Caravan Touring from Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend

This guide is for caravan and camper trailer owners setting out from Murray Bridge, Mannum or Tailem Bend, and for travellers passing through on the way to Victoria, the Coorong or the Mallee. It covers the electrical side of towing on these routes: SA trailer brake and lighting rules, brake controllers, keeping the van battery charged, river ferries and the climb back to Adelaide.

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Where the roads go from here

Tailem Bend is one of the great road junctions of South Australia. From here, the Princes Highway heads south along the Coorong towards the South East coast, the Dukes Highway runs about 190 km to the Victorian border near Bordertown, and the Mallee Highway heads east through Lameroo and Pinnaroo into Victoria. Upstream, roads follow the river from Murray Bridge to Mannum and on towards the Riverland, with free ferries crossing the Murray along the way.

Each route asks something different of a caravan's electrics. The Dukes is long, flat and fast, with hours of steady towing. The Coorong road brings sand, dust and coastal air to the stops along the way. The river roads are slower, with ferry ramps and shack tracks. And if you're heading back to Adelaide, the South Eastern Freeway finishes with a long, steep descent through the Hills.

Brakes and breakaway: check the SA rules

South Australia's light vehicle towing rules say a trailer needs brakes once its gross trailer mass (GTM) is over 750 kg, and a breakaway system is required once it's over 2 tonnes. The loaded trailer must also stay within the tow bar and coupling rating and the tow vehicle's towing limits set by the manufacturer. Read the SA Government light vehicle towing regulations page and check your van's compliance plate and the current rules before relying on any summary.

Most Australian caravans over 2 tonnes use electric brakes, run by a brake controller in the tow vehicle. The breakaway system uses its own small battery to apply the van's brakes if it comes loose. That battery needs to be charged and healthy, or the system won't do its job when it matters.

Setting up the brake controller for the trip

A brake controller is only as good as its wiring and its setting. Thin cable, a poor earth or a corroded plug pin all reduce braking power, often without any warning. Set the controller's gain with the van loaded as it will be on the road, then test it on a quiet road at low speed. If the van pushes the car when you brake, the gain is likely too low. If the van's wheels lock, it's too high.

Check the setting again if your load changes a lot during the trip, for example after filling the water tanks. Our guide on installing an electric brake controller covers the wiring and setup.

Lights the rules expect

South Australia's light trailer rules require the trailer's lights to work in unison with the tow vehicle's indicators, brake lights, tail lights and, where fitted, reversing lights. The SA Government's towing page lists the required lights and reflectors, including a number plate light, two brake lights, two tail lights, two indicators and two red reflectors. Wider trailers need front reflectors too. Wiring must have an earth back to the tow vehicle and be secured along its length.

Before every trip, have someone stand behind the van while you work through tail lights, brake lights, both indicators and the reversing lights. If the indicators flash fast or one side is dim, look at the earth and the plug first.

Keeping the van battery charged on the Dukes

A long day on the Dukes Highway should put plenty of charge into the van battery. Often, it doesn't. The cable from the car's alternator to the van is long, so voltage drops along the way, and many newer tow vehicles have smart alternators that lower their output once the starting battery is full. Hot weather adds to the problem, as some chargers and batteries cut back when they get hot.

A DC-DC charger mounted where it gets airflow, fed by properly sized cable, solves most of these problems. Our guide on choosing between a DC-DC charger and an isolator explains the difference. If you plan to free camp along the Coorong or in the Mallee, add solar to keep the battery topped up while you're parked.

River ferries with a van behind you

The river roads between Murray Bridge, Mannum and beyond cross the Murray on free government ferries, including two at Mannum and one at Tailem Bend running across to Jervois. The SA Government says the ferries operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, unless there's a temporary closure. Check the ferry locations and operational status page before you go, and talk to the ferry operator first if your rig is large.

Ferry ramps can be steep where they meet the deck. Drive on slowly so the van's drawbar, jockey wheel and plug lead don't scrape. Keep the plug lead tidy with enough slack for turns but not so much that it drags.

The descent back into Adelaide

If you're heading back towards Adelaide, the South Eastern Freeway finishes with a long, steep descent from Crafers to Glen Osmond. According to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, the specific heavy vehicle rules on this descent cover trucks over 4.5 tonnes GVM and larger buses, not cars towing caravans. DIT still advises that drivers of combinations like a car towing a caravan descend safely for the conditions. See the DIT South Eastern Freeway rules page for details, and check the current rules.

In practice, select a lower gear before the descent so the engine helps hold your speed, and use the brakes in firm, short applications rather than riding them. This is where a correctly set brake controller earns its keep.

A pre-departure checklist

Do these checks a few days before you leave, so there's time to fix anything you find. Auto electricians in Tailem Bend and Murray Bridge can help if something needs attention.

• All van lights working, including clearance and side marker lights.
• Brake controller set with the van loaded, and the brakes tested at low speed.
• Breakaway battery charged and the system tested, lanyard attached to the car.
• Engine running and the battery monitor showing charge going into the van.
• Plug fully seated, dust cap in place, lead not dragging.
• Spare fuses, a couple of globes, crimp connectors and electrical tape packed.

Parts for this job

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

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

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

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

Questions Murray Bridge drivers ask

When does a caravan need brakes in South Australia?

According to the SA Government's towing rules, a trailer needs brakes once its gross trailer mass is over 750 kg, and a breakaway system once it's over 2 tonnes. The van must also stay within your tow bar rating and your vehicle's towing limits. Check your compliance plate and the current SA rules before you rely on this summary.

Do I have to slow down for a broken-down caravan with a tow truck?

If a breakdown services vehicle is stopped with flashing amber lights, South Australian drivers must slow to 25 km/h when passing it, unless it's on the other side of the road. The rule applies since May 2025. Check the current details on the My Licence website.

Why doesn't my van battery charge on the drive to Victoria?

Common causes are voltage drop through long, thin cable, a smart alternator that lowers its output, a blown fuse, a poor earth or a charger cutting back in the heat. Test the circuit with the engine running to find the cause. A DC-DC charger with properly sized cable fixes most of these problems.

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