We are going to enter the caravan world after lots of camping but now we have two little ones and feel a caravan would suit our needs me comfort better!!!
We are looking at the 546 Olympus and pegasus we also like the Pageant S7 we want the triple bunks with the segregated back layout to shut the kids of to sleep at night.
Should we buy one with the Alu Tech ? And how new does it have to be to have Alu tech?
Has anyone got any advice on the usage of this layout ie is it good ??
Should it be a bailey or is another make as good ???
Personally I wouldn't touch another Alu-Tek as the one we had for 18 months leaked. They are not all the same, some do some don't!!!
Have a look at Swifts but not 2011 year.
Well there has been a lot of hype about Alu-Tech, but there again Bailey get some bad reports on here about quality. so maybe Alu-Tech is not the panacia to a damp proof van that some think it is.
I am in the market for a light fixed bed 4 berth van, looked at the Bailey Orion 430/4 and it seemed fine, but what do I know having never owned a caravan.
I am now looking at Adria, in particular Sportline PX (aka Altea Tay) and the Trigano/Rubis 420, the Trigano is a Pop-Top so will store in my double garage, and go Toll free on the French autoroutes.
Having said that, the Adria is a snip new at £12k compared to the Trigano at £15k, oh to do.
And of course this price difference is reflected in used values as I am unlikely to buy new.
Thanks for replying so quick we will have a look at the Swifts we looked at Adrian last weekend they are nice and wide. I didn't realise pop tops go free on the auto ban ???
another thumbs down for alutech here too.
trouble from day 1 spent more time at factory and dealers than on site.
latest ones may be better, our 2010 was dross
What about a 2009 or 2010 lunar quasar 546, very similar layout and with full bathroom. I think it went over to double bunks from triple bunks for 2011/12 season. We have had ours for three years and will be trading it in next week - going on what we have been offered part ex it's depreciated just £1100 in 3 yrs so the layout obviously does hold its value too.
weve got a bailey orion and "touch wood" not had any big problems...only slight things that i got sort when i took it in for an external socket to be fitted, ie a cupboard not shutting properly....there is alway good and bad in everything but we only hear the bad!!!
------------- Oct 2013- south lytchett manor dorset
Feb 2014- Lady Heyes
April 2014- Jasmine Park
May 2014 - Jasmine Park Again....
July 2014 - Gwithian
Oct 2014 - Beverley Park
For a family van where you have a superb seperate shower cubicle and have the ability to lose the rear end off with sleeping space for three I don't think you can beat the Series7 Pageant Provence. We've had the series 5 & Series 7 Provence and they're lovely family vans.
We wouldn't touch a fixed bed van or one with three side bunks simply because we like to have full use of the whole van for seating should the weather turn bad and in our opinion giving up space in the van for fixed bed and built in bunks has never floated our boat.
When our 4 kids outgrew the van we put an annex at each end of the awning for them & they loved taking turns sleeping in these.
I'm not certain but I think Alu-Tec came in around 2009 & to be honest we're not sure what we think about the process. I felt better in my mind when the Alu-Tec bolts were checked every third service but now this has been declared unnecessary by the manufacturer & dropped from the service plan, we'll be watching to see how things go because we have a superb local bailey Dealer just up the road & will stick with the make again if we can.
I can only speak as I have found; we have a Pegasus which was one of the first batch delivered form the factory. It's a 524 fixed bed. We have had very little 'trouble' with the van at all. It had it's third service last December. To date it has had the thicker front plastic/decals fitted ( we had no problems with stone dents). Problems? we had to have a new toilet flush pump fitted after about 4 months and at the last service we asked them to look at the fire front which had started to pop off; this was fixed no hassle. These are the only problems we have had, unfortunately we may need to change layout soon as grandchildren coming away with us id imminent! We are looking but we've seen nothing to tempt us ..... yet!
we have the pageant series 7 bretagne, one of the big selling points for us, like yourself, was the triple bunks and being able to separate the kids area from the rest of the van. Ours is the 2010 model and isn't alu-tec.
Thanks everyone for your comments it is really helping.
Can I ask you Rich does the layout with fixed bunks work for you and your family I was thinking that it would be good never having to make beds up for kids especially as ours still sleep in day as still very young. Having the table at the end for them allows them still to play down there.
Going to see an Olympus 546 on Friday.
Thanks for your help everyone really appreciated. Just looking forward to having some family chilled out holidays and weekends away.
we loved our Ranger with triple bunks but the bloody kids grew and couldnt fit in them any more so thats why we bought an Orion...
------------- Oct 2013- south lytchett manor dorset
Feb 2014- Lady Heyes
April 2014- Jasmine Park
May 2014 - Jasmine Park Again....
July 2014 - Gwithian
Oct 2014 - Beverley Park
We have an Olympus 540-5. We absolutely love it. No issues with damp or problems with alutech tech. The alutech tech technology was what attracted us to Bailey. What sold us on this model is the brilliant lay out. The fixed bunks are really great and the beauty of the Olympus against the Pegasus is that with the Olympus it is two bunks not three and the head room is much better. Our children are 5 and 9 and are really comfy on the bunks. It is still a 5 berth as there is a dinette which makes into a bed. The shower room is brilliant. Plenty of room to wash, go to loo and the lovely Belfast style sink is a real plus if you want to just give littlies a sink wash.
I love the openness of the layout. The fact that there are Windows on two sides gives a bright feel. All in all it is a gorgeous van. Good luck with ypur search. When we look at other caravans which now offer a similar layout we notice how much lower the overall head room in those caravans is compared to the
Olympus, also hpw they feel slightly old fashioned with bumpy ceilings, but to each there own.
We had a bailey ranger 550/6 (twin fixed bunk accross rear, side dinette for two more bunks) for 3 years and it was great. We found that the side dinette got used as a dumping ground though. But the van itself worked well and especially felt light and airy at the front as the washroom, toilet and wardrobe were toward the back.
We now have a coachman wanderer 19/6 based on the amara 570/6.
It has two fixed bunks at the back with a dinette opposite which converts to two further bunks if needed.
This "room" is separated by a door. The caravan is great and works well for us as the kids have their own space. The only downside is that the wardrobe and washroom are further forwards so the front feels a bit boxed in. Great build quality though, a tad heavy but everything is solid and works great.
The ranger was good too just a bit lighter weight and felt a bit flimsy in comparison.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Bailey Advice needed please
