich panel and can vary in length from 3 - 12.5 metres. They can be up to 2.5 metres wide (including any fittings). They require very little time to set up on site but can have a higher wind resistance when towing than a pop top caravan or a camper trailer. |
Pop Top Caravan
Pop tops feature a canvas, vinyl or fabric insert that connects the roof to the sides of the caravan. This insert allows the roof to be lowered for travelling. With the roof lowered, the vehicle's height, and therefore wind resistance, is reduced and its centre of gravity is lowered. |
5th Wheel Caravan
5th Wheelers have all the features of a standard caravan but are designed to be towed by utilities or trucks. The towing connection is mounted on the tray of the tow vehicle, as close as possible to the rear axle. The 5th
Wheeler's suspension carries the majority of its gross weight, with the balance distributed forward of the rear
suspension over the differential rather than the extreme rear of the tow vehicle. |
Camper Trailer and Tent Trailer
Tent trailers, a cross between a caravan and a luxury tent, are compact and popular for off-road use. The camper
trailer is a low profile caravan with a wind-up roof and usually push-out bed sections at either end of the trailer.
With their light mass and low wind resistance, camper trailers and tent trailers are easy to tow and are suitable
for smaller tow vehicles. |
Slide-on Camper
A caravan body which slides on and is secured to the bed of a utility. |
Motorhome
A self-powered, selfcontained unit driven from a cabin that allows easy access to the rest of the vehicle. |
Campervan
A motorised van equipped with sleeping, refrigeration, washing, cooking and dining facilities designed for recreational travel. |
ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass)
The total laden weight of a trailer, which includes the tow ball mass and whatever you add as payload (eg. water, gas,
luggage). The ATM is specified by the trailer manufacturer and must not be exceeded.
GCM (Gross Combination Mass)
The maximum laden mass of a motor vehicle plus the maximum laden weight of any trailer(s) it can tow. The GCM is specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
GTM (Gross Trailer Mass)
The total permissible mass which includes whatever you add as payload (eg. water, gas and luggage) that can be supported by the wheels of a trailer. This does not include the mass supported by the tow ball. The GTM is specified by the manufacturer and must not be exceeded.
Tare Mass
The unladen weight of the trailer.
Tow Ball Mass
The weight imposed on the rear of the tow vehicle's tow ball from the coupling of a trailer or caravan.
Payload
Payload is specified by the manufacturer. It must not be exceeded under any circumstances. Safety, insurance &
warranty may be affected if the specified payload is exceeded. |
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