There is a lot more to RV towing than simply hooking up your trailer or loading your camper and making sure that the rear lights work. Before you get started, the three major concerns to understand include having the right driver's licence, knowing if your brakes are sufficient to get you stopped and how much the entire combination weighs.
Your Driver's Licence
A standard class 5 and 7 driver's licence allows you to drive a two axle motor vehicle and tow a trailer with it as long as the weight of the trailer is not more than 4,600 kg.
A house trailer endorsement (51) is required on your class 5 or 7 licence if the weight of the trailer is over 4,600 kg and it is not equipped with air brakes.
Other combinations may require a commercial class of driver's licence.
RV Towing and Brakes
Having sufficient braking power to stop your RV combination is critical and needs an article of it's own to fully explain all of the requirements. At the most basic brakes are required if:
- The trailer weighs 1,400 kg. or less but more than 50% of the net weight of the tow vehicle.
- The trailer weighs more than 1,400 kg.
Other considerations include whether you have surge or electric brakes, using a breakaway device and having an separate means of applying the trailer brakes independent of the tow vehicle brakes.
How Heavy Is It?
This is another area of RV towing that is poorly understood by non-commercial drivers. There are two areas of concern and they are the licensed weight and the actual weight.
When you get licence plates for your RV and the vehicle that you will be towing it with, you need to know how much both will weigh when fully loaded. Discuss this with your Autoplan Agent and follow their guidance.
The actual weight and it's distribution in the combination is critical to its safe operation. You must not exceed the designed total load, axle or tire loads. If you do, you risk being prevented from continuing by law enforcement if you are checked.
Reference Materials
B.C.'s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement has created a guide: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, Brake Requirements and Driver's Licence Types for Recreational Vehicles. It explains and provides examples to help you decide if you are ready to go or not.
Learn More
- ICBC - Towing a Recreational Trailer
- MV230 - Recreational Vehicle Towing Fact Sheet
- MV3231 - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating FAQ
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