2022 Best New Safety Feature finalists announced

The six contenders for the 2022 caravancampingsales Innovation Awards' Best New Safety Feature category

We've announced the contenders for Best New RV, Best New Product/Accessory and Best New Technology in the 2022 caravancampingsales Innovation Awards, and now it's time to reveal the six finalists in the fourth and final, Best New Safety Feature category.

All nominees for this year's Best New Safety Feature Award represent significant advances in the general area of RV safety and security, from an Australian-made multi-function RV alarm and security system, to 'fit-and-forget' compact towing mirrors that make pulling a caravan safer and easier.

Also included in the shortlist is a less fiddly way to connect your trailer safety chains, a safer 4WD recovery kit, and an informative video education program designed to reduce caravan-related accidents.

After our expert panel completes final judging, the four category winners for the 2022 caravancampingsales Innovation Awards will be announced in early-December.

Mawby Hawk

Mawby Hook takes the hassle out of attaching trailer safety chains

Attaching a trailer safety chain securely is a legal requirement when towing a caravan, but it's often a fiddly task when using conventional D-shackles; not to mention they can jam up if over-tightened.

Engineered and manufactured by South Australia's Dix Engineering, the Mawby Hook quick action trailer safety chain coupling makes hitching up easier and potentially safer.

Constructed from drop-forged steel and fully tested, the clever D-shackle alternative is rated for 3500kg ATM trailers. As well as being easy to install and suitable for most towbars, Dix says the Mawby Hook is also a 'pilfer proof' attachment.

Clearview Compact

A smaller, single glass version of the popular replacement towing mirrors, the Clearview Compact aftermarket mirrors don't stick out quite as far as other Clearview models when retracted, making them less of a hassle when parking or navigating narrow and busy streets when not towing.

Clearview says the Compact mirror sits on a double slide and slides right back into the vehicle when not towing, just like an OEM mirror.

It's designed for easy 'plug and play' installation, and available with Manual Fold and Power Fold options, and different finishes including black, chrome and raw (for vehicle colour-matching), depending on the vehicle.

RV Secure Platinum X

Helping RV travellers sleep better at night while also protecting their valuable home-away-from-home from thieves, the top-spec RV Secure Platinum X alarm and tracking system is brimming with the latest in security technology including GPS tracking and an SMS notification system.

Key features include a control unit with LCD display, 24 hour ‘Panic’ switch, three-mode alarm system, and the option to fit up to 16 sensors to cater for different requirements, with optional wired PIN switches also available.

The Australian-made system also boasts an Anti-Tow/Anti-Hitch feature to prevent your van from being stolen, plus an in-built digital level function.

RV Safe

Pitched at caravan newbies, the government-funded RV Safe program includes a number of freely available, short educational videos covering important but often misunderstood caravan and RV safety-related topics including the dangers of overtaking, the use of towing mirrors, sharing the road with trucks, caravan reversing, dealing with trailer sway, and towing weight definitions.

The RV Safe initiative was launched in late-2019 and is supported by the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia.

"The RV Safety Awareness Project aims to target areas of risk that are specific to RV travellers and educate these road users to try and reduce incidents and encourage consistent and compliant behaviour on our roads," it says on the RV Safe website.

SpaceX

The SpaceX mobile satellite internet service is a relatively simple and affordable way for RV travellers to keep in touch, get help and stay safe when touring remote Outback regions.

According to the Starlink website, 'Starlink for RVs' allows users to "immediately access high-speed, low-latency internet on an as-needed basis at any destination where Starlink provides active coverage".

Relying on the largest satellite constellation ever launched into space, it's aimed at 4WD adventurers, grey nomads and remote workers "travelling to locations where connectivity has been unreliable or completely unavailable".

The 'Starlink for RVs' package includes an up-front cost for a Starlink 'dish' and WiFi router/power, with a monthly 'pay as you go' fee.

MaxTrax 4x4 Recovery

Built with the same attention to detail and eye-catching design ethos as the popular recovery plank range, the MaxTrax 4x4 recovery kits are available in 'Bush' and 'Beach' versions and consist of a soft shackle-only hitch receiver, winch ring, a collection of soft shackles, different length kinetic and static ropes, and a tethered damper, all of which are stored in a MaxTrax kit bag.

"By reducing the amount of metal components and engineering a designated failure point if overloaded, the MaxTrax Recovery System is built with safety as your number one priority," the company says.

The stylish and user-friendly recovery kits picked up a 2022 Good Design Award where the judges described them as "a holistic solution to the task of vehicle recovery".