Bailey Motorhomes
We are still looking at motorhomes and although we had not previously considered a Bailey because of the extra width, one has come for sale locally that we like the look of.
Interested in the views of other Bailey owners regarding these wider motorhomes - do you find this extra width restrictive in any way.
Also a question for 'Tammygirl' who I believe has the same model that we like. Is the payload sufficient?
Comments
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Hi Natasha, first we live in a scottish village off the main A9 the roads are not very wide but I haven't had a problem driving our Bailey 625SE yet! (is that the same one you are looking at)
As to the pay load it is more than sufficient in that model, we travel for up to 12 weeks twice a year to Spain/France. There is more locker space than you first think and under the beds has more room than we first thought, although we don't store our bedding
there.When we first got it we took it to the weigh bridge once we had it fully loaded, full fuel, full water, 2 gas bottles, food, clothes etc. + 2 full sized ebikes on the rack at the rear of the van. We also have a Fiamma and a PWS towbar fitted we were still
under the weight permissable. We don't travel with full fresh water just wanted to push it to see.Hope this helps if you need anything else just ask.
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Natasha
We have a Bailey 740 which is a bit longer than the 625 but the same width. Ours is a 2013 registration. I must admit the width did concern me initially but having now driven it over 16000 miles I tend not to give it a second thought. Obviously if you travel on very narrow roads you have to take it easy. On the Bailey Motorhome Facebook group a lot of owners seem to do the North Coast 500 which from watching a video on YouTube does not seem that wide in places but they manage. I take the view that if the local bus can get through so can I!!! We were once heading for the Lewes bypass but because of an accident had to route through the town. That was a bit scary being sensible about allowing people through coming the other way we managed without mishap fortunately.
David
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David is right, the widest part are the long arm mirrors. The extra width inside on the Bailey is worth it. Yes you have to be careful, and it is also worth doing careful route planning, even looking at streetview for the last 500 yards of your journey.
As David also says, you are in no rush, let the oncoming traffic come through and then proceed. We like our Bailey and to be honest have had no width problems.0 -
As with all Second Hand vehicles make sure it has all it's paperwork signed and dated. If not walk away. You may finish up without any water ingress warantee because it's not been checked properly. If it's a Dealer don't take his ward for it that it's all
ok. As with all British MH's they MUST have a habitation check as well as a water Ingress check. Just more money for the Dealer. The European ones only need a water Ingress check at considerably cheaper price.0 -
The extra width does give a feeling of spaciousness. With our last caravan I could sit on one settee and put my feet on the settee opposite but I can't do that in our motorhome because because the edge is too far away, either that or I have got shorter as I have got older
David
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Looks like a caravan behind the cab. The cab seats are redundant when you arrive anywhere. Where do you put a table. As for bedding. In the front when you are in the back or in the back when you are in the front,
Hi QFour, as with most motorhomes the cab seats turn right round 180 degrees and become part of the habitation area. I use mine in my Bailey a lot. The table will either be free standing, or clips to the side wall depending on the model. Ours is the latter
and works well. There is no problem with bedding. Ours has a fixed rear french bed, the bedding stays on that, spare bedding, including a quilt for guests goes under the side bench seat with room for other things too under the bench. We like the Bailey, well
designed and caters for the British market with good sized kitchen and good sized bathrom & shower. Some A class models at twice the price of the Bailey have a much smaller shower, some are almost unusable for the larger person.0 -
Yes Tammygirl the 625SE. Not seen one in the flesh yet, in fact very few for sale in the country. There is one about 45 miles from us so will pop over asap to have a look.
Interested to hear where you store bedding!!
Hi Natasha, in the 625SE above the lounge you have 3 overhead lockers on each side and along the rear of the van, in the 2 back corners between the lockers there is an open space, could be used for alsorts, we roll up the duvets and pop them one in each
corner, there is bags of room so could fit both in 1 corner if so wished. I purchased some material to match unpholstery and made 2 largish cushion cover (to fit pillows) during the day they sit on the couches as bolster cushions, and at night just unzip them
and pull out the pillow. I hate having to keep lifting the bed to get at bedding and in winter it gets cold under there. With 9 overhead lockers though there is plenty of space to store it there if you don't want it on display in the corners. When we are abroad
we also have a small fan each that clips to the bottom of the shelf in the corners, this then is aimed straight down the bed giving a lovely breeze when its hot.0 -
Looks like a caravan behind the cab. The cab seats are redundant when you arrive anywhere. Where do you put a table. As for bedding. In the front when you are in the back or in the back when you are in the front,
The 2 front seats turn round and can be used once on site. At the rear of our van, in the centre under the rear window, we have a 2 draw cabinet that has a flip top table top so no need of a free standing table. In fact we leave it at home, we have a very
light weight folding table for outside use. As for the bedding I have given details of how we store ours to Natasha but there is more than enough overhead lockers to store duvets and sheets.Just because you don't like something there is no need for you to rude.
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Out of interest can you retract the wing mirrors easily?
Brue
You can reach out of the cab window and fold it in quite easily, same with the passenger side assuming you have a passenger!!!
David
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Yes Tammygirl the 625SE. Not seen one in the flesh yet, in fact very few for sale in the country. There is one about 45 miles from us so will pop over asap to have a look.
Interested to hear where you store bedding!!
Hi Natasha, in the 625SE above the lounge you have 3 overhead lockers on each side and along the rear of the van, in the 2 back corners between the lockers there is an open space, could be used for alsorts, we roll up the duvets and pop them one in each
corner, there is bags of room so could fit both in 1 corner if so wished. I purchased some material to match unpholstery and made 2 largish cushion cover (to fit pillows) during the day they sit on the couches as bolster cushions, and at night just unzip them
and pull out the pillow. I hate having to keep lifting the bed to get at bedding and in winter it gets cold under there. With 9 overhead lockers though there is plenty of space to store it there if you don't want it on display in the corners. When we are abroad
we also have a small fan each that clips to the bottom of the shelf in the corners, this then is aimed straight down the bed giving a lovely breeze when its hot.Thank you Tammygirl for the information. Brilliant idea about the bedding and will certainly consider doing the same if we do buy one. Hoping to go and view on Thursday.
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We have the wing mirror protectors on just incase they do get a small knock, so far we've been ok.
The only time we've ever had any problem with a wing mirror was driving through the Great Glen towing a caravan, white van man came opposite way, BANG extended wing mirror went flying off and smashed. White van man just a spec in the distance
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Natasha, hope its everything you want. We love ours to bits, it hasn't been trouble free, but anytime we've had an issue our dealer (who is great) has been very quick to re-solve it.
If you are buying from a dealer do make sure that the warrenty is up to date and that you get a damp check done. Don't want to put you off but some have had problems with damp especially behind the rear passenger side wheel arch. If buying other than dealer the same applies make sure you get it checked for damp and warrenty is transfered and intact. Bailey were not our choice when we had caravans but the motorhome we love.
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the damp behind the rear wheel arch isnt exclusive to Bailey, we had the problem on our Bolero and the whole Swift range can be affected....
as TG, say....just check things out carefully...wise words.
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the damp behind the rear wheel arch isnt exclusive to Bailey, we had the problem on our Bolero and the whole Swift range can be affected....
as TG, say....just check things out carefully...wise words.
Simple answer is don't buy British Junk. If we all stopped buying it they would have to get their act together or go out of business. You would have thought that in this day and age you would be able to make a box that does not leak.
Bit like the COMPULSORY Habitation Check.
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the damp behind the rear wheel arch isnt exclusive to Bailey, we had the problem on our Bolero and the whole Swift range can be affected....
as TG, say....just check things out carefully...wise words.
Simple answer is don't buy British Junk. If we all stopped buying it they would have to get their act together or go out of business. You would have thought that in this day and age you would be able to make a box that does not leak.
Bit like the COMPULSORY Habitation Check.
Write your comments here...sorry Q4 but if you think all european motorhomes are leak free, you are very misguided, just look at the Burstner owners website. Some are good, some not so good. Personally I dont like fixed tables,dont like ovens perched on
top of fridges, and dont like beds that i need a ladder to climb into. That rules out quite a lot of european motorhomes, oh yes and did i mention that they are overpriced.0 -
the damp behind the rear wheel arch isnt exclusive to Bailey, we had the problem on our Bolero and the whole Swift range can be affected....
as TG, say....just check things out carefully...wise words.
Simple answer is don't buy British Junk. If we all stopped buying it they would have to get their act together or go out of business. You would have thought that in this day and age you would be able to make a box that does not leak.
Bit like the COMPULSORY Habitation Check.
Write your comments here...sorry Q4 but if you think all european motorhomes are leak free, you are very misguided, just look at the Burstner owners website. Some are good, some not so good. Personally I dont like fixed tables,dont like ovens perched on
top of fridges, and dont like beds that i need a ladder to climb into. That rules out quite a lot of european motorhomes, oh yes and did i mention that they are overpriced.Well said, not everyone loves european style vans, glad there is a few of us around, you have just mentioned each and every point that we don't like either.
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It's amazing really that you stick up for the Uk offerings. The EU ones do have their problems I agree but on the whole I do think they are screwed together far better than the Uk versions. After buying a NEW Swift and spending hours repairing it over our
3 years of ownership I can sympathise with anyone who has one. I follow the stories on here in the Caravan and Motorhome Sections and see the types of problems that people have and mostly confined to Uk built units. As for design well everyone is entitled
to an opinion. Nothing wrong with a fixed table saves getting it out and putting it back everytime you need it. No electric hotplate, No microwave what a disaster, but then you can only use them with an EHU
.. Not always available.1 -
I have had a Swift quiet a few minor problems, and I don't want your sympathies. But when I met a couple in their new Hymer last year. It put my problems into perspective. He had major problems with water ingress and electrics. My problems are all sorted
now and I love the design. Kon-Tike 649 with a rear lounge to relax in. Not sitting upright behind a table all night, or in the drivers seat. Everyone pays their money and takes their chance, don't knock other peoples choices.BTW I have a microwave and wild camp most of the time. 1800w invertor and an on board generator the microwave works a treat where ever I am.
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Same here Reevsie, we have had our problems but sorted straight away.
We don't have to put up a table there is only the 2 of us and the cabinet has a flip top table, we don't have an electric hotplate, wouldn't use it even if we did, microwave yes but not often used and I can cook without one. So like you we can go off EHU
and still be comfortable.0 -
Natasha, did you go and look at it? if so what's the decision.
We've looked at 2 this week and been for a test drive. Very impressed but couldn't agree on a valuation. Maybe still a deal to be done.
thanks for getting back to us, hope you get something sorted
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Bought our Bailey Autograph 745 March 2015 - sure we have had our problems but most of them could have been prevented by the dealer undertaking a proper and more informative handover. Especially as this was our first Motorhome ever!
Suffice it it to say that we have ordered another Bailey the 79 - 4 with an island bed for delivery March 2018. The fixed bed in the 745 a bit problematical for ageing owners who have to get in and out to visit the bathroom during the night!!!
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