Tips for using a trailer when you hire equipment

If you’re planning to use a trailer to move machinery, these tips and tricks will help you get your equipment where you need to go safely. Remember if you have any questions about how to load or remove equipment from your trailer – or what size of vehicle is required for the load you want to move – just ask our team.

In this article we’re looking at the requirements and advice for using a light simple trailer as defined by NZTA. Advice may be different for other types of trailer so we recommend referring to the NZTA for all safety and legal requirements.

Light trailers are classified by NZTA as a vehicle that’s:

• Without an engine/their own power source to move them
• Got a maximum GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) of 3500 kilograms or less. (The GVM includes the maximum load that the trailer can carry.) This is usually specified by the manufacturer.

Light trailers as a definition includes class TA trailers (GVM up to 0.75 tonnes) and class TB trailers (GVM from 0.75 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes).

What size of vehicle do I need to tow my trailer?

The law requires that every light vehicle and trailer must be capable of stopping within seven metres when travelling at a speed of 30km/h. That means that the maximum weight of an unbraked trailer is limited by the weight and breaking ability of the vehicle towing it. This, in combination with the tow rating of your vehicle, should help you to calculate the maximum load you can carry on an unbraked trailer. Your tow coupling and tow bar must be strong enough to safely tow your fully laden trailer.

You can find the tow rating of your vehicle in your manual or on the compliance plate for the tow bar. You can also find your vehicle’s tow rating on the AA website.

Need help calculating how much you can load onto your trailer? Try this explanation from NZTA:

“The Transport Agency recommends, as a guide, that the laden weight of an unbraked trailer should not exceed three quarters of the unladen weight of the towing vehicle and then only if the towing vehicle’s brakes and tyres are in excellent condition. A trailer heavier than this may prevent the vehicle combination from meeting the seven metre from 30km/h brake performance requirement. To illustrate the increase in stopping distance when towing an unbraked trailer, consider a trailer with a laden weight equal to the weight of the towing vehicle.

This combination can be expected to have double the stopping distance of the towing vehicle alone, and even a towing vehicle with good brakes is likely to fail the legal brake performance requirement of seven metres from 30km/h. If the trailer is equipped with brakes, it may be possible to safely tow a trailer heavier than three quarters of the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, but the seven metres from 30km/h brake performance requirement still applies.”

It’s also important to make sure that your vehicle has the right tow ball to connect with the trailer coupling. In New Zealand there are two standard sizes of tow ball, 1 ⅞ and 50mm. Some trailers come with a multi-fit coupling but if not it’s important to make sure your tow ball is the right size. It’s also important to make sure that both the tow ball and coupling are in good condition before you connect them.

Important to note: cars, utes and light vehicles can only tow one trailer or vehicle at a time.

How do I safely load my trailer?

It’s important to make sure you’re on level ground before you load or unload your trailer.

When you load your trailer it’s important to do it safely. That means you need to start by making sure your trailer and vehicle are on level ground with all brakes on. If you load a trailer on uneven ground there’s a chance that the trailer could become unbalanced or the vehicle’s rear wheels could come off the ground.

Tips from NZTA for arranging your load include to:

* Keep the height as low as possible by spreading goods out evenly across the floor or deck of the trailer
* Where it’s necessary to stack the load, to make sure you keep larger and heavier items at the bottom
* Try to arrange your load so it doesn’t project outside the trailer
* Position your load as close to the axle as possible and avoid placing heavier loads towards the rear of the trailer.
* Make sure there’s a downward force at the point of attachment, to improve handling characteristics when you are towing.

Important to note: If you remove any item from your load during your journey, don’t forget to rebalance your load and re-secure it before you start moving again.

How should I secure my load onto the trailer?

Your load should be secured at the designated tie down points.

All loads on trailers should be packed, cradled or held into place. Holding your load in place with strapping/lashing is the one of most common ways to secure your load.

Your trailer should have specific tie down or anchorage points that you can use with strapping to secure your load. It’s important to make sure that the load capacity of your strapping or lashing exceeds the weight of the item you’re tying down. Fasten your load to the trailer using as many lashings as required to achieve a combined lashing capacity equal to at least twice the weight of the load.

When securing the load on your trailer remember it will be pulled in different directions as your vehicle moves. Your load will pull forwards when you brake, sideways when you turn, backwards when you accelerate, and upwards when you go over bumps. The strapping you put in place should secure your load against all of these types of movement.

Important to note: all loads that can be affected by airflow or the motion of the vehicle also need to be covered.

What road safety standards do I need to be aware of?

The NZTA has all the information you need to make sure you are safe and comply with the law when using a trailer.

You can check out these Guides for a good introduction:

Guide to safe loading and towing for light vehicles
Official New Zealand Truck Loading Code

Tips for steering with a trailer and driving safely

It’s important to be aware that the speed limit when you are towing a trailer is different from the limit for a vehicle on its own.

“The maximum open road speed for light vehicles towing trailers or towing other motor vehicles is 90km/h, provided that you have a rigid connection between the towed and towing vehicles, such as a towbar, drawbeam or drawbar. If you want to tow using a rope or other non-rigid connection, then the maximum speed on the open road is 50km/h.” Source: NZTA

When you’re driving with a trailer it’s a good idea to be sensitive to other users on the road. You’ll need to allow more time and distance to overtake which, in combination with the slower speeds you will be driving at, could mean you hold up traffic. It’s a good idea to plan to pull over and let traffic past if you start seeing a queue behind you,

Steering, braking, reversing and passing other vehicles can all be very different when you’re towing a trailer. For tips on how to drive with a trailer, take a look at the diagrams and Safe Towing Practices tips on the NZTA website.

How do I unload my trailer safely?

Unloading your trailer can be just as dangerous as loading your trailer. It’s important to consider safety first, before you start removing your trailer load.

As with loading your trailer, try to do it on even ground and make sure all brakes are engaged before you start. You can also put wheel chocks under the trailer wheels for extra stability. Consider how the balance of your load will change as it moves off the trailer and take care to maintain stability at all times. Remember to keep bystanders clear of the trailer while you’re unloading and take extra care in wet and slippery conditions.

Hiring equipment on a trailer with Allways Hire?

If you’re hiring from Allways Hire, you might need to use a trailer to transport your equipment to your worksite. If it’s your first time using a trailer or you would like some tips or help, let our team know. We’re happy to spend time showing you the best way to load and unload your equipment and share our safety tips with you before you go. If you have any other questions we can answer, we’re more than happy to help.

Book your hire today.