The holidays are nearly here, and for many Kiwis that means towing the caravan or boat to one of our great getaway spots.
We want you, your family and your belongings to get to your holiday destination safely. This means if you’re towing a trailer, a boat trailer or a caravan, make sure of a few things before you head off.
The coupling on the trailer must have a manufacturer's rating appropriate for the gross laden weight of the trailer and be compatible with the tow ball size. There are two sizes of tow balls in use – the older 1 7/8 inch diameter ball and the newer 50mm diameter tow ball – and the trailer coupling must match the tow ball, or you can put your towing load, your passengers and other road users at risk.
Make sure both the tow ball and coupling are in good condition, correctly adjusted to avoid excessive play or movement when attached, and securely attached to the tow bar and trailer draw bar respectively before embarking on your journey.
For more on safe towing, check out our safe towing guide:
Guide to safe loading and towing for light vehicles(external link)
For information on likely holiday congestion spots:
Summer holidays 2019(external link)
The Transport Agency’s Journey Planner website is a great tool to help plan your trip with real time travel information, traffic cameras, and updates on delays, roadworks and road closures:
Journey Planner(external link)
