Bailey Caravan wheel torque settings

[Robtel]

Posting the following in the hope that it may be of interest to some Bailey owners.
Following a letter in the most recent Caravan Club magazine there appears to have been a spate of posts on other forums re whether you can safely use the bolts supplied with standard fit alloy caravan wheels with the spare steel wheel and at what torque setting. The writer of the magazine letter had apparently overheard a conversation in a caravan workshop between caravan owner and workshop re the need to use a different set of bolts.
My Bailey handbook for all Unicorn models ( bought last year and sure it is the same as my previous Senator) reads torque setting of 110nm for alloy wheels and 88nm for steel wheels. On the next page there is a high lighted section which reads that if using the steel spare then the torque settings should be "the same", now that to me reads as being the same as the alloy torque setting. Just to confuse me further I noticed, when I was looking for something else, that the on line handbook has now changed to read torque setting of 160nm with alloy wheels and 120nm with steel wheel. The advice on next page for using the spare was still "the same"
I emailed Bailey for clarification on the following points
1) although my caravan, a Barcelona, was not affected by the recent wheel detachment problems and therefore was not subject to a recall and fitting of new wheel bolts was the recommended torque setting 160nm as in new handbook or the previous recommended 110nm.
2) what was the recommended torque settings if using the steel spare in the event of a puncture, was it 88nm, 110nm ,120nm or 160nm.
I received a very speedy reply stating that in my case I should torque wheel bolts to 110nm for both alloy wheels and the steel spare.
however if I were to use the new bolts being supplied with the dry lubricant then they should be torqued to 160nm for the alloys and 120nm for the steel spare.
I also asked if they recommended that I changed the bolts to the new style even though my caravan had not been mentioned as having a problem. If it increases safety then I would rather do it. The answer to that was a bit more vague, no specific recomendation or not just that they will be available to purchase from their web site soon.
Hope this is of interest to any other Bailey owners.

Robert

 

[jimmy the golfer]

ROB. Thanks for this very important information. I have a Unicorm Seville which was NOT affected by the recent wheel detachments but was unaware of the information re the spare wheel torque..........jimmy

 

[otherclive]

Not untypical of what I think is a cottage industry.

Five years down the line will the second owner be able to differentiate between old style bolts and new style bolts, do the new ones have any identifaction markings. Also does the new dry lubricant deteriorate with life, bearing in mind wheels can be removed 2-3 times a year and not forgetting re-torqued every time you move the van. Heavens if I had to put up with this for a car, I'd give up driving!

 

[Robtel]

Also does the new dry lubricant deteriorate with life, bearing in mind wheels can be removed 2-3 times a year and not forgetting re-torqued every time you move the van.

Funny you should mention that Clive, the same thought went through my head this morning. I use a jsbhublock as an additional security measure whenever my van is not in use. This means one wheel needs to be removed after every outing. I too was wondering what, if any effect, the regular removal and subsequent re-fitting will have on the new wheel bolts should I decide to change over to them. Should I change it would also mean the information contained in the handbook was incorrect, o.k. I would know that but what about the next owner?
Robert

 

[Heethers]

l have just ordered a Unicorn Madrid 2012, l assume they will have the new type bolts fitted or should l not assume anything and ask Bailey to confirm the change. l put the question of the wheel detachments to the Dealer who said it was now sorted, funny thing when l got back l heard of other detachments on Lunars which l have at the moment, Swift and Coachman all with alloy wheels, myself have always torqued my wheel bolts before any journey. Seems to me the Industry as whole need to look into this matter as lives’ are at stake, its not rocket science wheels have been attached to vehicles since Adam was a lad.

 

[Robtel]

, its not rocket science wheels have been attached to vehicles since Adam was a lad.

or not attached as the case may be

As the new Unicorn handbook which covers the entire range (available to download from Bailey website if you want a preview) states 160nm I am also assuming that the whole range has the new type wheel bolts. An email to Kelly Watts at Bailey customer services would clarify the matter for you. I have always found their customer services reply promptly to any queries.
kelly@bailey-caravans.co.uk

Robert