New type of Caravan wheel safety bolt

[Sproket]

Some caravan manufactures will be fitting them as standard from new.
The new WSL caravan wheel safety bolt can be retrofitted to other caravans.
Watch the video

 

[Lutz]

The arguments brought forward by the manufacturer are plausible, but I wonder why it is seems to be exclusively a caravan problem and you never hear of similar issues on cars. I get the feeling that the caravan manufacturer, who presumably purchases the wheels and bolts, isn't touching base with the chassis manufacturer to check whether his wheels and bolts are actually approriate for the chassis wheel hubs.

 

[Surfer]

The answer is not to buy a Bailey caravan!

 

[Sproket]

Maybe this has brought it all to a head ??? I seem to remember reading that some of the cause was the PCD of either the wheel or hub causing the problem, if so these type of floating collars fitted to the wheel bolts will overcome this ??
Wheel detachments

 

[Gybe]

Whatever is fitted to a caravan you still have to do it up correctly

How many caravan that have shed a wheel have recently had the wheel taken off and refitted

 

[Surfer]

Maybe this has brought it all to a head ??? I seem to remember reading that some of the cause was the PCD of either the wheel or hub causing the problem, if so these type of floating collars fitted to the wheel bolts will overcome this ??
Wheel detachments

Did they ever find a reason why the wheels were coming of Bailey caravans? Was the thread too short?

 

[ProfJohnL]

I am pleased the industry has at last taken this safety issue seriously.

There is no doubt that wheel detachment has been an issue, and it needed a proper concerted effort to investigate and establish the causes.

In the video's there is a suggestion that part of the problem could be that caravans don't usually have a peg on the wheel hub to align the wheel, I'm not convinced of that suggestion as they tend to be much smaller than the diameter of wheel bolts and so much weaker and would probably shear if the wheel bolts were dropping out, and it offers no clamping effect.

I wonder if it also been an issue for foreign manufactures supplying Europe? Equally has it affected any other trailer types?

Whist we may postulate it's down to inadequate refitting of a wheel, there is virtually no way of proving it once the wheel has come loose.

As the problem has now caused a recall, perhaps VOSA could do some road side stops and check wheel nut torques. The results could be interesting.

However I do think the floating collar of the WSL design with its smaller radius of the rotating frictional parts coupled with the claimed low friction surfaces is a mechanically sound idea and should improve the transfer of tightening torque into clamping force. This should offer a far better consistency of bolt tightening and clamping effect.

I have seen no prices yet, but they will probably far less the cost of repairs when a wheel does detach.

 

[Sproket]

I have seen no prices yet, but they will probably far less the cost of repairs when a wheel does detach.

Considering just how much normal locking wheel bolts are for 2

You can Buy the new bolts on Line for a single axle van for £49.98 for 10

 

[Surfer]

As the problem has now caused a recall, perhaps VOSA could do some road side stops and check wheel nut torques. The results could be interesting.

I don't think VOSA would ever be allowed to check wheel nut torques. Pity in a way, but then it would need to be applied across the whole spectrum to include all vehicles on the road even bicyles!

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

As the problem has now caused a recall, perhaps VOSA could do some road side stops and check wheel nut torques. The results could be interesting.

I don't think VOSA would ever be allowed to check wheel nut torques. Pity in a way, but then it would need to be applied across the whole spectrum to include all vehicles on the road even bicyles!

The nick name "wheel tapers" springs to mind!

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi all, a couple of points following the Prof's post, while it is welcomed that research has been done into wheel detachment and a possible solution found, why does it seem to be only caravan wheels that are a problem? all the old arguements about poor fitting not been torqued ect, dont really hold water as most car wheels are changed at least once a year either for servicing or in the event of a punture the wheel then been refitted either by the owner via a bent piece of wire (standard wheel brace) or a fitter with an air gun, yet wheel detachments are very rare, considering the difference between the average mileage of a car over a van the frequency of events seem even more unique,
one answer could be the exclusive use of Alko chasis on caravans, many without shock absorbers as the old chasis used both shock absorbers and car oreintated hubs from BMC and Ford, these did not seem to have a problem, but that would not explain why other Alko chasis trailers do not seem suffer in the same way,
it has be down to the way vans are built and used the stresses and strains and the harmonics and vibrations imparted into the hubs and wheels, that are unique to caravans in some way, as John remarked the use of location pegs is not I believe a factor as none of the cars I have had since the late 80's have had them fitted, the primary use of the pegs were to aid wheel alignment while fitting plus at one time wheels were balanced on the car the pegs then being used to ensure correct orentation of the wheel after removal. once refitted the wheels nuts/bolts then secured the rims to the hubs and the pegs played no part in wheel security.
the new wheel bolts may indeed solve the problem although nothing in the video to me stated what the problems actually are as not every caravan loses a wheel and not every wheel is fitted correctly (as per instructions) in 40+ years of towing I have never "touch wood" had a wheel come loose and can think of only a handfull of occasions when a torque wrench was used on the bolts,
I for one will not be rushing out to buy a new set of bolts for my now 7years old caravan but would be interested in the results of tests carried out over the next few years if the bolts are adoped by the caravan industry and fitted to all new vans, but this would not answer the fundimental question why was there a presumed problem in the first place,

 

[otherclive]

I know that vans have been sensitive to wheel nut torque for quite sometime hence the exhortations to check the torque each time you tow. Highly impractible and unrealistic. Ie on a four night journey to Croatia is it seriously believed you will be checking torque each day. If that's what is required I'd have real concerns for van safety full stop. Baileys recent problem affected alloy wheels and their solution was for replacement bolts with a modified low surface friction coating. So clearly it was a clamping force issue but whether the design of the wheels exacerbated it I don't know. These new bolts seem to have taken the Bailey idea a step further. Personally I would prefer to see wheel nut restraints used such as those red plastic things that physically prevented wheel nuts coming adrift. But a slightly more aesthetic version.

 

[Dustydog]

It's always struck me as very strange that Al-Ko never said anything themselves about the wheel detachments. After all they provide all the hubs nuts etc don't they

Well done to the designers of this new piece of kit.

As you all know I have only ever had one wheel detachment in 35 years of towing. That was a rear wheel on the car which had just had a new set of tyres fitted. I watched the fitter torque up all the nuts. On the invoice , in red ink, it said check the torques after 50 miles. I had covered 450 miles.
I didn't do that and hence I can only blame myself.Rare I know but it happened.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Colin,

There can be little doubt that wheel detachment from caravans has been a problem, perhaps not quantified, but enough to cause one manufacture set up a recall, and of course it has featured in many threads on forums.

Perhaps it is a problem centering on Alko chassis, but Alko supply parts to all sorts of trailer manufacturers - What we don't know is how many other vehicle types my be affected, so we cant draw any solid conclusions from the available information.

I have had a partial wheel detachment, from my car. 2 of 5 wheel bolts worked loose and were lost, but the wheel was still firmly attached by the remaining three - a high street fitter was the last to set the bolts.

I'm not sure what if any relevance the presence or otherwise of dampers may be relevant. Bearing in mind the way dampers work to reduce the shock loads transmitted to the body, it means that more acceleration energy must be absorbed by the wheel/tyre when a damper is used. Consequently if the detachment issue was related only to vibration then I could argue we should see more detachments with dampers than without.

What cannot be discounted is that for a wheel to detach, the fixings must have three possibilities,
1. The wheel bolts were not fully tightened or were deliberately loosened.
2. The wheel bolts have worked loose.
3. The wheel bolts have broken.

For point one, that is human error or intervention.
for the other two points, a bolt that can generate better clamping force must offer some benefit of security.

There will be some who consider the issue to be similar to the tyre band debate. But I think there is a significant difference: The tyre band will only come into play after a tyre failure and thus is a secondary safety device (of dubious value in my opinion). But the bolts holding a wheel are a primary safety component, so an inherently better design offers greater confidence.

I totally agree though that if proper care is taken in cleaning and reassembling the wheel to the hub, and correctly torquing the bolts, there should not be a problem - but I think the number of reports suggest there could be more to it than that.

 

[Lutz]

It would be interesting to know whether primarily alloy wheels are affected or whether it is a problem across the board. Does anyone have any information? I can think of reasons why alloy wheels are more susceptible.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

A few years ago it was reported in the midlands that several ambulances had suffered wheel detachment so its not just a caravan or caravan specific make problem
Having suffered a wheel loss on an Ace caravan through a suspected attempt to remove the wheel on the Alko wheel lock side I welcome the full set of security bolts idea as when we had our event we found 2 bolts but not the wheel and one was the security bolt that could have resisted removal attempts and been last to loosen after the others had dropped off

 

[Mike_S]

Have just watched the various online videos on the Caravan Times website, including the report on the safety bolts. One of the videos emphasises the importance of caravan wheels being balanced. To me, any rotating object should be properly balanced. I've always had my caravan wheels balanced yet, when I've taken them to be balanced, the fitters' response is always the same - "why bother" or "it's not necessary".
My theory re nearside wheel detachment is that this is the side where wheels are most likely to be "kerbed" or just hitting sunken grids which is then compounded by lack of balanced wheels in the first place.
Still, I'm tempted by these security bolts as simply extra security!
Mike

 

[WatsonJohnG]

The nearside wheel bolts tend to loosen with the direction of rotation once disturbed possibly by kerbing or lack of torquing correctly
Bikes have left hand thread pedals on the left hand pedal to avoid unscrewing
Some commercial vehicles such as my daughter's old ambulance have left hand thread wheel bolts on the nearside
When I contacted the insurance company after our wheel loss I made a comment about desirability of left hand thread bolts etc and the guy at the other end expressed the opinion that it would save them the insurers a lot of money

 

[joeby]

we use our caravan all year , even travelled down to Spain a few years back in thick snow and temps down to minus 10 , and in 18 years i have never had trouble with wheel bolts , and our present van does have alloy wheels

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Joe
I'm thankfull you have not experienced any wheel detachemnt issues, and long may it stay that way, Otheres have not been as lucky as you, so hopefully this thread may bring some hope to them.

 

[otherclive]

I've just taken the wheel bolts off the XC70 and they have some form of coating on the threads and the conical seating washers under the head rotate. So very similar to those being proposed for the caravan alloy wheels. So have the caravan industry been a bit too cost conscious in what were OEM bolts on alloy wheels.
Off now to have the puncture fixed at least the space saver won't get used other than to keep the FNS off the drive!!

 

[Gybe]

Some alloy wheels get corrosion in the bolt holes and on the bolt seating. If the seating of the wheel is not clean and sound when the bolt is refitted there can be room for movement even though the bolts appear correctly torqued. Always have wheels balanced for trailers and caravans.
I believe that not tightening the bolts correctly is probably the main cause of wheel loss or someone tampering with the bolts another issue.

 

[Mike_S]

Have been in touch with Bailey with a view to fitting these safety bolts to my S6 Senator. They will fit and can be bought direct from Bailey's parts site.
Bolts (part no 1140220) cost £3-14 each and "key" (part no 1430035) cost £7-86 each. Seems to compare favourably with buying direct from WSL.

Mike

 

[Sproket]

Have been in touch with Bailey with a view to fitting these safety bolts to my S6 Senator. They will fit and can be bought direct from Bailey's parts site.
Bolts (part no 1140220) cost £3-14 each and "key" (part no 1430035) cost £7-86 each. Seems to compare favourably with buying direct from WSL.

Mike

Mike
Will that price include VAT + p&p ?

As I don't have any locking wheel bolt's fitted I decided to order a set of ten from WSL via there website, as they come with two socket keys included in the set.
I ordered them at the weekend & they arrived on Tuesday the total cost was £54.97 including recorded / signed for delivery.
They are now waiting to be fitted some time soon.

The old bolts will be saved & re-fitted if ever we swap the van.

To me it's a no brainer, even though the wheels nuts are checked before every trip out & back & I don't kerb the wheels, the state of some of the roads now are a disgrace, the A roads are turning into B roads, but there is no money to fix them, I just looked at my van & thought what would we need to replace if the wheel decided to come through the floor ......
I took the cheaper option .......

 

[Mike_S]

Hi Sproket

Price includes VAT but postage extra.
Have ordered a set and like you will keep the old bolts if/when we swap the van.
Mike