GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #11 | Page 4

RV MAIL LETTERS FROM THE ROAD TAKING ADVANTAGE Hi guys, love your magazine but must comment on the free campsites article (GoRV #10). When Free Camps Australia came out, I thought what a great idea, and it was, in it's first few years of publication. But since then there is an element on the road that have rented their homes out at prime locations and now make a habit of ‘living’ at free campsites! While that seems a great idea, many of these sites are being used permanently to the detriment of the genuine traveller. It is alarming to arrive at such places, to see clotheslines strung out with washing machines and generators, extra fridges, deep freezers, etc. Sadly we have found through the years such camps have been closed down for such abuse, and councils fining people for staying overnight. John Grigg Via email MATCHING THE ATM? I just read your rules of towing (GoRV.com. au) and I’m not sure it is fully explanatory as far as loading is concerned. There are many blogs with different views on whether a vehicle such as a Prado is able to tow a caravan with an ATM of, say, 2700kg if the van is not loaded and is within the 2500kg limit (in the case of the 2500kg- limited Prado). Many (including some caravan retailers) say the vehicle must be able to tow the full ATM and even if the vehicle is not loaded and actually within the limits, then the vehicle is illegal and also subject to an infringement if stopped by police. I have contacted my insurers and police but they do not have an answer. I finally contacted the RTA and was advised the tow vehicle can tow the amount of its rating and whether the caravan can (theoretically) If you have an opinion or thought about the RV lifestyle, or about this digital magazine, we’d like to hear it! Email your feedback to info@gorv.com.au 4 gorv.com.au be loaded to greater than that is immaterial. In other words, I can tow a 2700kg ATM van with my Prado, which has a max capacity of 2500kg, as long as it actually weighs no more than 2500kg. The argument put forward by many advising that the vehicle must be able to tow the ATM of the trailer is flawed. By way of an example where, say, a trailer that weighs 1000kg but is built to transport a broken-down vehicle and is able to be loaded to 4000kg would, by the view of some, be unable to be towed when empty by a Prado as it cannot tow to the full-loaded ATM. Dennis Cumming Via email Thanks, Dennis. Your assessment is correct but, as a general rule, it’s a sensible policy for caravanners to match their tow vehicle’s towing capacity to the van’s ATM, and it’s what we always try to do when testing new caravans. But there are times when that’s not possible, such as when towing the Grant Cruiser in this issue. – Ed