Caravan towing - breakaway switch battery charge indicator in vehicle

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Have just been to various places on the south coast of N.S.W., towing the van, catching a couple of fish, and talking to other van owners.

I was told that in N.S.W. (and only in N.S.W.) it is a requirement that due to the fitment of a break away unit on the van, I am required to have fitted inside the vehicle, an indicator that the van batteries are charged and able to operate the break away unit should the van separate from the vehicle.

I have a digital volt reader attached across the van batteries to give an up to date charge reading, but was told this is not sufficient. The bloke I was talking to stated he was driving up the north coast of N.S.W. recently, and an R.T.A. inspection site stopped every caravan and inspected the vehicles for the break away indicator unit (not sure of the technical name), and those vehicles that were not fitted with one were required to unhook the van, drive away and have the unit fitted to the vehicle before returning to collect the van and driving off.

Are there any other things required to be fitted to a van or vehicle that are not common knowledge, and may cause an inconvenience due to a f#*^ing pedantic R.T.A. inspector?

As a side issue, friends recently towed their van through Harvey Bay in Qld, and were stopped on the way up and on the way back by vehicle inspectors, to have their van checked and weighed.

Yowie.

[FC_Holden Member Find all posts View Profile Close FC_Holden]

As you said only required in NSW, the company who makes the "Breakaway" unit also make the remote indicator / monitor. Everytime the brakes are applied on the caravan it disconnects the breakawy battery and does a load test on it and then lights up the green light on the remote monitor. Check out the manufaturers website as it has the info required and you can buy on line