the float is extended you may at a
later time be installing cupboards,
or other living additions. Gear and
saddle racks and storage areas will
also add to the GTM. Consideration
must also be made for extras such as
water tanks, roof racks, and portable
yard sections that are attached
to the side of the float. We need to
think ahead and look to the future
as to what we may change or add.
We usually have floats much longer
than we have vehicles, so care must
be taken that a replacement vehicle
still meets the safety and legal
requirements. So the bottom line is to
allow for extras and not just be legal
in the present, so we need to boost
the weight of the GTM to come to a
safe estimate.
Electrical sockets for trailer lights,
must be fitted to the towing vehicle,
and where necessary suitable
brake connections. The lead must
be long enough to reach the socket
comfortably, especially when the
float is turning and on an acute angle
to the vehicle. All lights, including
brake lights, must be working and
should be checked before the journey
begins. It is amazing the number
of drivers who travel breaking this
regulation. If the lights don’t work
they still go ahead, often with a mate
on their tail so that they act as the
trailer lights. There is always a risk
that a globe will blow on a journey,
so it always pays to have a couple of
spares on hand. On a long journey
lights should be checked every now
and then. Police will soon pull any
trailer over without lights and they
will not always accept the excuse
that the globe must have just blown.
You may not have noticed that you
are illegal with a blown globe, but
if you can produce one from your
spares, then usually the
policeman will accept
that you are in fact a
responsible driver. If
you are towing a wide
float, or gooseneck, extra
mirrors may be required
on your vehicle, but
these should be removed
when not towing.
If your vehicle (meaning
the towing vehicle
together with the trailer)
is 7.5m long or longer
The GVM of a motor vehicle can be found on the VIN
then a “Do not overtake
Plate of your car.
turning vehicle” if lanes
need to be straddled
when turning is
required. If the sign is
attached to the rear
of your vehicle, other
vehicles must give way
whilst your vehicle uses
part or all of an adjacent Your Horse Float will have the VIN Plate normally on
second lane for turning.
the draw bar.
You will have right of
way to complete these
turns. It is an offence
to not display these
signs. This regulation
does not only apply to
goosenecks, but may
apply to extended floats.
By law, only one trailer
can be attached to the
towing vehicle and this is
The Australian standard rating on the side of the
simply common sense. At
coupling
times a float or a caravan
there are too many vehicle types
is coupled to a horse
and makes to discuss in full. The
truck and this rule certainly applies
Towing Ratio is the critical key to
if that combination exceeds the 7.5m
compliance. As each state has its
length. Many are not aware of this
own variation on the regulations and
and could suffer the consequences if
there is a good chance of crossing
pulled over, or if in an accident.
borders, then we need to comply
with the toughest laws. Wherever we
Now getting it together, that is the
are the towing ratio cannot be any
tow vehicle and the trailer being
heavier than the load rating of your
towed, it is wise to seek advice, as
car’s towbar, and it must
not exceed the trailer’s
recommendations
of manufacturer.
Where the
manufacturer’s
recommendations
are not available
due to the age of
the float, or if it
was purchased
second hand, a safe
estimate is that
trailers must not
exceed 1.5 times
the empty weight of
the car for trailers
fitted with brakes
(most floats are).
For trailers without
brakes they must
Page 38 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • March • April • 2016