Towing and Caravan Trips from Armidale to the Coast

This guide is for Armidale, Guyra and Uralla families and retirees who tow caravans, campers, boats or horse floats down the range to the coast. It looks at the main routes off the Tablelands, what those climbs and descents ask of your trailer brakes and wiring, the NSW towing rules that affect the electrics, and the checks worth doing before you leave.

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The routes off the Tablelands

Armidale sits high on the New England Tablelands, and every road to the coast has to cross the Great Dividing Range. The main options each have their own character:

• Waterfall Way runs about 170 km from the New England Highway at Armidale to the Pacific Highway at Raleigh, between Urunga and Coffs Harbour, through Wollomombi, Ebor, Dorrigo and Bellingen. It's sealed but relatively narrow, with a steep, winding section on the Dorrigo Range.
• Thunderbolts Way leaves the New England Highway at Uralla and runs south through Walcha towards Gloucester. It's described as very hilly and winding as it crosses the range.
• The Oxley Highway meets Thunderbolts Way at Walcha and continues east to Port Macquarie.
• The Gwydir Highway runs east from Glen Innes, north of Guyra, to South Grafton, passing between Gibraltar Range and Washpool national parks.

Check current road conditions first

Roads down the range are exposed to landslips, storms and flooding, and repairs can bring lane closures and limits. Transport for NSW's Waterfall Way project page has recently listed single-lane alternating traffic on several sections and vehicle width limits of up to 3.0 m. A wide caravan or a boat on a trailer can be affected by limits like these, so check the current conditions and any restrictions before you hitch up, and allow extra time.

Long climbs and descents also mean long periods of heavy load on your vehicle and trailer. That's where electrical faults that hide on flat roads tend to show up.

Trailer brakes on long descents

Going down the range with a loaded van, the trailer's brakes need to do their share of the work. If they're weak, or the controller isn't set up for the load, the tow vehicle's brakes take more than they should and can overheat. If they're too strong, the van can lock up or shudder.

Electric brakes depend on the controller in the tow vehicle, the wiring and plug between the two, and the magnets and earths at each wheel. A poor connection anywhere along that chain reduces braking. Before a big trip, check the controller's gain is set for the loaded weight, test the brakes with the manual lever at low speed, and have the brake magnets and wiring inspected if the van hasn't been serviced for a while. Our guide on how to install an electric brake controller explains set-up and testing.

What NSW rules say

The NSW Government's towing a trailer or caravan page sets out the main rules. At the time of writing, they include:

• Trailers up to 750 kg gross trailer mass (GTM) don't need brakes, but any brakes fitted must work properly.
• From 751 kg to 2,000 kg GTM, brakes are needed on both wheels of at least one axle.
• From 2,001 kg to 4,500 kg GTM, brakes are needed on all wheels.
• Trailers over 2,000 kg GTM need a breakaway system that applies the brakes automatically if the trailer comes off.
• Trailer brakes must be able to be operated from the driver's seat.
• The tow vehicle needs electrical sockets for the trailer's lights, and brake connections if the trailer has electric or power brakes, and all trailer lights must work before each trip.

Rules change, so check them

These rules can be updated, and there are other requirements on towing capacity, safety chains, mirrors and loading that aren't covered here. Read the current NSW Government page before you set off, and check your vehicle's and van's own limits in their manuals and compliance plates. If you're unsure whether your set-up is legal, ask before you go rather than finding out on the range.

Plugs, sockets and the breakaway battery

A caravan that spends winter in a shed or under a cover in Armidale can come out with a corroded plug, a flat breakaway battery or a lighting fault. Check that the 7-pin or 12-pin plug and socket are clean, the pins are tight and the cable is secure where it enters the plug. Make sure the breakaway battery is charged and that the breakaway switch actually applies the brakes when tested.

Lights that work at home and fail on a winding road usually point to a loose connection or a poor earth. Our guide on why trailer lights aren't working covers the most common causes, and 7-pin vs 12-pin trailer plugs explains which pins do what.

Keeping the van battery charged

Many vans rely on charging from the tow vehicle while travelling. Modern vehicles with smart alternators often don't deliver enough voltage at the back of a long cable to charge a van battery properly, and a long climb up the range with the fridge running can leave the van battery lower than you'd expect. A DC-DC charger in the van or tow vehicle, fed by suitably sized cable, usually solves that. See why isn't my caravan battery charging while towing for more.

After the coast

A week at the coast means salt air and possibly a dip for the boat trailer. When you get home to the Tablelands, rinse the trailer and plug with fresh water, let everything dry, and spray the plug contacts with a moisture-displacing product. That simple step stops salt corrosion from turning into a lighting fault by the next trip. For local help with van wiring, brake controllers or charging, see our Armidale and Uralla pages.

Parts for this job

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Get it done: get a quoteDo it yourself: shop brake controllers

Get it done: get a quoteDo it yourself: shop 12-pin trailer plugs

Get it done: get a quoteDo it yourself: shop DC-DC chargers

Get it done: get a quoteDo it yourself: shop breakaway kits

Questions Armidale drivers ask

Which is the easiest route from Armidale to the coast with a caravan?

Each route crosses the Great Dividing Range, so none is flat. Waterfall Way is the most direct way to Coffs Harbour but is narrow and winding on the Dorrigo Range. Thunderbolts Way and the Oxley Highway are also hilly. Check current road conditions and restrictions with Transport for NSW, and choose the route that suits your van and experience.

Does my camper trailer need electric brakes in NSW?

In NSW, trailers over 750 kg gross trailer mass need brakes on at least one axle, and those over 2,000 kg need brakes on all wheels and a breakaway system. Brakes must be operable from the driver's seat, which usually means an electric brake controller. Check your trailer's compliance plate and the current NSW rules.

Why does my van's fridge stop working while I'm towing uphill?

A long climb puts the tow vehicle under heavy load, and voltage at the back of the van can drop, especially with undersized cable or a smart alternator. If the fridge runs from the vehicle's supply, it may cut out. A DC-DC charger and correctly sized cable usually fixes it. Have the charging circuit checked by an auto electrician.

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