This information is intended to provide the minimum requirements for towing light vehicles with a dolly in South Australia.
Tow dolly construction
1. The trailer must be equipped with a turntable.
2. The tow dolly must comply with Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1 - Building Small Trailers - Information for Manufacturers and Importers.
Figure 1. Tow dolly with turntable
Tow dolly operation
1. While the combination of vehicles is being towed, a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h applies.
2. When the towing dolly is laden, additional lights may be required in order for the lights on the towed vehicle to be visible to other road users. The lights must be visible from 15 degrees above and below the horizontal, 45 degrees from the far side of the vehicle, 80 degrees from the near side of the vehicle, and from a distance of 30m to the rear of the combination. This may be achieved through the use of a light bar or other such means.
Figure 2. Visibility of direction indicators
3. If the towed vehicle is loaded such that it faces towards the rear - ie with its back wheels on the dolly, the steering on the towed vehicle must be clamped - the person responsible must not rely on the anti-theft (steering) lock.
Note: Backwards towing is desirable if towing a rear wheel drive car with an automatic gearbox. This is because the gearbox may be damaged if the car is towed for any distance with the rear wheels on the ground. Forward towing at low speed and for short distances may be possible - check the owner’s manual for towing recommendations.
For a rear wheel drive with a manual gearbox and for a four wheel drive, check the owner’s manual for towing recommendations.
Combination requirements
1. A copy of the Road Traffic (Exemption for Towing More Than One Vehicle – Tow Dolly Combination) Light Vehicle Notice 2019 must be produced to an authorised officer upon request.
2. Each vehicle forming part of a combination must be appropriately registered and meet all the requirements of the Road Traffic (Light Vehicle Standards) Rules 2018.
3. The total mass of the combination of the vehicles being towed must not exceed the towing vehicle’s towing capacity as specified by the vehicle’s manufacturer.
4. If the manufacturer of the towing vehicle does not specify a towing capacity then the total mass of the combination of vehicles being towed must not exceed:
- the unladen mass of the towing vehicle if the dolly is fitted with an over-ride type brake system
- 1.5 times the unladen mass of the towing vehicle if the dolly is fitted with a brake system that can be independently controlled by the driver of the towing vehicle.
5. All dollies must be fitted with brakes and if the total mass of the combination of the vehicles being towed exceeds 2000kg the dollies brakes must be independently controlled by the driver of the towing vehicle and incorporate a breakaway system.
In addition to the above requirements, when towing a vehicle all trailer towing requirements must be met. A summary of these requirements can be found by following the link Light vehicle towing and trailer regulations.
Notice
Exemption for towing more than one vehicle - Tow Dolly Construction Light Vehicle Notice 2019
Vehicle Standards reference: MR1682.
