Bailey of Bristol to bring towing simulator to NEC show

by Chris Jefferies
When loading a caravan, we’re often reminded that how you choose to pack heavy items can make a big difference to towing stability.
But it’s hard to imagine what this difference looks like, short of actually having a caravan accident.
With this in mind, Bailey of Bristol has teamed up with the University of Bath to create a towing simulator, which will be demonstrated on their stand at the 2014 Caravan and Camping Show (18-23 February).
This exhibit features a 1-10 scale model of a towcar and caravan on a treadmill. The miniature caravan can be loaded with weights to represent heavy items such as gas bottles and leisure batteries.
The rig is then accelerated to a maximum speed of 16kmh, which is equivalent to a scale speed of 100mph, and shaken from side-to-side in order to simulate side winds.
We are assured that the results are dramatically different depending on whether you choose to pack the heavy items over the axle or closer to the hitch.
Professor Jos Darling from the University of Bath will be on hand to run the simulator and explain how increased yaw inertia can lead to serious problems such as snaking.
Bailey first carried out this experiment in 2009 and the results encouraged them to redesign their gas lockers, fitting them above the axle in every range from the Bailey Unicorn Series II, which arrived in 2012, up to the recently-launched Bailey Pursuit.
Visitors to the Bailey stand in Hall 2 at the Birmingham NEC show will be able to see inside both of these ranges, as well as the mid-range Bailey Pegasus GT65 and the entire Bailey Motorhomes collection.