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Perfect Hunting Trailer Load Limit

photo of roller rocker springs with mechanical disc brakes and 2000kg trailer load limit

Hunting trailer load limit

Trailer load limit

For trailer load limit as with our 2 other articles GVM and GCM, let’s once again look at 2013 Hilux Turbo diesel manual dual cab. The Hilux has a maximum GCM of 5,210kg and a maximum GVM of 2,710kg (sourced from redbook.com.au). This means I can legally tow a 2,500kg GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) trailer behind my hunting rig (assuming the ute is packed to the max including ball weight).

So do I just make a hunting trailer that has the largest trailer load limit I can tow?

Well just like vehicles, there are ADRs (Australian Design Rules) that apply to the legal requirements of trailers.

In Australia different trailer load limits have different requirements:

  • Up to 750kg GTM does not require brakes
  • 750kg to 2,000kg GTM must have brakes on at least one axle and they can be over-ride type
  • Over 2,000kg GTM all wheels must have electric or power assisted hydraulic brakes (driver controlled hand or foot), a tearaway brake system is also required.

Basically once you go over 2,000kg GTM you must have electronic brakes and a tear-away system. This means your vehicle must be fitted with an electric brake controller and you need a battery on board your trailer.

photo of a Redarc in car electronic trailer brake controller dial fitted to a switch panel
Redarc in car electronic trailer brake controller unit

Electronic brake controller for trailers

Once you put an electric brakes on the trailer, only vehicles with electronic brake controllers can tow the trailer. Well none of my hunting mates have electronic brake controllers. So Instantly no one can legally assist me in towing and I can’t lend the trailer or borrow their vehicle for a hunting trip.

Trailer battery

Might as well add $90 to your registration costs of the trailer. A friend of mine works in a caravan yard. He says that they battery is a guaranteed returning customer. Every year they will be bcak for a new battery because they don’t last with little to no use.

Trailer load limit recommendation

If you have 2x 320kg quads and a 500kg side by side that’s a total weight on 1,140kg. If your trailer weighed 650kg (that would be an extremely heavy trailer) that would leave you about another 210kg for other stuff. For me it would be difficult to justify an extra 500kg carrying capacity at the cost of a battery and electronic brake controller.

To avoid the need for electronic brakes, an electronic brake controller and a trailer battery I would recommend limiting your hunting trailer load limit to  2,000kg. You can use the hunting trailer across more vehicles with less maintenance and less headaches.

Next hunting trailer topics

Trailer Axles
Deck Material, Length and Width
Deciding on trailer Springs
Choosing trailer brakes
Which coupling/hitch for a hunting trailer coupling
Perfect Hunting Trailer Type
Wheels for a hunting Trailer
Trailer finish and accessories

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Hunting vehicle and trailer weight AKA GCM

photo of hilux with quad on back and towing single axle trailer

What is your hunting vehicle and trailer weight?

Previously we spoke about your hunting vehicle weight and determined that the best option was to use a trailer to keep you legal. This should help you avoid overloading your hunting vehicle. So lets look at why this is the best option.

What is GCM?

GCM is Gross Combined Mass, that is the maximum weight the vehicle manufacturer has allowed. That is the total weight of the vehicle, trailer and all the contents. This is one of the reasons the Ford Ranger is a favourite amongst caravaners, because of it high GCM.

Hunting Hilux with dual axle trailer

Hunting vehicle and trailer weight example

If we use our example of the 2013 Toyota Hilux dual cab manual turbo diesel from the hunting vehicle weight article, it has a GCM of 5,210kg (sourced from redbook.com.au).

Previously the maximum weight we could carry was 990kg (including occupants and everything) with out a trailer.

Lets say the average dual axle steel trailer with brakes weighs 650kg (guestimate based on approximate weights sourced from www.trailersauce.co.nz). We will not talk about the trailer GVM (maximum total trailer weight) to keep it simple.

GCM Table weight quantity Sub-total
Hilux 1720 1 1,720
Tray 250 1 250
Side steps 15 2 30
Bullbar 75 1 75
towbar 40 1 40
Under tray tool box 7 2 14
winch 27 1 27
recovery gear 20 1 20
Water 20 1 20
Long range tank 40 1 40
Air compressor 10 1 10
Bash plates 30 1 30
spotties 2 2 4
Occupants 85 2 170
Dog cage 40 1 40
Dogs 40 2 80
Fridge 40 1 40
Firearms 5 4 20
Ammo 50 1 50
Quads 300 1 300
Unleaded 15 2 30
Cooking gear 40 1 40
Sleeping gear 30 1 30
Total 3,080
Hilux GCM 5,210
Trailer 650
Balance 1,480

So straight away you can see you have an extra 1,480kg of carrying capacity, simply by towing a 650kg trailer.

Hunting dual axle table top trailer

Lets put that in perspective. Let’s add 2 more occupants and 2 more quads and see how much spare weight we have in a hunting vehicle and trailer weight combo.

GCM Table 2 weight quantity Sub-total
Hilux GCM 5,210
Hilux and load 3,080
Trailer 650
Occupants 85 2 170
Quads 300 2 600
Balance 710kg

Instead of being over weight by 370kg like in the Hunting vehicle weight GVM article with just a hunting ute, we now have 2 more hunters and 2 more quads and still room for 710kg of heaps of other hunting gear!

Hunting Hilux with boat trailer

As you can see the advantages of taking a trailer on a hunting trip is significant. In the past I’ve personally towed a boat just to move the weight load off the tray (we didn’t even think about actually using the boat).

Hogs Dogs and Quads trailer

The boys from www.hogsdogsquads.com.au have a custom built trailer purely for the purpose of hauling quads for massive hunts up in the Cape. Check out their YouTube video below for a quick look at the setup they have created:

Towing a hunting trailer

For those of you who have never had a trailer before and are concerned about the difficulties of it don’t be. Normal driving with a trailer is very easy. There is only one thing to remember: that you have a trailer on when changing lanes/overtaking.

If your trailer is wider than the tow vehicle, just check the mirrors to make your the wheels are in you lane or not in the gutter. I find it help full to find a spot on the bull-bar to keep aligned to the centre stripe on the road.

Reversing a trailer is something that takes practice. Just take your time and get someone to make sure you don’t hit anything including the trailer on the tray of the ute. Once you learn how the mechanics of reversing a trailer works it’s a breeze.

Dual axle trailers are actually much easier to reverse than single axle trailers, mostly because of the increased length. So don’t be scared to go big straight away.

Conclusion

Get your self a hunting vehicle and trailer setup, stay legal, stay safe, take more mod cons and really be able to enjoy your trip.

But remember shift all the weight to the trailer. The towball weight is part of you GVM. If your not careful you will still be over your GVM but under your GCM and therefore not legal.

Coming soon the best hunting trailer setup.