Tough new laws about to be introduced will mean Queensland drivers wanting to buy a caravan will probably need to add a new vehicle to their wishlist as well.
The change will prevent Queenslanders from upgrading their vehicles so they can tow larger vehicles such as caravans, boats, horse floats and work toolbox trailers.
This means that anyone wanting to buy a caravan will probably need to buy a larger, more powerful and more expensive car.
Tough new laws will mean that the towing capacity of 4WDs can no longer be upgraded
The laws won’t, however, apply to new 4WDs, which can still be modified prior to being registered, as well as existing police and emergency vehicles.
Australian Caravan Club treasurer Graeme Tree told The Courier Mail the new laws don’t make sense – especially given that police and emergency vehicles are exempt.
Vehicle upgrades are necessary for 4WDs so they can support the additional weight of water tanks, extra fuel tanks, bull bars and winches, providing a stable, safer ride.
Without upgrades, many caravaners would be lucky to fit two people and a full petrol tank without being over the limit, placing them at risk of being in excess of their legal carrying capacity, which is unsafe and not covered by insurance.
Mr Tree said upgrades were already fitted on ‘thousands of private vehicles in Queensland and are perfectly legal in other states’.
He told the publication if the change in law was a question of safety, then it should apply to all vehicles on the road, not just private vehicles.
Graeme Tree said Transport Minister Mark Bailey (pictured) has failed to inform peak industry bodies about the regulation changes
‘These are upgrades that will still be allowed to be fitted here in Queensland to new vehicles on the showroom floor. But once it’s on the road, it’s banned. It just doesn’t make sense,’ he said.
Mr Tree said the government’s decision to stop Queenslanders from improving the safety of their vehicles may also unwittingly put them at risk of being in breach of their insurance.
He continued to say Transport Minister Mark Bailey failed to inform peak industry bodies about the regulation changes before deciding to go ahead with the law and has called for the Member for Miller to explain himself.
‘This is a change that has been dreamed up by bureaucrats without consultation or explanation,’ he said.
‘It makes no contribution to safety and is actually counter-productive.’
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Mr Bailey’s office for comment on the proposed changes, which are due to take place on September 4.