14 RV FEATURE
SPEED
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You can ’ t assume that you can travel as fast as everyone else on the road when towing , even though the blanket 80km / h limit for caravanners was abandoned years ago .
For example , some vehicles , such as Subarus and pre-VZ Holden Commodores , have a maximum permitted speed of 80km / h when towing . Some states have lower towing speed limits too . For example , in New South Wales , if your Gross Combined Mass is more than 4.5 tonnes , you are not permitted to tow at more than 100km / h even if the speed limit is higher .
DRIVE TO THE CONDITIONS
It should go without saying , but drive / tow according to the prevailing conditions and within the limitations of your rig . Some caravan / vehicle combinations perform well at highway speeds , while to sit on 100km / h for others is a bit too much to ask . Soon enough , you ’ ll have a ‘ feel ’ for your rig ’ s ‘ sweet spot ’.
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BRAKE CONTROLLER ADJUSTMENT
It ’ s good practice to periodically check the setting of your electric brake controller at low speed on a quiet stretch of road . Overadjusting the van ’ s brakes will chew through its brake pads in no time . Under-adjusting will create a dangerous over-reliance on the vehicle ’ s brakes ( also leading to premature wear of its brake pads ).
Adjust the controller until both the van and the vehicle brake together as a single ‘ unit ’, without the van pulling or pushing the vehicle .
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