MARCH 2022

'It is of great concern'

Put RV ratings on trailer plates, says CIAA

  Have your say

THE Caravan Council of Australia has warned that there is still a major caravan industry problem ... with vehicle ratings and masses frequently being grossly misunderstood or simply ignored.

"It is extremely strange – and most disappointing ‒ that the GTM rating, Empty Ball-loading and Tare Mass are not legally required to be stated on the trailer plate," general manager Colin Young says.

"Vehicle Safety Standards must ‒ with the highest priority - provide and distribute a bulletin or an administrator's circular to all relevant authorities, industry bodies, manufacturers and suppliers to clearly explain the various ratings and masses.

"It is of great concern that so many people continue to believe, and use, the hideously-incorrect 'old husband tale' or 'equation'."

Mr Young says that the Empty Ball Loading equals ATM rating minus GTM rating or GTM rating equals ATM rating minus empty ball-loading is completely wrong.

There is no logical relationship involved whatsoever," he says. "It is like trying to compare apples with bananas."

He explains that the ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass) and the GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) figures are fixed ratings allocated by manufacturers using an engineering assessment in relation to the maximum-permissible 'all-up' and axle(s)' limits.

"The empty ball-loading is an actual mass that must be measured and is obviously applicable only for the empty (tare mass) condition," he says.

"The correct formula at any time is actual ball loading is All-up Mass" minus Axle(s)-Loading.

"The Axle-Group Rating must be less than the lowest rating of the wheels, tyres, suspension structure, springs, axles, and wheel-bearings.

"The minimum axle(s)-loading is that measured when the caravan is completely empty and is connected to the tow-vehicle.

"The maximum axle(s)-loading is that measured when the caravan is loaded to its GTM rating and is connected to the tow-vehicle."

BACK TO CARAVANNING NEWS MAIN PAGE