Towing a Caravan Around Tasmania from Hobart

This guide is for Hobart caravanners heading off on a lap of the state, whether that's up the Midland Highway, along the east coast or out to the west. It covers the towing rules worth checking, the caravan electrics that matter on Tasmanian roads, and how to keep the van's batteries charged in cool, short-day conditions.

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Three ways out of Hobart, three different tows

Most Tasmanian loops start on one of three highways, and each one asks something different of your rig.

The Midland Highway runs about 176 km from Granton to Launceston through Bridgewater, Oatlands, Ross and Campbell Town. It is mostly one lane each way with overtaking lanes, and since June 2025 it crosses the Derwent on the new Bridgewater Bridge. It's the easiest tow of the three.

The Tasman Highway leaves over the Tasman Bridge, passes Hobart Airport and Sorell, then follows the east coast through Orford, Swansea, Bicheno and St Helens before turning inland to Launceston. Some stretches near Orford and St Helens are two-lane with few chances to overtake, so be ready to pull over and let traffic by.

The Lyell Highway heads west from Granton through New Norfolk, Hamilton, Tarraleah and Derwent Bridge to Queenstown and Strahan. It climbs steeply out of the Nive River gorge after Tarraleah, and the high country around Derwent Bridge often gets ice and snow in winter. It's the most demanding route for brakes and for the tow vehicle.

Towing rules to check before you leave

The Department of State Growth publishes a towing light trailers information bulletin that is worth reading in full. In short, it says the lowest rating in the combination applies, whether that's the vehicle's towing capacity, the towbar, the coupling or the gross combination mass. It also says trailers with a gross trailer mass (GTM) over 750 kg must have brakes, override brakes are acceptable up to 2000 kg GTM, and above 2000 kg you need a breakaway system that applies the brakes on all wheels if the van comes off.

Rules change and individual cases vary, so check the current requirements with Transport Tasmania (Department of State Growth) and the vehicle and caravan makers before a big trip. Ask too whether you need extended towing mirrors for your combination. Lighting must meet Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1, which Tasmania applies through its light trailer requirements.

Electric brakes earn their keep on Tasmanian hills

Most mid-size and large vans use electric brakes, driven by a brake controller in the tow vehicle. On a flat run that controller barely gets noticed. On a long descent like the drop into a river gorge, it does a lot of the work, and a weak signal means the car's brakes end up doing far more than their share.

Set the controller gain with the van loaded the way you'll actually travel, on a safe quiet road, and recheck it if you change the load. Proportional controllers respond to how hard you brake, which suits steep, winding roads. Our guide on installing an electric brake controller covers wiring and setup.

Don't forget the breakaway battery. The bulletin's pre-departure checks include making sure it is charged, and a flat one won't stop a van that separates.

Plugs and wiring: 7-pin or 12-pin

Caravans use either a flat 7-pin plug or a 12-pin plug that adds circuits for things like charging and reversing lights. Many vans now use an Anderson plug alongside the trailer plug for heavy charging current. If your car and van don't match, use a properly wired adaptor rather than leaving circuits disconnected. See 7-pin vs 12-pin trailer plugs for the pin layouts.

Newer vehicles often need a dedicated towbar wiring harness so the car's computer recognises the trailer and doesn't throw faults. Check what your vehicle maker specifies before fitting one.

Keeping van batteries charged in a Tasmanian autumn or winter

Touring Tasmania outside summer means short days and plenty of cloud, especially on the west coast. Solar panels that kept up easily on a mainland summer trip may fall well short. Meanwhile, cold nights push up power use from diesel heaters, lights and water pumps.

A DC-DC charger in the tow vehicle lets the car top up the van battery while you drive, and it handles smart alternators that drop their voltage once the starting battery is full. That makes driving days part of your charging plan. If the van battery isn't charging on the road, check the fuse, the cable size and the Anderson plug before blaming the charger. Our guide on why a caravan battery isn't charging while towing walks through the usual causes.

Lithium batteries also have charging limits in the cold, and many won't accept charge below about freezing unless they have built-in heating. Check your battery maker's specifications before a winter trip to the highlands.

A pre-departure check in the driveway

Before you pull out of the driveway in Kingston or Cambridge, run through these with a helper:

• Tail lights, stop lights, both indicators and number plate light all working on the van.
• Brake controller showing a connected trailer, and the van brakes biting on a slow test stop.
• Breakaway battery charged and the breakaway cable attached correctly.
• Safety chains crossed and shackled, coupling locked and the jockey wheel up.
• Plugs clean, dry and fully seated, with the lead able to move as you turn without pulling tight.
• Van house battery charged and the DC-DC charger showing that it is charging once the engine is running.

When something goes wrong on the road

Most caravan electrical faults on tour come down to the plug, an earth or a fuse. Carry spare fuses and globes, a test light or multimeter, and some electrical tape and crimp joiners. If the van lights act up after rain or a dusty gravel road, clean and dry the plug first.

For faults you can't fix at the roadside, such as a brake controller that won't detect the trailer, get help before you tackle the hills. It's far easier to sort out in Glenorchy or Bridgewater than halfway up a mountain pass with a fully loaded van.

Parts for this job

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Questions Hobart drivers ask

Does my caravan need brakes to tow in Tasmania?

According to the Department of State Growth's towing bulletin, a trailer with a gross trailer mass over 750 kg must have brakes. Override brakes are acceptable up to 2000 kg, and above that you need brakes on all wheels plus a breakaway system. Rules can change, so confirm the current requirements with Transport Tasmania before you tow.

Which route out of Hobart is hardest on a caravan?

The Lyell Highway to the west coast is generally the toughest. It is hilly from New Norfolk to Hamilton, climbs steeply out of the Nive River gorge, and the high country near Derwent Bridge often gets ice and snow in winter. Check your brakes, controller and road conditions before you set out.

Will my caravan solar keep up on a Tasmanian winter trip?

Often not on its own. Short days, cloud and higher power use from heaters and lights all work against you. A DC-DC charger that tops up the van battery while you drive helps a lot, and some people carry a portable panel to chase the sun. Check that lithium batteries can be charged safely in the cold.

My van lights worked in Hobart but failed on the east coast. What should I check first?

Start with the trailer plug. Look for corrosion, bent pins or moisture, and make sure it is fully pushed in. Then check fuses and the earth wire on both the car and van. Many faults are a poor earth. Our trailer lights troubleshooting guide covers the steps in more detail.

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