bike rack number plate... for a trailer.

[wakychapmans]

so we take our bikes with us when we go bush. On a nice Australian made iSi Systems rear rack that fits into the std hitch mount.

Now that we have the "half an 80 series" trailer, and it has a hitch receiver, we've been fitting the rack to the trailer and doing things that way.

This morning I thought to myself that I should get an "official" auxiliary (bike rack) plate that has the trailers rego on it. You know... to do the correct thing for the good officers...

So I head on over to here https://m.myplates.com.au/#auxiliary-customer-details-page

and after filling in my details I get this...

ERROR
An auxiliary plate cannot be ordered for a trailer

So... I guess I'll keep running the 105 Landcruisers auxiliary plate then?

Anyone else tried to do this?

[jkwpajero]

Just make up your own. I don't think using the car aux on the trailer will be legal.

 
James

[michael h]

I had a sign guy make up some for my car using alucabond/alupanel type product the wifes plate on one side and mine on the other drill two holes in the top and use pliable wire to tie it on makes removing/swapping between cars
As James said not allowed to use on trailer or caravans only towing vehical

[scblack]

Just make up your own. I don't think using the car aux on the trailer will be legal.

 
James

you can be booked for making the plate yourself too. Regulations require an approved bike plate.

I make up my own but accept the risk I can be booked if I get an asshole cop.

[Marschy]

Just order a replacement plate for your trailer.

SA has no problem taking around $30 out of your pocket for a 'SA - Better by Bike' plate, even for trailers.

[MDS69]

I am in NSW and just use the cars bike plate on the camper mounted bike rack

[ScottT]

I am in NSW and just use the cars bike plate on the camper mounted bike rack

See below my response

[McTavish]

Me too...

[wakychapmans]

thanks for all the feedback guys. much appreciated.

I guess I'll stick with the tow vehicles aux plate.

[Rob C]

Not sure about other States but I had one made for the bike rack on the trailer with the trailer number. Ordered online from the registry of QLD.
QLD finally wins at something!!!

Rob

[Patr80l]

If you hit a brick wall online, try ringing them.
I made up a spare wheel carrier for my Touareg that slotted into the hitch receiver.   This was necessary to carry a full sized spare on an outback trip as the floor well was only big enough for a deflated space saver.
I rang VicRoads and they were OK with using a bike plate, so long as it was adequately lit and the vehicle's rear lights were visible from 45 degrees.   They had never had a similar request before but couldn't think of a reason not to do it.
The plate bolted directly onto the wheel.

[#jonesy]

Just order a replacement plate for your trailer.

SA has no problem taking around $30 out of your pocket for a 'SA - Better by Bike' plate, even for trailers.

Probably the best option. (based on Vic law)  Homemade plates aren't legal.  Putting the cars bike plate on the trailer isn't legal either. 
And to upset Patr80l that isn't technically legal as it's not a bike rack, so the originally car plate has to be displayed.  Unfortunately when you rang Vic Roads you spoke to a single person, who gave you their opinion and not that of VicRoads

[topcat]

I'm in Vic but use a bike plate with the trailer rego number and no full size plate.
Haven't been pulled yet.
TC

[#jonesy]

When I registered my CT they wouldn't issue a bike plate for a trailer.  Unless they have changed tehir rules again.

[Patr80l]

Probably the best option. (based on Vic law)  Homemade plates aren't legal.  Putting the cars bike plate on the trailer isn't legal either. 
And to upset Patr80l that isn't technically legal as it's not a bike rack, so the originally car plate has to be displayed.  Unfortunately when you rang Vic Roads you spoke to a single person, who gave you their opinion and not that of VicRoads

You know that?  I didn't know my phone was bugged.
I was put through to the department that makes the decisions at head office in Kew and there was a discussion in their office while I was on the phone.   They understood that the spare tyre was a temporary fitting, like a bike rack.   I know that the spare on the car is not the same as a bike on the trailer.   My point was that if you talk to them you might get further than filling out an online application.

[Bushman]

thanks for all the feedback guys. much appreciated.

I guess I'll stick with the tow vehicles aux plate.

I have heard that in NSW that it "IS" ok to use the vehicles aux plate on a bike rack that's fitted to a van/ trailer provided the van/trailer still has its own plate fitted.

[wakychapmans]

and here is the OFFICIAL answer from the NSW roads and whatever they are called now...

"Thank you for your email.

You may move your number plate so that the plate is visible on the vehicle.

Positioning and display of number plates:

Customers issued with two number plates must display both plates on their vehicle. One must be affixed to the front of the vehicle and one to the rear.

Customers issued one number plate (eg for motorcycles and trailers) must affix the plate to the rear of the vehicle.

Where two different size plates are issued, the smaller plate must be affixed to the front and the larger to the rear of the vehicle.

All number plates must be:

i. In an upright position that is substantially parallel to the vehicle's axles.
ii. Not more than 1.3m above ground level.

The characters on the number plate must also be clearly visible from a distance of 20m at any point within an arc of 45 degrees from the plate(s).

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/safety-rules/standards/vsi-58-number-plate-visibility.pdf

Auxiliary plates must not be issued for Trailers, Caravans, Motorcycles, Tow trucks, Public vehicles, Trade plates and Conditionally Registered vehicles.

For further information please call Service NSW on 132 213 (Monday – Friday 7am to 7pm) to discuss with a Customer Service Representative.

Please Note: The information contained in this email is current at the time of writing.

Kind Regards

Bernadette

Customer Service Representative
Rmsregistration_licencing@service.nsw.gov.au"

So there ya go. remove the plate from the trailer and fit it to the bike rack and make sure it is both lit, and the correct height.

I think I'll be printing this out and carrying it with me though...

[evaredy]

Make your own,

I also have an ISI bike rack and at the time the car was an IX35, the rack blocked the number plate. So I just made my own and fixed it to the rack. It was there for approx 2 years and in that time I had plenty of police pull up behind me and I never had an issue.

[Bird]

I'm in Vic but use a bike plate with the trailer rego number and no full size plate.
Haven't been pulled yet.
TC

yea but you have the secret handshake....

[ScottT]

so we take our bikes with us when we go bush. On a nice Australian made iSi Systems rear rack that fits into the std hitch mount.

Now that we have the "half an 80 series" trailer, and it has a hitch receiver, we've been fitting the rack to the trailer and doing things that way.

This morning I thought to myself that I should get an "official" auxiliary (bike rack) plate that has the trailers rego on it. You know... to do the correct thing for the good officers...

So I head on over to here https://m.myplates.com.au/#auxiliary-customer-details-page

and after filling in my details I get this...

ERROR
An auxiliary plate cannot be ordered for a trailer

So... I guess I'll keep running the 105 Landcruisers auxiliary plate then?

Anyone else tried to do this?

Yep

I run the Cars' Aux plate on the bike rack on the camper trailer. The plate on the trailer is to the left, so isan't obscured by the rack, however the trailers lights are, so hence the the light board and aux plate

Cheers, Scott

[wakychapmans]

a grave dig yes... but updated info for NSW people...

NSW RMS has changed their rules about displaying Auxiliary or Bike Rack plates now.

from the RMS website - http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/registration/frequently-asked-questions.html#Auxiliarynumberplates

*************************************
Which vehicles cannot be issued an auxiliary number plate?
An auxiliary number plate cannot be issued for trailers and caravans; however a towing vehicle’s auxiliary number plate can be displayed on trailers and caravans.
(this is the updated bit)

Can old style bike rack number plates still be used?
Although bike rack number plates were replaced with auxiliary number plates in 2011, existing bike rack plates can still be displayed in the same way as an auxiliary number plate.

*************************************

So... short version...

if you have NSW rego, and you're towing a trailer or caravan, you can (now) use your towing vehicles auxiliary or bike rack number plate on the bike rack, on the back of your trailer/van... (if the bikes/rack obscure the van/trailers main plate)

previously this was illegal.

So NSW has now (almost) caught up to the rest of the country...

[scblack]

So NSW has now (almost) caught up to the rest of the country...

Thanks for the update.

However, Duncan Gay is still there, so NSW has Zero chance of catching up to ANY part of any country. He is a backwards idiot.