What is the length of the road train in NSW?

Can you drive a road train in NSW?

Nah, mate. Driving a road train in NSW ain't like driving your grandma's Corolla. It's more like wrestling a greased pig the size of a small house. You need a special license, a whole lotta skill, and nerves of steel. Think of it as trying to thread a needle with a garden hose.

You'll need a Heavy Rigid (HR) license at a minimum. That’s not something you pick up at your local corner store. It's serious business. My cousin Barry tried—ended up backing into a flock of sheep. True story. He’s still paying for that.

Approved routes are on the NHVR's website. It's not some backwoods map you find under the floorboards of your great-aunt Mildred's shed. This is a digital beast, a map as detailed as a surgeon's diagram of a brain. Finding your way isn’t a walk in the park; it's a hike up Everest in flip-flops.

Type 1 Road Trains are the most common. They're like the pickup trucks of the road train world: slightly less terrifying than the others. I saw one once, it was longer than my street. Not exaggerating. That's a big street.

Here's the deal:

• License: Get your HR license. Or higher. Don't be a wally.
• Map: Check the NHVR map. Seriously, this is essential. It’s not optional. Do it.
• Size: These things are HUGE. Think of a jumbo jet, but on wheels. And moving. Slowly. Usually.
• Skill: You need more skill than a brain surgeon. Maybe more than two brain surgeons.

This is 2024, not the Stone Age. Get with the program.

How many wheels are on a road train?

Wheels? Irrelevant.

80 tyres touch asphalt. 8 spares. Each.

Fuel? 1 km per liter. Diesel. Thirst quenched.

That's all.

• Tyre Count: Consider the setup. Multiple trailers. Each with axles. Dual tyres per axle are standard. Breakdown reveals why 80 is typical.

• Fuel Consumption: Road trains aren’t Prius material. Massive engines. Hauling extreme weight. Expect abysmal mileage. Like, seriously. One liter per km? Optimistic. I bet my old 1973 Mustang got better mileage.

• The "Wheels" Fallacy: The question focuses on "wheels". Each "wheel" can hold two tyres. Focus on tyres. More accurate. More practical.

• Spares: Flat tyres happen. Remote locations demand spares. Eight spares per unit means preparedness. Means survival. My aunt's semi-truck had 10.

• Road trains are more interesting: I am in the process of planning a vacation next year to go and see one in person, and i want to bring my son who will be 8 years old.

• Diesel: It’s essential to clarify that road trains primarily run on diesel. Other fuel types are uncommon due to the engine design and demand for the work they do.

How long are Australian road trains?

Road trains? Colossal.

Up to 53.5 meters. 2.5 meters wide. Three trailers maximum. Overtake? A gamble. Don't underestimate their length. Patience is survival.

• Maximum length: 53.5 m. Think football field, nearly.
• Width: 2.5 m. One lane hog.
• Trailer count: Up to 3. Linked behemoths.
• Overtaking: Caution urged. Impulse can kill.
• My advice: Stay back. Way back. Like, really, really far. From personal experience, dust clouds are the least of your worries. 1988. Never forget the Northern Territory.

Also, a personal thing. My uncle, lost his side mirror to one of these. Still gripes. It’s not just metal, it's a cautionary tale.

Are road trains legal in NSW?

Man, road trains in NSW? Yeah, they're legal. Saw one myself last month, near Dubbo. Huge thing! Scary and impressive at the same time. It was July, baking hot day. I was driving back from a mate's place, headed towards Orange. This massive truck, three trailers, just lumbered past me. Nearly took out my mirrors. Seriously. Felt like a tiny beetle next to a monster. My heart hammered.

The thing is, these AB-triples, that's what they're called, operate under some national thingy, the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle Road Train Authorisation Notice 2022. It's all about conditions and routes. That's what I get from the website. There’s an operator's guide too. Lots of rules I reckon. Strict stuff. But they’re allowed. They’re all over the place actually.

I'm sure of it. I know what I saw! Didn't check all the details of the authorisation notice itself, I was too busy trying not to get squished! But, yeah, they're legal. Definitely. No doubts about that. Don't want to meet one on a blind corner though. That's for sure.