Does anyone own a Bailey Pageant Sancerre?If so, would you recommend this caravan? We are looking to buy one and would like to know if there is anything we should know before doing so.
Is this the Series 7 version? If so we have the Loire - similar layout but with an added dinette and a little longer. We love our van and would recommend it to anyone.
We have two Bailey caravans a 2006 Pageant Burgundy series 5 and a 2010 Ranger GT60 520/4 (also same pageant body shell) apart from the odd bulb replacement very happy with both of them and certainly would not change a Pageant for any of the current aluminium ones.
Best caravan built: Pageant 7 series
Tip : Check the screws that hold in the back lights
I have to say you do spot a lot of Pageant caravans on site. We are really looking forward to getting our newer van (mainly because it has a fixed bed).
Thanks for the tip about the back lights Tynesider. I will definitely check them before we buy it.
Yes, we have the Sancerre. We really like the van - It's the best van we've had for layout. Plenty of storeage. An ideal van for two people IMHO. Fine for three, may be a little cramped for 4. The front lounge area is a little smaller than the vans with no fixed bed and a central washroom, but we find this is a small compromise. Most vans are a compromise, in the end of the day. There are three of us: my wife, 13 yr old daughter and myself.
My daughter sleeps in the lounge area, and we do it by pulling out the 'slats' just a little way and we make up a single bed that way. This gives us enough room for a seat either side, if necessary - which we actually rarely use.
It is wider than the cheaper two new alu-tech vans with the same layout. (Orion and Olympus). Same width as Pegasus and Unicorn. As far as we're concerned the eqivalent Orion and Olympus would not suit us. The 4" less width in these vans means it is narrower between the fixed bed and wardrobe - the Sancerre is fine.
Before we bought the van, I was worried about the cut-off corner of the double bed. In practice, I don't even notice it. At thIs moment in time, I can't imagine us ever going for a different layout. It suits us down to the ground.
Personally, I'd go for it, but of course, it has to be your choice. We've had a weight upgrade on ours ( - nothing different with the van, just upgraded the paperwork) we can now go to 1500kg weight (MTPLM) - mind you it costs about £60 for the paperwork.
Any specific questions, just ask away and I'll do my best to answer.
What year is it? If it had a six year water ingress warranty, have it transferred to you, for this it will have had to have all it's anual services.
Make sure it has had a current damp test and get the papers to prove it. Ask if it has has any panels replaced.
Don't want to worry you, it will probably be fine but at the risk of repeating myself,(which I will if it makes others aware of this issue), we have a 2007 pageant Burgundy, which we love, but have had to have back and front panels replaced because of cracks. I can't stress enough that you get some guarantee. If you do a search you will find this is a common problem with this age. We thought it wouldn't happen to us, as you do and if we hadn't had the warranty we would have been in a fix.
Hope I've not put you off, there is a risk with any van, I am sure there are some out there that are trouble free.
We have a Sancrre and love it. The layout is just what we wanted and the extra width is suberb. We upgraded from a series 5.
In the winter you get one hell of a draft coming up from the front windows as theres more space there, also the windows are wider.
As with all fixed end beds, dont be tempted to fill the space under the bed. Other practical things that might catch you out is the jockey wheel is a centrally mounted one and this can cause a few problems when hitching up, the van might not come with fridge vent covers, we like most of the other Hartal Door owners have had problems with the lock. (this is isnt confined to Bailey though).
We have a Sancrre and love it. The layout is just what we wanted and the extra width is suberb. We upgraded from a series 5.
In the winter you get one hell of a draft coming up from the front windows as theres more space there, also the windows are wider.
As with all fixed end beds, dont be tempted to fill the space under the bed. Other practical things that might catch you out is the jockey wheel is a centrally mounted one and this can cause a few problems when hitching up, the van might not come with fridge vent covers, we like most of the other Hartal Door owners have had problems with the lock. (this is isnt confined to Bailey though).
If you need any thing specific let me know.
Noffy
Never had problems with draft at the front - we did in our previous Vendee van. Also no problems with the jockey wheel or lock. True, the van did not come with fridge vent covers.
One thing I forgot to mention. With 2009 vans (not just the Sancerre, and certainly not just Bailey) there have been problems with the front window. The window manufacturers made a design fault and left insufficient gap between the double glazed unit. When you are towing, the pressure of the wind often causes the outer skin to rub against the inner skin and to leave a mark. Windows are being replaced under warranty - it must be causing someone a fortune. The design fault has been rectified in the new windows. When you visit a caravan sales/service depeartment, you can see all the windows lined up!! We had one replacement come, but it was faulty on receipt so the second one is at the dealers waiting for us to take the van in next week. Make sure you have the warranty transferred, when you get the van. As I said before, this is not just the Sancerre or Bailey, so don't let this put you off buying - if there is a mark when you buy it point it out and get them to order a new window under warranty.
Hi Luvmydogspitch,
Yes we bought our Sancerre and we absolutely love it. We have no complaints with it whatsoever. The caravan itself is one of the lighter fixed bed models too. Also, ATC has been fitted as standard - which saved our bacon on a windy day. So if you like the Sancerre I'd say definitely buy one. Let me know how you get on.
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Topic: Bailey Pageant Sancerre
