By Pierre Joubert
Sunpacer Manufacturing CC
March 2011
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Concern has been expressed by a number of people over the legality of brakes on horseboxes, asking for an explanation. As this is an important issue over which there is a general degree of uncertainty, this special note has been added to this web site to hopefully raise the degree of understanding by all concerned
The National Road Traffic Act, Regulations, Chapter 6 Sec 151(1)c states that if the GVM of the trailer exceeds the Tare mass of the tow vehicle, a service (servo) brake is required on the trailer
The uncomfortable truth is that many horsebox rigs are out of line relative to this requirement. The typical Japanese bakkie which is used to tow many horseboxes has a tare mass around 1400 to 1800 kg. Horseboxes generally have a GVM of over 2000 kg. In all cases of bakkies pulling horseboxes the rigs may be found non compliant.
In addition, aforesaid Japanese bakkies are rated by their manufacturers as having a tow capacity generally from 1000 to 1500 kg. This does not appear to be in contravention of any regulation, but it does affect insurances
And, the tow bars on said bakkies are generally rated to match the capacity of the bakkie, so many rigs are out of line on this point as well, meaning a bakkie alowed to tow a 1500kg trailer has a towbar rated at 1500 kg, but in practice it may be used to tow a 2000+kg trailer.
Please refer to the attached pdf brakes-and-towing-issues for a further explanation.
Also see article in SA Horseman Nov 2010 issue by Pierre Joubert (425kb with text in Afrikaans)
Also see Notes 7 and 8 on the main page.
And see the Unitrans website for comprehensive vehicle specifications where the tow capacities of most vehicles can be found
Sunpacer Manufacturing CC
March 2011
-------------------------------
Concern has been expressed by a number of people over the legality of brakes on horseboxes, asking for an explanation. As this is an important issue over which there is a general degree of uncertainty, this special note has been added to this web site to hopefully raise the degree of understanding by all concerned
The National Road Traffic Act, Regulations, Chapter 6 Sec 151(1)c states that if the GVM of the trailer exceeds the Tare mass of the tow vehicle, a service (servo) brake is required on the trailer
The uncomfortable truth is that many horsebox rigs are out of line relative to this requirement. The typical Japanese bakkie which is used to tow many horseboxes has a tare mass around 1400 to 1800 kg. Horseboxes generally have a GVM of over 2000 kg. In all cases of bakkies pulling horseboxes the rigs may be found non compliant.
In addition, aforesaid Japanese bakkies are rated by their manufacturers as having a tow capacity generally from 1000 to 1500 kg. This does not appear to be in contravention of any regulation, but it does affect insurances
And, the tow bars on said bakkies are generally rated to match the capacity of the bakkie, so many rigs are out of line on this point as well, meaning a bakkie alowed to tow a 1500kg trailer has a towbar rated at 1500 kg, but in practice it may be used to tow a 2000+kg trailer.
Please refer to the attached pdf brakes-and-towing-issues for a further explanation.
Also see article in SA Horseman Nov 2010 issue by Pierre Joubert (425kb with text in Afrikaans)
Also see Notes 7 and 8 on the main page.
And see the Unitrans website for comprehensive vehicle specifications where the tow capacities of most vehicles can be found
