looking to buy our first van for the 2010 season so we have been viewing new vans over the weekend , and it looks like a choice between the Bailey Ranger 460/4 or the Sprite Alpine 4. Both very similar in layout, weight and spec and can get both for around the same price. Wife likes the look of the Alpine whereas i prefer the Ranger ( nothing new there ). From experience is there much of a difference between the two makes? build quality , reliability . customer service etc.
I don't know anything about the Sprite but I have the 460/4 (2007 model, S5) and it ticks all the boxes for us and so far has been trouble free.
How many will be using it at one time and do you intend to use it during the whole year? I ask this because we found that it can seem a little cramped, even for 2 of us, especially during the winter when we tend to use the van more than the awning. This is mainly due to the wardrobe position, it seems to reduce the space.
This is the only reason we would consider a new van in the next year or so.
That is a dilema as from looking at just pictures of the sprite they are very similar. Have you seen the GT60 Ranger? It's about 1k more but it has the alko hitch, alloy wheels, microwave, stereo and other good stuff (you can tell i'm well up with all the tech stuff can't you lol) which is worth a lot more than 1k. We got the GT60 540/6 and its brilliant.
We also got a motor mover fitted which i would heartily recommend.
Sorry i can't comment on the rest as this is our 1st Bailey and new caravan :) But our nearest dealer is a Bailey Dealer so if we had have wanted a Sprite we would have had to buy from a dealer further away. Do have a look at the GT60 as its a lovely 'van
Can't comment on the bailey however our best friends have a sprite major 5 and love it, Very well built and its essentially the same van as any of the swift charisma range (about 3k more), we had a charisma 540 before the van we have now and it was identical to there sprite apart from some minor differences,
We we're impressed and our friends have had it 2 years and had no issues at all
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We have the Bailey GT60 620/6 and we compared it with the same layout Sprite, I was all for the sprite till we compared them side by side at the same dealers then came down firmly with the Bailey. Nicer body shell and better interior( my opinion only ) but the Sprite is wider which is a good plus in its favour. You have to go with your own feelings as you are the ones to use it, dont be put off your favourite by other peoples comments.
we too are looking for a new van & are torn between 3 ........ a sprite, the bailey ranger 540/6 or the bailey gt60 540/6. They all have 3 fixed bunks and are the same layout. So i'll keep watching this to read your replies.
Hi,only my personal opinion,but we wouldn't have another Sprite-although I think we maybe got a 'Friday afternoon van',have had probs since day 1.We are taking our van in on Saturday,for new panels-our rear panel has cracked,and theres now damp in the van (2007 Quattro).But I'm sure theres many people who have Sprites,love them and have had no probs whatsoever,also people who have Baileys who have probs.As I say,only our personal opinion,maybe we've just been unlucky,
Hi we have the sprite major 5 and absolutely love it,the only issue we have with the van is the marks on the front window,which is a known issue and will be replaced under warranty later in the year.We looked at the baileys and preferred the finish and the interior of the sprite,but thats just our opinion.Good luck with your decision,cheers John.
we have a sprite quattro which is a bigger van but the spite brand is very good our friends bought a swift the same year as us and the inside furniture is the same as our's (different colour) outside same trim and windows apart from badges can't comment on bailey but well pleased with our sprite and we use it 80 days a year and our son is in a wheelchair and he love's it hope this helps Andy
we had the same quandry earlier this year - we went for the bailey ranger GT60 460/4. We love it.
I love the microwave and the electric flush loo. I will say it's quite small if you want to take 4 adults away, however I have been informed that the front bed is very comfy.
Love the large heki roof light and fixed bed.
The main negative we have noticed (I'm not sure if this is the same for all new vans) is a lot of silicone - we are already having to have it replaced around the aeriel.
Also not much kitchen space.
The only reason we would go for a bigger one, is to have our end bathroom back as there is not much room in the bedroom to wash/change at all.
We were looking at the same 2 vans as well, in the end found our 2009 bailey 460/4, six mths old with a motor mover fitter, in brand new condition, so we brought it, save quite a bit on the 2010 price and its exactly the same.
Really pleased with it, although still not camped in it, due to working, and off on sat to canaries, but hopefully will get away oct half term!
We will be using it as a two berth for me and the wife 90% of the time with the odd trip with our daughter.If we could get hold of either van nearly new we would jump at the chance but its looking increasing likely we will have to go new.
Might be worth us waiting a couple of months to see if the dealers get and px's in at the end of the season.
Talking from a professional point of view, in that I'm an NCC Approved Mobile Workshop, out of the two that you have short listed both makes are sound. We don't come across many problems with either Bailey or anything under the Swift brand.
With that in mind, I'd probably make my decision based upon what's the best package that the relevant dealer will throw in.
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We have a GT60 540/6 2009 model and love it. Will def buy another one........when the time comes of course! Its great quality of build and even better my son has his own room so i can have me/us time. Lots of different opinions but i agree, you cant base you decision on what other people say this is one only you can weigh up the pros and cons to. Sit in them both with the kids and see which feels better.
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Topic: van , Bailey or Sprite
