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Is it legal to build/use your own "lift & tow" in Qld?

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pfillery Insano Dub Head

734 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·

#967224
You know, those things the Mobi Tow guys used back in the 80s that lift the front wheels off the ground and allow a car to be towed behind another car like a trailer? You see them used for motorhomes all the time and really all they are is a pair of wheels and a towing bar with stabilisers. Lighter and easier to store than a car trailer.

I'm thinking of building/having one built for vehicle recovery and collection of projects etc, as towing fees have gone up and even a local 2 or 3 suburb tow is now $60. Shouldn't need any RWC or inspections as it would be undersize and less than 750kg ATM, also shouldn't need any towing type authorisations as I'm not charging people to tow their vehicles, just towing stuff for myself.

Anybody seen/done one of these?

Allbones Officially Full-On Dubber

395 posts · joined Jul 2012 ·

#967230
So long as it's engineer approved I think it's fine. I have a mate who's father rigged one up for his competition 4x4 so he could take his big comfy 4x4 to drive in and tow his comp car behind.

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#967261
Not sure about QLD but in NSW the GTM would exceed the 750kg and require brakes,I looked at this as an alternative to towing when I had my workshop and then it became too much buggering about and also I had a spot of luck and a young guy took the workshop off my hands 😎.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#967308
pfillery wrote:You know, those things the Mobi Tow guys used back in the 80s that lift the front wheels off the ground and allow a car to be towed behind another car like a trailer? You see them used for motorhomes all the time and really all they are is a pair of wheels and a towing bar with stabilisers. Lighter and easier to store than a car trailer.

I'm thinking of building/having one built for vehicle recovery and collection of projects etc, as towing fees have gone up and even a local 2 or 3 suburb tow is now $60. Shouldn't need any RWC or inspections as it would be undersize and less than 750kg ATM, also shouldn't need any towing type authorisations as I'm not charging people to tow their vehicles, just towing stuff for myself.

Anybody seen/done one of these?
I've never had a good look at those behind motor homes...
so, not sure what they look like...
but, as You say, they are really a part of the towing vehicle!!

just thinking... I haven't seen any with the front wheels off the ground for a long time...
they all have the 4 wheels on the ground...
so, are just like a registered trailer being towed..
I'll have to have look next time I see one stopped at Maccas.. lol
the only type which hold up the front wheels which were on older towing vehicles.. and were probably an approved type
for that vehicle..

The local NRMA here used to tow vehicles with a steel bar
like 3 inch pipe about 1 1/2 metres long ??[from memory]
with a chain and D shackles on one end to attach to the car
and the other end had a trailer fitting, which fitted onto the tow ball...
I have been going to make one of these for about 15 years..
whether they still use them?? I don't know..
You still need two drivers though...
but still cheaper than a towing vehicle who charge $50 to look at You... lol

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Ampdub Officially Full-On Dubber

310 posts · joined May 2006 ·

#967534
my last quote was from Caboolture to Sandgate only 2 weeks ago at $250. managed to get a cashie for $150. I remember getting my beetle from Manly to Sandgate and that was only $100 three years ago

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#967544
I think a trailer would be better, that way the car doesn't need to be registered and overall less hassle, no matter what condition the load is in, once loaded it's good to go.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

roverv8bay Officially Full-On Dubber

250 posts · joined Jan 2013 ·

#967630
G'day pillfery. the thing was with that set apparently in NSW when they where introduced was they were considered double articulated & required the said licence to tow 1 hence it all fell in a heap so the story was that circulated at the time. the guy in Nambour Has towed a few foe me since I moved here from Sydney he was pretty reasonable but haven't used him in a while
ernie