by David Bates
Bailey set outback challenge for Alu-Tech machines
Bailey of Bristol is set to send two caravans across Australia, in a trip dubbed the West2East Challenge, aimed at demonstrating the manufactuer’s caravans’ reliability and durability in rough conditions.
On 21 August, two Bailey caravans – the first and second caravans to be fully built in Australia at Bailey’s Melbourne subsidiary – will depart on their 6,000km journey, which the Bristol manufacturer believes will exhibit the lightweight endurance of its Alu-Tech design and mark the advent of Australian-made Bailey leisure vehicles.
Leaving from Denham, Australia’s most westerly point, the two caravans, towed by two Toyota Land Cruisers, will travel to Byron Bay, the eastern-most point, in a journey expected to last 14 days until 3 September.
The West2East Challenge will move through Australia’s outback heartlands, taking in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Birdsville and Uluru, as well as 2,200km of gravel, dirt and corrugated roads, picked to put Bailey’s Alu-Tech construction system to the test.
Although it’s currently winter down under, the cross-country route will expose the inaugural Australian Baileys to daytime temperatures of between 34 and 38 degrees celsius, whilst during the night temperatures can drop below zero, especially in the Gibson and Simpson deserts. The team from Bailey will be hoping their temperature control system and market-leading insulation is as good as they say.
The caravans have been tested in advance at the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) to ensure they’re up to the task, but, with a challengethe size of this, surely anything could happen.
For those keen to follow Bailey’s outback shenanigans, follow @BaileyofBristol using #W2EChallenge.
