23 Oct Are you towing illegally?

Posted at 11:23h in News Articles 2024 by

Understanding vehicle towing capacity: towing capacity is the amount of weight that can safely be towed by a vehicle. Ignoring it can have implications both for your vehicle and road handling, and your insurance cover.

A vehicle’s maximum towing capacity is based on its overall design and individual elements, such as the engine, brakes, wheels, and suspension. When you tow a weight exceeding what is recommended, you place stress on the various components of the vehicle, which may impact on its handling, especially braking and acceleration, and general manoeuvrability. The vehicle and whatever it is towing (a trailer or caravan, for example), could experience dangerous swaying/side-to-side movement that could present a danger both to the driver and other road users. In extreme circumstances, the trailer could flip over, dragging the towing vehicle with it. Driving an excessively laden vehicle will also affect its fuel economy.

Remember that drivers require an appropriate driver’s licence for towing larger trailers and caravans: a code B licence (the most common) is sufficient for light towing – anything under 750kg. For anything larger, drivers require a code EB licence.

Determining the maximum towing capacity

The owner’s manual for the vehicle should state the exact towing capacity for that model. You could also ask your mechanic / vehicle dealer.

You also need to check before you start your journey that the trailer is registered and safe to tow, with properly-functioning brakes, lights, etc.

What else is included?

It is vital to include the load being carried inside the vehicle: the number of passengers, any luggage, and items being carried on the roof, as this will add to the total weight.

Some important definitions (with thanks to caravansa.co.za)

Tare: Also known as ‘dry weight’; the tare of your car or caravan is the mass of the vehicle without passengers, fuel or luggage, but including all standard fittings.

Payload: This is the maximum mass the vehicle, caravan or trailer may carry, including passengers, fuel and luggage.

Gross vehicle mass (GVM): This is the sum of the tare and payload, and equals the maximum permissible, fully loaded mass of the vehicle.

Gross combination mass (GCM): As the term implies, this is the sum of the GVM of the towcar and the vehicle manufacturer’s maximum towing capacity for that vehicle – that is, the mass of the fully laden towing vehicle plus the maximum towing capacity as stated by the manufacturer.

Towbar static load: The maximum permissible downward force on a towbar is specified as its static load.

Towbar maximum drawing capacity: Towbar manufacturers specify what maximum mass of trailer or caravan may be towed with a particular towbar.

Noseweight: The mass of a caravan or trailer measured at the tow hitch. By law in South Africa, it has to be between 25kg and 100kg.

Manufacturer’s maximum towing capacity: Vehicle manufacturers specify the maximum towing capacity, in kilograms, that their vehicles can handle, so GCM – GVM = towing capacity.

Here are two brake-related concepts that also need to be understood:

Braked trailer: Certain caravans and trailers come standard with what is known as an ‘overrun’ brake system, and are then classed as ‘braked’ trailers or caravans. South African law stipulates that all caravans and trailers with a GVM above 750kg must be braked. In simple terms, overrun brakes are activated when the tow vehicle’s brakes are applied: a shock absorber behind the caravan’s coupling compresses with the forward force of the caravan, which activates the overrun brakes mechanically by means of cables. This causes the caravan or trailer to brake simultaneously with, or fractionally after, the towcar.

Service (additional) brakes: These aren’t common in South Africa. Most often referred to as ‘service brakes’, they are hydraulic, vacuum or electrical braking systems for caravans or trailers. Such a system needs to be fitted to a caravan or trailer if it has a GVM in excess of the tare of the towcar. All three types are engaged by depressing the brake pedal on the towcar, and some systems can be independently controlled from inside the car with a switch or lever.

Please note:

Insurance claims resulting from accidents while towing may face serious challenges if any of the following apply:

  • The towbar or drop-plate fitted to your towcar by an aftermarket accessory supplier is not SABS-approved.
  • You use an approved drop-plate and approved towbar from an aftermarket accessory supplier, but they have not been approved together as a unit.
  • You exceed the maximum drawing capacity of the towbar.
  • You exceed the maximum towing capacity of the towcar as advertised by the manufacturer.
  • The GVM of your overrun-braked caravan or trailer is more than the tare of your towcar.
  • The GVM of your unbraked caravan or trailer is more than half the tare of your towcar.
  • The driver of the towing vehicle does not have the appropriate licence to do so in terms of the weight of the trailer/caravan.

In summary, it’s essential to observe your vehicle’s towing capacity to ensure optimal performance, safety, and to avoid potentially costly repairs, as well as non-compliance with your insurance policy in the event of needing to make a claim. Ensure that when you tow, you do so safely and legally.

Please note: The information contained in this article is not offered as ‘advice’ in terms of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 2002 as amended, and policyholders should consult with their intermediaries and the policy wording so as to ensure a full and complete understanding of the cover offered to them in terms of the Safire policy of insurance.