Coming Law Change for using TowRopes Etc

2001 Toyota Gaia · Post by **BlakJak** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:30 am

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/rules/ ... 009.html#9

Spotted this one. Note speed limit of 50km/h is going to apply to any vehicle being towed with a non rigid connection - eg a towrope.

This'll make life entertaining on motorways i'm sure!!

fuel · Post by **fuel** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:43 am

I really don't think you should be towing a car faster than 50km/h with a tow-rope anyway! Given that most tow-ropes aren't very long, you'ld need lightning quick responses to brake in the car being towed in order to avoid hitting the tow car at higher speeds. I know most of the braking is initiated by the car being towed but if the tow car has to brake suddenly it could easily get out of hand and damage as a result.

Also you should not be towing a car via a tow-rope on the motorway, putting the car on a car transporter/trailer would be a wise choice.

postfach · Post by **postfach** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:55 am

I was under the impression it was illegal to line tow a car on the motorway anyway

tsoob · Post by **tsoob** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:14 am

in aussie its illegal to use any kind of rope at all.

cat007 · Post by **cat007** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:26 am

postfach wrote:I was under the impression it was illegal to line tow a car on the motorway anyway

It is illegal

I asked the police about 2 years ago (just gave the local cop shop a call) and they said that they're pretty lenient about the whole towing of a car - but suggested to take back roads and be sensible about it and you should be fine

2001 Toyota Gaia · Post by **BlakJak** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:33 pm

I am specifically thinking of several stretches of road here in Wellington that leave you with little choice... even being able to creep up to 70km/h helps you be less of a disruption on the road...

That and i'm considering that it's relatively easy to minimise the number of starts and stops on a road that doesn't have constant intersections... which in itself makes for an easier towing experience...

(braking without engine assist sux bigtime...)

cat007 · Post by **cat007** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:36 pm

BlakJak wrote:
(braking without engine assist sux bigtime...)

Hence why you shouldn't go above 50kmph. It's hard enough to stop a car when it's engine is running while going below 50kmph - I'd hate to try and do an emergency stop at 60 or 70 or even more without power/vacuum assisted brakes - yikes!

2001 Toyota Gaia · Post by **BlakJak** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:43 pm

cat007 wrote:
BlakJak wrote:
(braking without engine assist sux bigtime...)

Hence why you shouldn't go above 50kmph. It's hard enough to stop a car when it's engine is running while going below 50kmph - I'd hate to try and do an emergency stop at 60 or 70 or even more without power/vacuum assisted brakes - yikes!

Not disagreeing with you at all - except that when you can see for miles ahead of you, 50km/h is going to be painful

. Ability to stop is factored by how far ahead you can see clear road.

On the whole I agree with the rule but i've definately seen vehicles being towed at faster than 50km/h - generally in conditions where it was not unsafe, though.

cat007 · Post by **cat007** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:47 pm

BlakJak wrote:
Not disagreeing with you at all - except that when you can see for miles ahead of you, 50km/h is going to be painful . Ability to stop is factored by how far ahead you can see clear road.

On the whole I agree with the rule but i've definately seen vehicles being towed at faster than 50km/h - generally in conditions where it was not unsafe, though.

And I too agree with your "ability to stop is factored by how far ahead you can see" comment - however - it's not the only factor. What if the towing car gets a blow out or if something (either animal or hamiltonian) jumped out in the road and you had to hit the picks

I just think - if you could guarantee that nothing would jump out or you wouldn't have to do an emergency stop, +50kmph would be totally fine - but personally I know I wouldn't want to risk it. I'd much rather have angry people behind me - I can ignore them with ease hehe

XSVWGN · Post by **XSVWGN** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:31 pm

towing on the backstreets in wellington is alot more dangerous then on the motorway. Blackjak ... i know what you mean with the towing situation. I had to tow my brothers trueno home from mana to johnsonville after the car died the other day and there is no "back road". I only made it to 80kmph as the caldina is a bit of a barge really haha

matt dunn · Post by **matt dunn** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:34 pm

having been towed on the open road at over 100K, in the dark,

i can confirm it was dangerous, well felt like it was anyway.

But sometimes there is not a lot of other options.

CAMB01 · Post by **CAMB01** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:48 pm

Agree sometimes there are no options.
Girlfirends Mirage wouldnt start when we stopped for petrol, one afternoon.
She had State roadside assist, but that was a complete waste of F*&$n time, tow truck driver wanted $170 for the car to be towed from Lower Hutt to Miramar, or to the nearest repair place, no way would we leave that car at any garage, where they would charge storage as well.
After a few words were said to the insurance company, told them to sodd off, we contacted a friend to come tow us back home. The ONLY way back to Miramar is to go on the motorway. We were doing 70kmh to 75kmh.
Also try and find a tow truck that can take a lower than factory car, on a late saturday afternoon/night.

Adoom · Post by **Adoom** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:50 pm

postfach wrote:I was under the impression it was illegal to line tow a car on the motorway anyway

What about towing it OFF a motorway? Like the looooooong way...

Adoom · Post by **Adoom** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:00 pm

matt dunn wrote:having been towed on the open road at over 100K, in the dark,

i can confirm it was dangerous, well felt like it was anyway.

But sometimes there is not a lot of other options.

Ditto, but add a VERY short rope and torrential rain. I was also in a mini being towed by a cefiro.... ALL I could see was the back bumper. I thought I was going to DIE!!!!

Best story ever: Was towing a mg metro(no lights, doors duct taped closed) around to paraparaumu via fishermans table. and we had a bit of a queue behind us after a while. We past a cop and shit, he pulls out and makes us pull over... next thing "SORRY GUYS!!! DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE TOWING!!!!!" And he proceeds to put his flashy lights on and block a whole lane of bumper to bumper traffic so we can pull back out!! Awesome!

Post by **Mr Revhead** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:07 pm

you know the number one thing about towing that a lot of ppl don't know

the vehicle being towed still needs to be fully WOF'd and REG'd. no exceptions.

amazing how many ppl think that because it's being towed (either rigid or non rigid methods) that its ok if no wof
:roll:

2001 Toyota Gaia · Post by **BlakJak** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:53 pm

Yes. also noted that the lighting rules have been tweaked at some stage, so that a vehicle being towed is allowed to show hazard lights. Believe it or not, that was illegal a while back... (only vehicle allowed to show hazards while moving is a taxi in distress... )

0EBUNY · Post by **0EBUNY** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:47 pm

Adoom wrote:
Ditto, but add a VERY short rope and torrential rain. I was also in a mini being towed by a cefiro.... ALL I could see was the back bumper. I thought I was going to DIE!!!!

lol a couple of weeks ago i towed acesniper from meremere back to hamilton lol mpv van towing the trueno i think he was thinking the same thing.

Post by **Mr Revhead** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:50 pm

either that or "oh the shame! the shame!!!"

B1NZ · Post by **B1NZ** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:19 pm

Mr Revhead wrote:you know the number one thing about towing that a lot of ppl don't know

the vehicle being towed still needs to be fully WOF'd and REG'd. no exceptions.

amazing how many ppl think that because it's being towed (either rigid or non rigid methods) that its ok if no wof

really? I didnt know that, Luckily I just drove my car with no wof and rego to the garage before then :lol:

rollas22 · Post by **rollas22** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 1:34 am

tsoob wrote:in aussie its illegal to use any kind of rope at all.

Yes have found this out the hardway already