Had a look at the Bailey Orion at our dealers today.
Have to say I like the overall concept, if not the look/spec/build quality of the 'van itself.
By concept I mean giving layouts normally associated with longer, wider and heavier 'vans in more compact bodies.
We were taken with the 430/4, fixed bed, end washroom version. It felt spacious enough but at the same time cosy. The 2011 version of our own Jura ( Swift Charisma 230 dealer special) was parked near it ... have to say it made the Jura seem rather bloated!
Will be interesting to see how other makers retaliate.
Whoever makes a fixed bed/end washroom/single axle 'van/Swift Charisma dealer special spec (plus Alko ATC) 'van in a body of 17ft (ish) long, no more than 7ft 4 wide (7ft 2 would be better still), less than 1400Kg all up weight will get a big fat cheque from me as long it is pretty enough and well enough built!
------------- 2020 Volvo XC60 B5 R Design Geartronic / 2018 Swift Elegance 580
yes, have to agree the concept is great BUT the quality of the model we looked at was dire. A 3 inch split in the inner wall between the front window and side wall is not a good advert for what could be a good van.
and where on earth was the heater mounted ?? saw the ducting and outlets but no heater to be seen
we've just taken the plunge and ordered a 430/4. The heater is an under the floor Whale Unit.
It'll be our first van, we dont expect it to be perfect but hopefully the warranty will be worth our decision to up our budget and go for a new van. Very impressed with the dealer too so far (Chipping Sodbury Caravans).
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
Will be interesting to see how other makers retaliate.
Whoever makes a fixed bed/end washroom/single axle 'van/Swift Charisma dealer special spec (plus Alko ATC) 'van in a body of 17ft (ish) long, no more than 7ft 4 wide (7ft 2 would be better still), less than 1400Kg all up weight will get a big fat cheque from me as long it is pretty enough and well enough built!
Yep Iain, that would be our ideal van and they would be getting our money too!
Hi, I am interested in the Bailey Orion and would welcome any information, from any one who has recently bought. Quality appears ok, but attention to detail is lacking in some areas. I have conway platinum crusader Folding camper 2010. Brand new, but seriously considering trading or selling due to Army injuries, otherwise I would keep the it. So as and when, if you can help with positive or negative information it will help me decide.
On another post, some appear very negative about the Orion unit itself.
I admit I haven't had a detailed look at the Orion, but when I went in the Olympus, one of my dislikes was the lack of width in the layout with the end washroom and side static bed (the layout we like). It seemed quite a tight squeeze to get from the kitchen to the washroom, past the static bed. The Orion is the same width as the Olympus, I think. As things stand at the moment, if we were to replace our van it would be with the Pegasus 2 Verona. The width is a big deal for us. At present we are quite happy with the Sancerre.
We find the space in our Olympus 534 more than adequate - in fact the Pegasus would be too wide for our drive - I know you may say that it's only 4" but that would have been a major problem for us.
Our van is just coming up to a year old and to date the only issue that will need addressing is the bed gas struts - they are just too weak. In every other way we are really happy with the build quality and overall value for money. (We haven't got any trim hanging off anywhere, the locker catches all work perfectly.)
We rally for up to 40 nights a year - all year round so it does get fairly heavy use compared to many vans.
Last weekend I met a new Orion owner, on site. (His van was delivered the day before the weekend)... Overall he seemed chuffed, but I got the impression that quality wasn't perfect - I spoke to him again on Sunday, just before he left - the Bailey supplied cold water pump had stopped working and the door lock had jammed with his OH sat in the caravan. A new pump was couriered to him from his dealer, and I believe the dealer had arranged to take the van in for a repair on the door... It did take him an age to get the awning attached to, but I guess there is a knack that will speed this up for him. Have to say it didn't put me off, (it'll be a few years until I can afford one, and I would hope that the teething problems will have gone by then?). It's towable by my C-Max, and has everything in it we would need. They seem to contain a lot of stuff for £13,000. But the weight of the van, and the price tag are beneficial to us.
I believe that the locks and water pump are pretty much used across a lot of ranges though and not specific to the Orion or Bailey so he was probably just unlucky and maybe the van was not pdi'ed particularly well before he collected it from dealer?
Apart from those problems did he say anything else positive or negative?
He was overall positive about the van, but then he had just spent 15+ thousand on it, (he told me he had a mover put on it which cost him £1,400), plus he had a new awning (a Harrington?). He seemed chuffed, and said nothing to me concerning any other bad points - I had told him it was my "dream van" - he didn't give me any other negative feedback or warn me off from buying one. He didn't offer me a tour inside, not sure if caravanners do this the same as tent owners who are proud to do "tours" of their pride and joys to inquisitve parties?
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Topic: Bailey Orion Concept
