FAQ’S
Overloading your caravan or trailer can have serious consequences, including:
- Reduced Braking Performance: Extra weight can significantly increase stopping distances, making it harder to avoid accidents.
- Unstable Handling: Uneven weight distribution or exceeding weight limits can cause swerving, swaying, and difficulty controlling the vehicle, especially on South Australia’s diverse roads.
- Tire Blowouts: Overloaded tires are more prone to blowouts, which can lead to sudden loss of control and pose a major safety risk.
- Vehicle Damage: Exceeding weight limits can strain your vehicle’s components, leading to potential breakdowns or costly repairs.
- Fines and Impoundment: Operating an overloaded vehicle is illegal in South Australia and can result in fines or even vehicle impoundment.
Understanding these terms will help you ensure safe and legal towing:
- Gross Combination Mass (GCM): The total weight of your entire caravan and tow vehicle combination when fully loaded. This is a crucial limit to stay within for safe towing in South Australia.
- Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM): The maximum allowable weight for your caravan when fully loaded but not hitched to your vehicle. This information can be found on a compliance plate on your caravan.
- Gross Trailer Mass (GTM): The actual weight of your loaded caravan on the axles when it’s connected to your tow vehicle. The GTM will always be less than the ATM.
- Tow Ball Weight (TBM): The downward pressure exerted by your caravan on the tow ball of your towing vehicle. It’s essential to stay within your vehicle’s tow ball weight limit for safe towing.
Caravan weighing helps you:
- Optimize Weight Distribution: A balanced weight distribution across your caravan and tow vehicle is crucial for safe handling and a smoother ride on South Australia’s roads.
- Avoid Overloading: Knowing your caravan’s weight limits and ensuring you’re not overloaded prevents potential safety hazards, legal issues, and unnecessary stress during your trip.
- Maximize Payload: A weight distribution report allows you to see how much extra weight your caravan can safely handle, helping you pack efficiently for your camping adventure.
Contact Road-Ahead Mobile Weigh today at 0421 877 509 to schedule a convenient on-site weighing appointment for your caravan in Adelaide or anywhere in South Australia. We’ll help you ensure a safe and legal journey for your next adventure!
There are three main reasons to weigh your vehicle before you hit the road in South Australia:
- Safety: Exceeding weight limits can compromise braking performance, handling, and tire integrity, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Legality: Operating an overloaded vehicle is illegal and can result in fines or even vehicle impoundment.
- Insurance: Some insurance policies may become void if your vehicle is involved in an accident while overloaded.
Road-Ahead Mobile Weigh can weigh a variety of vehicles in South Australia, including:
- Cars and SUVs
- Caravans and camper trailers
- Boat trailers
- 4WDs and trucks
- Trade vehicles(Fleet vehicles)
Our comprehensive weighing service typically includes:
- Individual wheel weights: This helps ensure even weight distribution for optimal handling and stability.
- Axle weights: We’ll weigh both axles of your vehicle and your trailer (if applicable) to ensure they are not overloaded.
- Detailed weight distribution report: This report will show you the weight on each wheel and axle, as well as key weight limits for your vehicle (GVM, ATM, TBM, etc.).
- Expert recommendations: Our team can offer advice on optimizing weight distribution within your vehicle for a safe and smooth journey.
Yes! Road-Ahead Mobile Weigh provides convenient on-site weighing services throughout South Australia. We’ll come to your location and weigh your vehicle, eliminating the need to travel to a weighbridge.
Contact Road-Ahead Mobile Weigh directly at 0421 877 509 for current pricing information.
There are several key weight limits you should be familiar with when towing a caravan, boat trailer, or other equipment:
- Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): This is the maximum allowable weight for your vehicle, including passengers, cargo, and any accessories.
- Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM): This is the maximum allowable weight for your caravan or trailer when it’s not hitched to your vehicle.
- Gross Trailer Mass (GTM): This is the actual weight of your loaded caravan or trailer when it’s connected to your vehicle.
- Tow Ball Mass (TBM): This is the downward pressure exerted by your caravan or trailer on the tow ball of your vehicle.
You can find your vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) on the manufacturer’s label located inside the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual. The weight limits for your caravan or trailer will be listed on a compliance plate on the vehicle itself.
I’m located in Adelaide. Can you weigh my vehicle?
Yes! Road-Ahead Mobile Weigh is located in Adelaide and offers weighing services throughout South Australia.