British caravans

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  • birderbilly
    birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
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    edited October 2016 #242

    "I think Bailey are trying hard to overcome the 'caravan with an engine' look, however"...

    IMHO, they do have an issue in trying to acheive this and it lies in the width of their caravan bodies....nearly 2.5m wide against the industry 'norm' of 2.35m.

    ..whilst this undoutedly makes for a roomy van (a big selling point) they are, however, made to look exactly like a caravan on the back of the cab as the bodywork sticks out 15cm more than the current crop of 'semi-integrated' vans...

    apart from the lack of 'style' (eye of the beholder, of course) this 'extra girth' is probably noticed on the road....i wouldnt want a van any wider than ours (2.27m) yet the Bailey is another 23cm wider.....and, of course, the rest of the market is
    'trying to diet' in order to get slimmer, lighter vans......

    have look at the new N+B Smoove to se how to make a semi-integrated van look like ot was all carved from the same chunk of rock.....Happy

    Bailey Caravans are not 2.5m wide - the Unicorn is the widest at 2.28m.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #243

    "I think Bailey are trying hard to overcome the 'caravan with an engine' look, however"...

    IMHO, they do have an issue in trying to acheive this and it lies in the width of their caravan bodies....nearly 2.5m wide
    against the industry 'norm' of 2.35m.

    ..whilst this undoutedly makes for a roomy van (a big selling point) they are, however, made to look exactly like a caravan on the back of the cab as the bodywork sticks out 15cm more than the current crop of 'semi-integrated' vans...

    apart from the lack of 'style' (eye of the beholder, of course) this 'extra girth' is probably noticed on the road....i wouldnt want a van any wider than ours (2.27m) yet the Bailey is another 23cm wider.....and, of course, the rest of the market is
    'trying to diet' in order to get slimmer, lighter vans......

    have look at the new N+B Smoove to se how to make a semi-integrated van look like ot was all carved from the same chunk of rock.....Happy

    Bailey Caravans are not 2.5m wide - the Unicorn is the widest at 2.28m.

    keep upWink i was talking about their MHs....Happy

    the new Bailey Autograph is 2.489 m wide....2m and 48.9 cm.

    so, as near as dammit, 2.5m wide, in fact 'nearly 2.5m wide'Undecided

  • birderbilly
    birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
    100 Comments
    edited October 2016 #244

    "I think Bailey are trying hard to overcome the 'caravan with an engine' look, however"...

    IMHO, they do have an issue in trying to acheive this and it lies in the width of their caravan bodies....nearly 2.5m wide
    against the industry 'norm' of 2.35m.

    ..whilst this undoutedly makes for a roomy van (a big selling point) they are, however, made to look exactly like a caravan on the back of the cab as the bodywork sticks out 15cm more than the current crop of 'semi-integrated' vans...

    apart from the lack of 'style' (eye of the beholder, of course) this 'extra girth' is probably noticed on the road....i wouldnt want a van any wider than ours (2.27m) yet the Bailey is another 23cm wider.....and, of course, the rest of the market is
    'trying to diet' in order to get slimmer, lighter vans......

    have look at the new N+B Smoove to se how to make a semi-integrated van look like ot was all carved from the same chunk of rock.....Happy

    Bailey Caravans are not 2.5m wide - the Unicorn is the widest at 2.28m.

    keep upWink i was talking about their MHs....Happy

    the new Bailey Autograph is 2.489 m wide....2m and 48.9 cm.

    so, as near as dammit, 2.5m wide, in fact 'nearly 2.5m wide'Undecided

    Keeping up well and can read

    "IMHO, they do have an issue in trying to acheive this and it lies in the width of their
    caravan bodies....nearly 2.5m wide against the industry 'norm' of 2.35m."

    which is totally wrong

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
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    edited October 2016 #245

    I do not see why any legal width is wrong. It may be wrong for some people but not others, there is a range of widths on the market and you simply go with the one that suits you.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #246

    Aren't we going a little off topic here? This thread is about British Caravans. Caravans are not motorhomes!

    ..A motor Caravan is just thatWink

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #247

    WW, i think the 'wrong' comment was aimed at me....

    so, birderbilly, i wasnt 'wrong', as motorhomes actually have 'caravan bodies' which was what i was referring to.

    it was pretty obvious from my post that i was discussing motorhomes, however, Im sorry that the term 'caravan' was confusing for you, so i apologise....

    however, with regard to the topic, a wide (2.5m) caravan body (on a motorhomeWink) doesnt do anything for Bailey's motorhome aesthetics......IMHO
    of course...

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #248

    Aren't we going a little off topic here? This thread is about British Caravans. Caravans are not motorhomes!

    ..A motor Caravan is just thatWink

    ...in name, but not in construction, thank goodness.....Undecided

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited October 2016 #249

    I'd heard that some of  the new 2017 caravans will be 8 ft. 1 ins. wide compared to 7 ft. 6 of existing models. Perhaps there'll be more space to get past the bed into the washroom!

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #250

    Aren't we going a little off topic here? This thread is about British Caravans. Caravans are not motorhomes!

    ..A motor Caravan is just thatWink

    ...in name, but not in construction, thank goodness.....Undecided

    Write your comments here...

    Aren't we going a little off topic here? This thread is about British Caravans. Caravans are not motorhomes!

    ..A motor Caravan is just thatWink

    ...in name, but not in construction, thank goodness.....Undecided

    ..You mean the sevelsWink

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #251

    no, thats exacly what i didnt mean.....i meant everything elseUndecided

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #252

    no, thats exacly what i didnt mean.....i meant everything elseUndecided

     

    ...Its all the same except Motor Caravans are stuck on a commecial vehicle base,   apart from some better makes that have an upgraded sevel commercial vehicle power plant on the Alko ChassisWink

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #253

    no, thats exacly what i didnt mean.....i meant everything elseUndecided

     

    ...Its all the same except Motor Caravans are stuck on a commecial vehicle base Smile

    ...of course, some are....

    Im sure an Elddis MH is built with the same care and materials as an Elddis caravan.Happy

    ...as are many manufacturers who build caravans and motorhomes

    this just shows how good Hymer, Hobby and Knaus caravans must be if their MH are anything to go by....as already mentioned often, heavier, better built than many....used as live-in vans all over Europe...

    ...but some most definitely aren't the same ....

    there are manufacturers who dont build caravans, only motorhomes, and these are most definitely different beasts altogether....

    something like a Concorde (or Morelo, RS, RC, Carthago) is as far away from an Elddis caravan as its possible to be....in design, materials, construction, strength, equipment, even purpose....

    ...and yes, we have an AL-KO chassis and an upgraded Sevel base.

    ...and yes, there are other base vehicle choices.....something like MAN and Iveco would be my choice on the right vanHappy

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #254

    no, thats exacly what i didnt mean.....i meant everything elseUndecided

     

    ...Its all the same except Motor Caravans are stuck on a commecial vehicle base Smile

    ...of course, some are....

    Im sure an Elddis MH is built with the same care and materials as an Elddis caravan.Happy

    ...as are many manufacturers who build caravans and motorhomes

    this just shows how good Hymer, Hobby and Knaus caravans must be if their MH are anything to go by....as already mentioned often, heavier, better built than many....used as live-in vans all over Europe...

    ...but some most definitely aren't the same ....

    there are manufacturers who dont build caravans, only motorhomes, and these are most definitely different beasts altogether....

    something like a Concorde (or Morelo, RS, RC, Carthago) is as far away from an Elddis caravan as its possible to be....in design, materials, construction, strength, equipment, even purpose....

    ...and yes, we have an AL-KO chassis and an upgraded Sevel base.

    ...and yes, there are other base vehicle choices.....something like MAN and Iveco would be my choice on the right vanHappy

    ...You pay your some times silly high prices you take your choice ,  a bit like the Gin palace boats,

    Iveco = ford

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #255

    .......Undecided

    a whole bag of 'chips' in one thread...Wink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #256

    .......Undecided

    a whole bag of 'chips' in one thread...Wink

    ..Laughing

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #257

    .......Undecided

    a whole bag of 'chips' in one thread...Wink

    ..Ps   maybe its the "fishy" way you postSmile

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #258

    .......Undecided

    a whole bag of 'chips' in one thread...Wink

    ..Ps   maybe its the "fishy" way you postSmile

    ...been thinking about that all night and thats the best you come up with.....?Undecided

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited October 2016 #259

    .......Undecided

    a whole bag of 'chips' in one thread...Wink

    ..Ps   maybe its the "fishy" way you postSmile

    ...been thinking about that all night and thats the best you come up with.....?Undecided

    You have to admit he has effectively killed this thread as a serious discussion.  

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited October 2016 #260

    I'd heard that some of  the new 2017 caravans will be 8 ft. 1 ins. wide compared to 7 ft. 6 of existing models. Perhaps there'll be more space to get past the bed into the washroom!

    I have no clue what these figures mean Surprised

    Our current van is 2.3m wide and was built at a time when UK vans were considerably narrower.  It's wide enough for us when negotiating narrow lanes.  I definitely wouldn't want to go any wider.

    I assume they are going to a bit under 2.5m?  That's too wide for us.  If they can't manage to achieve adult sized beds and adequate circulation in a box of over 6m by 2.3 then they need to get designers who can
    Wink

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2016 #261

    I'd heard that some of  the new 2017 caravans will be 8 ft. 1 ins. wide compared to 7 ft. 6 of existing models. Perhaps there'll be more space to get past the bed into the washroom!

    I have no clue what these figures mean Surprised

    Our current van is 2.3m wide and was built at a time when UK vans were considerably narrower.  It's wide enough for us when negotiating narrow lanes.  I definitely wouldn't want to go any wider.

    I assume they are going to a bit under 2.5m?  That's too wide for us.  If they can't manage to achieve adult sized beds and adequate circulation in a box of over 6m by 2.3 then they need to get designers who can
    Wink

    2.46m is 8' 1''

    6'' bigger than your present va. 

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited October 2016 #262

    6" I can do.  It's half a 30cm ruler Laughing

    I just don't understand imperial as we'd changed to metric before I started school and I've never been taught.  Not about to learn now
    Laughing

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #263

    I am not even going thereEmbarassedSurprised

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
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    edited October 2016 #264

    6" I can do.  It's half a 30cm ruler Laughing

    I just don't understand imperial as we'd changed to metric before I started school and I've never been taught.  Not about to learn now
    Laughing

     

    The curent Buccaneer is 8 ft wide and so are most Adrias if that helps. The conversion is 8.45m if that helps.

    The problem is some of us were brought up in imperial and still think in them. If you quote meters to us we convert into feet and inches. I am afraid thereis no good answer but if people quote both it might help.

    The new 8ft wide caravans are some more modest models in the Eldiss and Compass ranges. As far as I know that is the maximum width you can tow with a car though. I assume it will depend on how they sell as to whether the rest will follow.

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited October 2016 #265

    I don't think the conversion in your first paragraph is right as 8.45m is huge.  I guess you mean 2.45 which I can picture and does help.

    I do occasionally convert imperial to metric if it's an interesting issue but more often than not I ignore posts that refer to imperial measurements.  After all it's been over 40 years since metrication occurred and the dimensions in all sales literature
    are given in metric.

    That's why the reviews in the Club magazine are worthless for me.  No metric measurements other than kg.  I did ask if they could use dual measurements a year ago which was acknowledged and ignored
    Don't cry

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #266

    I don't think the conversion in your first paragraph is right as 8.45m is huge.  I guess you mean 2.45 which I can picture and does help.

    I do occasionally convert imperial to metric if it's an interesting issue but more often than not I ignore posts that refer to imperial measurements.  After all it's been over 40 years since metrication occurred and the dimensions in all sales literature are given in metric.

    That's why the reviews in the Club magazine are worthless for me.  No metric measurements other than kg.  I did ask if they could use dual measurements a year ago which was acknowledged and ignored Don't cry

    ..A lot still give both versions so as to assist us who were brought up "proper"Cool

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited October 2016 #267

    It's not 'proper' it's just the old way.  I can't help being young enough to have only learned the official system of measurement in the UK.

    I have not read a CC review in years that gives both measurements in the important areas such as bed length, head height etc. 

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2016 #268

    I was brung up with imperial. As an engineer I am happy with either. If measuring up for, say. a tile cut I will use the closest.My eldest was born April 1973 and is used to imperial.

    The first site I worked on was a steel works revamp. Half the site was in hundredths of an inch and half in millimetres

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #269

     

    It's not 'proper' it's just the old way.  I can't help being young enough to have only learned the official system of measurement in the UK.

    I have not read a CC review in years that gives both measurements in the important areas such as bed length, head height etc. 

     

    ...The proper way as is still in miles Wink

    A lot of brochures give both to make sure us "proper brought up" understandHappy

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #270

    the new Bailey autograph MH at 2.489m wide would be 8' 2" (as nr as dammit) in old moneyHappy

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited October 2016 #271

     

    It's not 'proper' it's just the old way.  I can't help being young enough to have only learned the official system of measurement in the UK.

    I have not read a CC review in years that gives both measurements in the important areas such as bed length, head height etc. 

     

    ...The proper way as is still in miles Wink

    A lot of brochures give both to make sure us "proper brought up" understandHappy

    Ah - that's why I haven't seen them.  I don't look at the brochures for UK vans because for various reasons I'm not in the market for one.

    I won't debate the 'proper brought up' issue - it just means 'living in the past' to me
    Laughing