WEIGHTS, DIMENSIONS & COUPLING (hitch)

From 1st January 2016, THE FOLLOWING GENERAL WEIGHT LIMITS APPLY to ALL trailers that are fitted with a standard EYE type coupling (regardless of when they were manufactured). The below figures are based on a maximum drawbar loading of 3,000Kg. All of the Maximum Gross Weights below can be increased by 1 Tonne where an approved ‘ball and spoon’ type coupling is used.

TRAILER TYPE

MAX GROSS WEIGHT

REQUIREMENTS

Single Axle Trailer:

13 Tonnes

No suspension required.

Tandem Axle Trailers:

(Note for weights over 19 Tonnes, a tandem axle trailer must be plated)

19 Tonnes

Applies to trailers with solid axles, bogey type axles and trailers with axle spacing of less than 1.3m

21 Tonnes

Applies to trailers fitted with flexible suspension and axle spacing greater than 1.3m

23 Tonnes

Applies to trailers fitted with flexible suspension, axle spacing greater than 1.3m and floatation tyres at least 500mm wide

23 Tonnes

Applies to trailers fitted with flexible suspension, axle spacing greater than 1.8m and steering axle

Tri-Axle Trailer:

(Note for weights over 22.5 Tonnes, a tri-axle trailer must be plated)

24 Tonnes

Applies to trailers with solid axles, bogey type axles and trailers with axle spacing of less than 1.3m

27 Tonnes

Applies to trailers fitted with flexible suspension and axle spacing greater than 1.3m

30 Tonnes

Applies to trailers fitted with flexible suspension, axle spacing greater than 1.3m and floatation tyres at least 500mm wide

33 Tonnes

Applies to trailers fitted with flexible suspension, axle spacing greater than 1.8m, floatation tyres at least 500mm wide and two steering axles


For combinations where either the tractor or the trailer is un-plated, the maximum towable mass is capped at three times the tractor’s unladen weight.

The MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE LENGTH of a trailer is 12m. This includes the drawbar and corresponds approximately to a maximum trailer length of 34ft.

The MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WIDTH of a trailer is 2.55m. This excludes hydraulic door mechanisms, floatation tyres and associated mudguards.