With winter school holiday time here, many drivers will be hitting the roads with trailers, boats and caravans in tow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever you are towing it should be done right to avoid damage to your vehicle and accidents on our roads.<\/p>
\u201cIt\u2019s also important to understand the rules around what your driving licence entitles you to tow,\u201d said Dewald Ranft, chairperson of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Association (RMI).<\/p>\n
He said the first thing to ensure is that the trailer or caravan has been properly serviced by a competent person.<\/p>
\u201cDuring the service the following areas should receive special attention: brakes (if fitted); electrical connections and components, such as lights, cables etc; wheel bearings (these need to be greased if the trailer has been standing for a lengthy period); and tyres with emphasis on the tyre age ie cracks etc,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He highly recommends using a MIWA-accredited workshop.<\/p>\n
He added that it is also important to ensure you have the correct licence and what you are towing falls within the legal requirements in terms of weight in relation to your vehicle.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany motorists don\u2019t realise that their driver\u2019s licence regulates what vehicle they can drive and what type of trailer they can pull,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A basic breakdown of the different driver\u2019s licence codes can be found on the back of the driver\u2019s licence card.<\/p>\n
A B driver\u2019s licence code entitles you to tow a trailer or caravan no heavier than 750 kg.<\/p>\n
The Gross Motor Vehicle Mass (GVM) cannot be over 750kg.<\/p>\n
Caravan towing regulations lie in the last three codes starting with an E: EB (light vehicle); EC1 (heavy vehicle) and EC (extra-heavy vehicle).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Buy with your head, not your heart<\/a><\/p>\n Tips to prevent battery hassles during the colder months<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n These driver\u2019s licences are the only ones with which you can tow a trailer or caravan with a GVM of over 750kgs.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t have a driver\u2019s licence for towing, you\u2019ll need to do the K53 again.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to write a learner\u2019s test and then go for a towing driver\u2019s licence test,\u201d explained Ranft.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important that motorists don\u2019t attempt to tow an item that is too heavy for their vehicle.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just a fine you need to be worried about \u2013 your insurance won\u2019t pay if you\u2019re involved in an accident and don\u2019t have the correct driver\u2019s licence for towing.\u201d<\/p>\n The cost of fuel and fuel consumption is also a factor to consider before heading off on holiday with an item tow.<\/p>\n \u201cTowing roughly halves your normal distance so be careful to plan your stops beforehand.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s also important to budget for the additional fuel you\u2019ll use when towing.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll need to double your usual fuel expenditure,\u201d he advised.<\/p>\n Dewald said that speeding is the number one cause of accidents when towing.<\/p>\n \u201cDrivers need to be aware that the stopping distance is far longer when towing and allow for this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He added that passing heavy vehicles and vice versa creates a vortex which can affect the towing combination stability.<\/p>\n \u201cEnsure that you are not caught unawares.<\/p>\n \u201cDo not use excessive braking when descending a steep descent as this may overheat the brakes on the units and lead to premature brake failure.<\/p>\n \u201cRather select a lower gear to assist with the braking force and keep to the recommended speed limit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He also encouraged drivers who stop to assist a broken-down vehicle to ensure they use the correct equipment before attempting to tow the vehicle.<\/p>\n \u201cUse only approved towing equipment such as towing bars and ropes.<\/p>\n \u201cBe aware when using a rope that it will slacken on deceleration.<\/p>\n \u201cBy using the correct rope you avoid the risk of the rope snapping on acceleration.<\/p>\n \u201cA tow bar should be used if the towed vehicle\u2019s brakes are not working.<\/p>\n \u201cBe aware that the steering on the towed vehicle may be extremely heavy when the engine is not running so too are the brakes without vacuum assistance,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery holiday season we have many fatalities on our roads.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s make sure that we tow responsibly and take it easy this winter.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n