Wheel safety first for Bailey

A special-edition British caravan due to arrive in Australia around mid-year will be fitted as standard with “the first bespoke wheel bolt designed for the caravan industry”, adding to an already impressive safety package.

Bailey Caravans claims it’s the first mainstream European manufacturer to specify the dedicated WSL Caravan Wheel Safety Bolts, which will be fitted to all Unicorn models as well as the new Pegasus GT65 introduced to commemorate the top-selling British manufacturer’s 65th anniversary.

Bailey says despite caravans being a lot more sophisticated today than a decade ago, with more complex braking systems, larger wheel diameters and stability control systems, the basic bolt holding the wheel assembly together hasn't changed.

The new safety bolt was developed by British wheels and tyres specialist WSL in collaboration with bolt technology experts Bolt Science, and has been extensively tested at the AL-KO research facilities in Germany as well as the Millbrook Proving Ground in the UK by Bailey.

According to Bailey, it features “a bespoke floating collar and high performance anti-friction surface finish, which together allow more of the torque energy to be converted into clamping force rather than being lost to overcome friction, thus significantly reducing the risk of a loss in bolt torque and potential wheel detachment.

“The bolts also enjoy the added benefits of a security locking head to offer greater protection against theft and an anti-corrosion coating for enhanced longevity.”

Although admitting wheel detachments on caravans are a rare occurrence, Bailey Managing Director Nick Howard says the company wanted “to make sure that we do everything we can safeguard against it occurring on our vehicles”.

“Consequently we wanted to be the first manufacturer to fit the WSL Caravan Wheel Safety Bolt as standard specification on our caravan ranges to highlight how seriously we take this subject,” he says.

Bailey says the fitment of the WSL safety bolts, together with AL-KO AKS stabiliser, AL-KO ATC Trailer Control System, TUV certified and laser balanced alloy wheels and high-performance Michelin tyres, make the Unicorn and Pegasus GT65 models among “the best caravan safety packages available today”.