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Journal/Technical Guide

Understanding Australia's 60% Rear Overhang Rule

2 July 20265 min readBy Dave
Side profile of the lifted Chinook showing body length relative to the axles

A plain-English look at the rear overhang rule and how it shaped the Chinook's wheelbase.

Australian rules limit how far a vehicle body can extend behind the rear axle — broadly, rear overhang shouldn't exceed 60% of the wheelbase. For a camper with a long body, that number drives the whole chassis plan.

It's why the wheelbase extension isn't arbitrary. Stretch the chassis and you move the rear axle rearward relative to the body, bringing overhang back inside the limit while improving weight distribution.

This is general information based on this specific project — always confirm current requirements with a qualified engineer for your build and state.

#compliance#engineering#Australia