Cautionary note for timescales in repairing Alu-Tech constructed caravans at manufacturer

When we purchased our first brand new caravan in September 2010, we took our time in deciding which one to choose and went for the new Alu-Tech construction of the Bailey Olympus 504 for peace of mind of the new style construction for safety.

Following our nearside wheel becoming detached in October 2012 and causing significant damage to the side panel of the Alu-Tech body, we were  told that the crease in the side panel could only be repaired back at the manufacturers in Bristol and their lead-time for repairs were March 2013; a 5 month wait and no caravan to use in the meantime.

Only when we decided to purchase a brand new replacement caravan from a local dealer through lack of trust again of our single axle, did we get the date for repair of our Bailey brought forward by a month with the dealer’s intervention.

From our experience of dealing with Bailey at Bristol directly, we would like to offer a cautionary note to those with Alu-Tech body shells that should your caravan require repairs directly from the manufacturer, that long delays may await you, which we were at the time of purchase in 2010 unaware of with these type of body shells.

It is with regret that due to our experience of waiting 5 months with Bailey in Bristol for the repair work, that we have chosen an alternative manufacturer with our new replacement caravan; a Swift with a non Alu-Tech construction.  Hopefully, we won’t require any future repairs, but if we do, then these will be able to be completed by our local dealer in more realistic timescales.  We have also gone for a twin axle for peace of mind that should a wheel ever become detached again, we hope to remain upright without the nearside panel crushing into the road

Mr & Mrs Poole, Rutland