It’s no hitch to van set
New laws won’t hurt tow crowd
UPROAR over supposed tough changes to Queensland towing laws have been written off as a storm in a teacup by a Cairns caravan dealer.
Reports emerged this week of strict new rules banning aftermarket suspension modifications meant to increase the towing capacity of four-wheeldrive vehicles.
Jayco Cairns owner Trevor Turnbull thought the average motorist had nothing to worry about.
“It’s just one little industry that popped up about two months ago,” he said.
“Like everything, people just push the boundaries.
“People would go in, get new springs put in, and they would put a mod plate on the car to say it could do more than it was designed to do.
“They put a different set of springs in and say ‘now your car can do this’.” Mr Turnbull did not envisage losing business over the changes.
“These spring manufacturers were putting new springs in and saying their springs were better than the originals so now your car is capable of doing more,” he said. “They can’t really do that – it’s got to be done by the manufacturer.
“I have heard of a couple of people going to do it. But I’ve never had anyone come in who has actually had it done. It’s just stopping a new little business that’s just popped up.
“They thought they found a loophole and they’re just closing the loophole.” Transport Minister Mark Bailey rejected claims the changes had anything to do with the State Government.
“These trailer towing rule changes are set by the Federal Government,” he said.
“The federal changes will not come into effect next month in Queensland.”
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