Nothing is more important on the road than the safety of your vehicle and those others on the road. This is especially important when it comes to towing. You don’t just need to be careful; you need to know the law and follow it to the letter.
With electric brakes, there are specific laws to follow depending on the weight of the trailer you’re towing. ADR 38 (Australian Design Rules 38) is the set of rules that applies to trailer brake systems, and today we’re going to look at the three different trailer categories it presents. Based on GTM (Gross Trailer Mass), these categories determine whether you can tow without electric brakes.
The answer to ‘Can I Tow Without Electric Brakes?’ is that yes, you can. It depends on the weight of your trailer however, which is what we’re going to dive into today.
Australian Trailer Brake Rules
Let’s take a look at how Aussie law breaks it down. Bear in mind, GTM is the mass of your trailer when it’s fully loaded.
GTM Less Than 750 kg: Brakes Not Required, But Good Practice
Legally, if your fully packed, single-axle trailer’s GTM is under 750 kg, brakes aren’t required. All braking will be done by the towing vehicle’s system.
Something to watch out for is that once you have loaded your trailer, the weight can sneak past 750kg fairly easily. You want to be ready for that, so it’s smart to have brakes installed even if you are running a smaller trailer.
GTM Between 750 kg and 2,000 kg: Brakes Required on at Least One Axle
Within this weight range the law states that your trailer needs to have its own braking system on at least one axle.
Electric brakes aren’t compulsory, though. You have two options:
First, mechanical or hydraulic override brakes. These are simple systems that work automatically using the trailer’s own momentum, so no wiring is needed. Boaties love them, because they easily handle being submerged. They’re quite basic though and braking can feel jerky.
Option two is electric brakes with a brake controller. This is the more popular option because braking is smoother and more natural and reduces wear on your vehicle. The electric brakes get power from your tow vehicle and need a brake controller fitted inside your cab. Being inertia-based, the force of the braking adjusts according to how hard you brake in the vehicle.
GTM Over 2,000 kg: Brakes on All Wheels and a Breakaway System
Towing big trailers of over 2000kg sees the rules tighten up, for good reason. Electric brakes must work on all wheels and axles, with no exceptions. A proportional electric brake controller must be installed, and it’s legally required to have a breakaway system installed too. This is a backup safety device that automatically applies the trailer’s brakes if it disconnects while moving.
The Importance of an Electric Brake Controller
Without trailer brakes, your stopping distance can be almost doubled. All the weight of your trailer pushes onto your vehicle when you brake, increasing wear and tear and jack-knifing risk.
With proper trailer brakes, the load is shared and your towing vehicle has to do less.
Larger trailers will nearly always come with electric brakes installed. They’re regarded as the best option for safe braking and can also be retrospectively installed onto a trailer.
An important thing to note is that electric brakes won’t be powered by standard trailer wiring. They need an electric brake controller installed too. Without this piece of kit, your electric brakes are inactive. The controller regulates how much power from your car’s battery reaches the trailer’s brake magnets. By adjusting the current, it controls how strongly and when the trailer brakes engage. This ensures smooth, responsive braking that matches your vehicle’s stopping force.
The controllers are operated from the drivers seat.
Penalties for Towing Illegally
The biggest problem with towing illegally is that you’re creating a safety issue. You’re also liable to cop penalties for an unroadworthy setup, and if something does go wrong your insurance will have grounds to refuse your claim.
Worst case scenario is that you end up hurting yourself or someone else on the road. It’s not worth it, but the good news is that with the right advice it’s easy to get it right. The Speedy Team is always here to offer guidance when it comes to safety and towing. Don’t hesitate to hit us up with all your towing safety questions.
So, Can I Tow Without Electric Trailer Brakes?
In short, yes. Electric trailer brakes are the gold standard when it comes to slowing down and stopping a towing setup. As we’ve learned above, if your trailer is less than 2000kg GTM you’re not legally required to have electric brakes with an electric brake controller.
We’d strongly advise you to use electric brakes for any trailer over 1000kg ATM though. You’re going to get a smooth ride, allowing you to tow with confidence.
Contact the Brisbane Towbar Professionals
At Speedy Towbars, we’ve guided countless motorists to the right towing setup. Our team members are experts in brake controllers and trailer braking systems and are here to answer all your questions.
Your safety is our priority at all times. Whether you’re off on a caravan adventure or towing a horse float, we want you to do it safely and legally! Get in touch today,
Jordan is the co-owner of Speedy Towbars and a trusted source of towbar knowledge for Queensland drivers. When he's not installing towbars, he treasures time with his family and hitting the road for caravanning adventures!