cut_loose Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Hey guys I'm turning 17 this year and i'm getting my P Plates. My dad has agreed to let me sell my tinny to buy a car and that if i wish to go fishing, i can tow his boat. He is willing to teach me how to drive towing and doing some reserving at a ramp on a quiet day. Now the only problem i have is that the trailer weighs 260kg unloaded. The limit for Red P Plates is 250kg unloaded. It would be a shame to have to sell the trailer and buy one that fits under the 250kg law. Is it possible to get the trailer down 10kg, get it put on a weigh bridge and have the weight changed on the rego papers? I have a spare wheel, brakes and metal mud guards on the trailer, if these were changed and the spare wheel was removed do you think i'd get the weight to 250kg ? I'm not sure if the trailer was first weighed with the spare trailer on it or not.. Thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew399 Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 id say dropping the tire would just about have you under... I dont know what the rules are and if you can change it or not, how far do you live from the ramp? For that much hassle over 10kg its nearly worth risking it i rekon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hawkesbass Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 The weight you refer to does that include the boat as this will need to be taken into consideration as the weight limit is for total weight being towed not just the trailer on its own You will also need to ensure the towbar you have fitted or if a towbar is fitted to the car you buy what capacity it is rated to tow with hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cut_loose Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 id say dropping the tire would just about have you under... I dont know what the rules are and if you can change it or not, how far do you live from the ramp? For that much hassle over 10kg its nearly worth risking it i rekon! I've been told the same thing mate. I've been told as long as i drive safe and responsibly, if i get pulled over i act nice, then i should be fine with being over 10kg. The weight you refer to does that include the boat as this will need to be taken into consideration as the weight limit is for total weight being towed not just the trailer on its own You will also need to ensure the towbar you have fitted or if a towbar is fitted to the car you buy what capacity it is rated to tow with hope this helps Nah mate, it's unloaded weight. Which refers to just the weight of the trailer. There is no limit for what is on the trailer. My tow car will be a vx commodore sedan so i should be all sweet there. Cheers guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz_brett Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Quintrex101 I have just checked and You are right with the 250kg it is unloaded weight! but to change the compiance of the trailer you would have to cancell the rego and start again by taking the unloaded trailer to an RTA with a weigh bridge so that they can re-weigh it. You would hope that the previouse weight included the spare but I dont like your chances most trailer manufacturers would know the weight of the basic trailer and have a permit to do that part of the rego them sel, I have purchased a box trailer like this. You would have to chnage the guards and maybe even change to alloy wheels if you dont already have them. if it were me, I would risk it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew399 Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 sounds like alot of hassle for 10kgs! Id risk it, its unlikely you would ever get stopped in the first place and i cant imagine they would be that fussed. Your biggest issue would be if you had an accident and then insurance companies might not cover you... Who knows, but if you had the 10kgs already stripped off so the trailer did in fact weigh under 250kg you would have a case despite the rego still stating 260. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cut_loose Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Quintrex101 I have just checked and You are right with the 250kg it is unloaded weight! but to change the compiance of the trailer you would have to cancell the rego and start again by taking the unloaded trailer to an RTA with a weigh bridge so that they can re-weigh it. You would hope that the previouse weight included the spare but I dont like your chances most trailer manufacturers would know the weight of the basic trailer and have a permit to do that part of the rego them sel, I have purchased a box trailer like this. You would have to chnage the guards and maybe even change to alloy wheels if you dont already have them. if it were me, I would risk it! Thanks mate, might sound like it's worth a chance sounds like alot of hassle for 10kgs! Id risk it, its unlikely you would ever get stopped in the first place and i cant imagine they would be that fussed. Your biggest issue would be if you had an accident and then insurance companies might not cover you... Who knows, but if you had the 10kgs already stripped off so the trailer did in fact weigh under 250kg you would have a case despite the rego still stating 260. Thanks mate, i think i'll just risk it, seems like i should be alright Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafinx Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) Go to the tip and ask them nicely to weigh the trailer for you. They have weighing stations there for trucks. Edited January 10, 2012 by Rafinx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoB Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 G'day, Insurance would be the big issue...not the cars or boat but the people in them would be screwed. The insurance companies are as low as they come (7 years of personal experience) and will use every little detail to get out of paying a cent... Cheers Leo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aussie007 Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 theres a weigh bridge in chipping norton if your in the west they charged i think $27 well worth the price when u risk a fine and loosing points possibly your license over it if u were to kill someone towing the boat illegally u could see things turn nasty over 10kg's as in a serious crash that 10kg will be used against u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cut_loose Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Leo: Dad was saying that, might have to get it weighted anyway and change the rego over Gazza: When you put it that way it might be worth it mate, only 10 minute drive, thanks, i'll let you know how i go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Incredible Hull Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 id say dropping the tire would just about have you under... I dont know what the rules are and if you can change it or not, how far do you live from the ramp? For that much hassle over 10kg its nearly worth risking it i rekon! :thumbup: Its 10kg mate... Its like speeding 1km/hr over the speed limit... plus there's too many cars on NSW roads and not enough police, don't worry too much about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFB Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I see a problem here with how this thread is going. If someone had a 60cm kingfish is it alright to keep as it is just a bit under the legal size. I think everyone would agree "No", then why would it be alright to tow the trailer just because it is a "little bit" over the allowed weight. The rules are there for a reason. I am sorry but I have to say that if the rego and compliance plate on the trailer states that it weighs more than 250kg then you should not tow it whilst on "P" plates. Also if you where to be involved in an accident, it would not matter if it was your fault or not, the insurance company would wipe you straight away and from then on it can get very costly. Remember if you have an accident and you are over the legal alcohol limit it does not matter if you are in the right or wrong your insurance is null and void. The same would go with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Incredible Hull Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I see a problem here with how this thread is going. If someone had a 60cm kingfish is it alright to keep as it is just a bit under the legal size. I think everyone would agree "No", then why would it be alright to tow the trailer just because it is a "little bit" over the allowed weight. The rules are there for a reason. I am sorry but I have to say that if the rego and compliance plate on the trailer states that it weighs more than 250kg then you should not tow it whilst on "P" plates. Also if you where to be involved in an accident, it would not matter if it was your fault or not, the insurance company would wipe you straight away and from then on it can get very costly. Remember if you have an accident and you are over the legal alcohol limit it does not matter if you are in the right or wrong your insurance is null and void. The same would go with this. Just out of curiosity, if a cop pulls me over whilst I'm towing my boat, how would he weigh my trailer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aussie007 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Just out of curiosity, if a cop pulls me over whilst I'm towing my boat, how would he weigh my trailer? it has the weight on the rego sticker i think he can also call back to base and they will tell him the rego details Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggs Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 it has the weight on the rego sticker i think he can also call back to base and they will tell him the rego details its stamped on the compliance plate on your trailer as well. for all to see fine you will risk 10kg but can you risk $40k if you wipe out a car and your insurance wont pay ? towing insurance is a extra on some policies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cut_loose Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 I'm gonna get it re weighed anyway and get it under 250kg when time for rego comes up, i'll let it run out, so hopefully that does it. If not, i'll talk dad into selling the trailer and buying a new one. It seems like alot of hassle but i'm sure the upgrade won't be that much, i don't wanna risk anything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Green Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 I have a box trailer which had a weight of 260kg on the rego papers. (I can't remeber if the weight is shown on the builder's plate). Becuase it was over 250kgs I was paying about double the yearly rego. So I stripped it down and took it to a registered (doesn't have to be an rta) weigh station. I used the one at the p**t k****a wharfes. They charged me $20 and gave me a receipt with the new weight. Problem was that it still showed up over 250. So the bloke weighing it re-positioned it on the bridge so it would come in under 250kg. Took the receipt to the rta and they changed it over in 2 minutes and I now save about $60 a year in rego. It's a simple process. If you think you can get it down under 250kg it's worth doing. BTW, if you got 3 people type scales and put one under each wheel and the jockey wheel and add up all the weights shown you will be able to see how much it weighs before you take it down and spend $30 at a weigh bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aussie007 Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 yeah i wouldnt goto an RTA weigh bridge as the weigh bridge bloke asks for your trailers vin number so the RTA weigh bridge might keep track of it i just take my trailers to a industrial area weigh bridge all the truckies use its a small caltex weigh bridge in chipping norton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarraone Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I change the trailer wieght of my trailer so that I woldnt need brakes fitted or need to get a inspection every year.. I had to take the boat off the trailer and get a wieghbridge ticket from a public wieghbridge.. Then go tot he RTA to ammend my rego.. Now I dont have to have brakes and I dont need a inspection every year and the rego is cheaper.. It is all an easy fix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarraone Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 However once you put your boat on the trailer all this goes out the window TECHNICALLY.. because your GVM has now changed..I have had this argument a number of times.. because when your GVM exceeds 750kg's... You now need brakes and other safety regards...??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Green Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 YarraOne, my understanding is that regardless of what the rego papers or plates say any load of total weight exceeding 750kg's must be travelling on a braked trailer. I recently changed my boat trailer to a braked one because when travelling on trips with gear loaded in the boat I was exceeding the 750kg's. I didn't want this hanging over my head when I was on holidays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cut_loose Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 My dad has never really liked the brakes that much and would be happier with the cheaper repo and not having to get them checked every year. I think i might give this a go ! i think my boat would weigh under 750kg complete package anyway, but i'll find out Thanks for your help guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggs Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 My dad has never really liked the brakes that much and would be happier with the cheaper repo and not having to get them checked every year. I think i might give this a go ! i think my boat would weigh under 750kg complete package anyway, but i'll find out Thanks for your help guys over the holidays the rta was pulling over trailer boats up kempsey way $1 per kg you were overweight was the fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
night_rider Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) I got pulled over on my Reds pulling a 2400kg double axle full of dirt bikes on the way to Oberon Pine Forest, I explained i was unaware about the 250kg towing limit, although i was fully aware, very polite and the highway officer said considering the trailer and car are both in very road worthy order i have no issue, but try not to do it again.... To be honest, they are very unlikely to actually check, a 250kg trailer is going to look very simliar to a 260 trailer? Get out there Edited January 24, 2012 by Marky Wants to Fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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