Bike Rack Laws - Queensland and NSW

[Camping Grant]

Hi All

I'm thinking of getting one of these for my car:


My question is, if this is attached to the car's tow bar, is it still legal to tow a trailer in QLD and NSW as well? Some bloke at Anaconda told me it's illegal, atleast he said, it is in NSW.

Any ideas, and where I could find out for sure?

Cheers
Grant

[KingBilly]

All good in Qld.  Just can't block your rego plate.  Qld Transport sell an accessory plate which you attach to the bike rack.

KB

[Bird]

Hi All

I'm thinking of getting one of these for my car:


My question is, if this is attached to the car's tow bar, is it still legal to tow a trailer in QLD and NSW as well? Some bloke at Anaconda told me it's illegal, atleast he said, it is in NSW.

Any ideas, and where I could find out for sure?

Cheers
Grant

what was the reason he gave for it being illegal?

[briann532]

I hope its not, because I do it once a year in NSW. Next week in fact.......................

I did find this and it doesn't say you can't.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_10.pdf

Brian

[BigJules]

I have one, nice rack, kind to the bikes, however...

I found that it fouled on my box trailer and camper when turning as there was insufficient clearance between the chassis rails and the rack lower cross member when turning. Worth checking.

Now I've got my rear bar with the wheel carrier the bike rack won't protrude far enough anymore.

In NSW you must have your number plate clearly displayed. You could get away with it if you've got the camper behind I reckon.

[Camping Grant]

what was the reason he gave for it being illegal?

some rubbish about shear forces, but that would then apply when people put load levellers on etc., so I think he was talking out his backside, and he also lost a sale in the process

[Camping Grant]

I hope its not, because I do it once a year in NSW. Next week in fact.......................

I did find this and it doesn't say you can't.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_10.pdf

Brian

Thanks Brian. I've just sent an email off to the email address on that form. I hope they get back to me ASAP, and I'll let you know what they say.

[BigJules]

some rubbish about shear forces, but that would then apply when people put load levellers on etc., so I think he was talking out his backside, and he also lost a sale in the process

Yep, sounds like crap to me.

[CampAround]

I'm pretty sure the bike rack manufacturers have a disclaimer that they are not to be used while towing. Probably to do with tow ball weight but the note I read didn't specify why.

I'd say if there is a note from the manufacturer saying the product isn't designed for it then it's illegal.

Having said that I still did it before I had the same issue as bigjules. The trailer hitch pushed the bracket on a tight turn and dented my rear chirome bar.

[Bird]

are they going to stop ever tourist at the border??

I call Manure

[Camping Grant]

So I had a response from RMA in NSW (what was the RTA) about this. There response was:

"The RMS have no regulation that prohibits towing a trailer with the bike rack attached to the tow bar, provided you do not exceed the manufacturers maximum tow ball weight."

So, its all good then.

Cheers
Grant

[JU5T1N]

I have one, nice rack

[adz1604]

Same same. But I found on tight turns the A frame would hit the base of the rack and either rotate it or disslodge the pins which hold the frame to the base.
I ended up using padlocks to secure the frame to the base
Make sure you use a tow ball or bolt with enough thread to go through your rack base, hitch reciever, and the nut

[Mallory Black]

hi,
Regarding accessory number plates in QLD, used to be that you just ordered the plate, about $30 and that was that

But the last time I ordered an accessory plate I got a bill shock, the price got jacked right up.
QLD Transport now make you own the actual number plates numbers on your car before they will hand over an accessory plate
so from memory it went from $30something to $80something, at least you have the choice of transferring all those plates to another car when the time comes.

technically all rear number plates need to be lit up so at night there should be a wired in light over the accessory plate. Never heard about my local coppers pulling anyone about but I could say it happens.

Bike racks are also under same rules as protruding tow tongues so even of you take the rack off and just leave the tongue and rack mount on the vehicle... if they unsafely protrude from the back of the vehicle you can get a ticket