Bailey Unicorn Series 5
We've been mulling over changing our 2018 Unicorn Series 4 next year, and have been visiting a number of dealerships of late.
We've booked to go to the NEC in October to look at the new seasons launches, but basically we have a shortlist of Swift Challenger 560 (comes with the SE pack as standard for 2024), Elddis Affinity 550 and Bailey Unicorn Cabrera.
Our favourite is the Bailey, as we think it offers more space and functionality thanks, in part, to the innovative positioning of battery box and gas locker BUT...I'm concerned about quality, as I've read a few horror stories. (Reviews tend to be either 5* or 1*, so I'm hoping for something a little more objective)
We've been happy with our current caravan, and have had no issues with it, but the fixed bed is small in comparison to current models and newer mid wash rooms are more convenient.
Our opinion is that Swift are better quality, but more difficult to live with. The pull out table at the front is very small, and there is no hook in the shower to hang wet coats. I also prefer a barn door, even though we hardly ever use it (not a deal breaker)
Does anyone have any experience of the Series 5 Unicorn please, good or bad? I know theres been issues with the Infinity blind at the front, and that it doesn't have a flyscreen.
All comments appreciated,
Thanks,
Tim
Comments
-
Hi Tim,
We have owned our Unicorn Series 5 Vigo since February this year. We have only been caravanners since 2018 and our previous one was a Coachman 450.
We looked at all manufacturers when we decided we needed to upgrade to a fixed bed, and my wife fell in love with the Vigo.
We have completed over 90 nights away in it this year including a 7 week tour of France.I can honesty say that I couldn’t be happier with it, but some things have taken time to get used to.
My biggest problem has been getting it down to an acceptable nose weight, our VW Tiguan has a max towbar weight of 100 kg & the caravan weighed in at 100kg when empty ! . So very careful loading is required so it sits at 90 kg which I am happy with. I religiously check the noseweight before any journey now.
In the first week of ownership we had a small leak that came into the overhead locker that contains the tv amp, back to the dealers it went and they found a section of roof where no sealant was present. They sealed it and fully checked all other joints for us, and completed some more sealing in other areas,no problems whatsoever since then.Small annoying things that I have found include,
Numerous screws loose and requiring tightening
Door latch plate fitted upside down !
Strip light above the kitchen sink not fixed in place
Cupboard doors not aligned correctly.
And
Headboard detaching from wall as the double sided tape used for the task just wasn’t up to it. ( who’d have thought it )
As I have stated I have found these to be annoying rather than a deal breaker, I ended up correcting them all myself.
Yes the front blinds on the infinity window do seem flimsy, but we haven’t had any issues with them, we do treat them with kid gloves and very carefully open and close them. But the window itself is amazing and I am typing this sat in the lounge with the view of Plymouth Sound in front of me.
On the whole we are very pleased with our decision to purchase the Vigo.
The bed is comfortable,the bathroom works well and most importantly of all , my wife still loves it.
If you have any particular questions then please ask.
Mark2 -
Thanks for that Mark.
We have had a few small issues with our Valencia that I've fixed myself too, so understand the 'loose screw' issues that you've had. We had it with the pouches at the front.
I've heard others speak of the high noseweight, but I think thats something thats prevalent with Bailey. Like you, a noseweight gauge is an essential part of my kit, and Ive found that using the BBQ as ballast towards the back helps.
Thanks very much for replying. Its really appreciated.
Tim
0 -
Hi Tim we looked at the exact same swap as you but were very dissapoted with the later version. Bailey have removed two very useful cupboards in the kitchen area replacing one with a shelf and the other with a "wate of space" wine rack next to the oven ! Also a very garish splashback. The extra large front window is far to intrusive for us,would be OK if all sites visited had a great view. The bedroom has lost the low level bedside cupboards and the ledges above the windows. The access from the outside to under the bed area is also very restricted by the bed frame and when mentioned to a Bailey Rep he suggested I could modify the structure myself ! We were really looking forward to the new model but left very dissapoted. We decided on a Coachman Laser 545 xtra ,totally different layout but we love it. My comments Re the Cabrera are obviously of a personal nature but I thought it worthwhile to pass them on. Good look on your choice of new van.
1 -
Thanks Wedgy,
All caravans are a compromise, and its a question of which ones you can live with the most.
For us, the bed is important as I'm tall, and my Wife is short. I like the fact that Bailey have widened the bed which means that the curvature at the end is shallower and I don't have to lie at an angle with my feet facing inwards, but I echo your thoughts about the loss of the cupboard space at the bottom.
We had a clear out in our current caravan last week, and its surprising how little we need. I also tend to take far too many clothes when we tour!
Like you, I'm not sold on the new Infinity window. The ones in our Unicorn 4 are fine for letting light in, and have the benefit of sturdy blinds and flyscreens.
Its a big deal to shell out over £30k, less p/x, and I'm in no hurry. My money is making a reasonable return for the first time in years and I sense that manufacturers and dealers are beginning to get hungry now that the 'staycation' bubble has burst. If I bide my time, there may be a deal to be had
0 -
Hi
I have a vigo and would not buy another Bailey ever again
Bought new 2022 and still awaiting the missing atc indication lights.
Doors miss aligned
Bedroom cupboard door now has been removed as it fell off ....
Never had a van with so many plastic mfi type kitchen covers for screws etc
The list goes on
Don't buy from Bardsea leisure either ....sell so many they don't care
Complete rubbish.
Cheers
John
1 -
After experience with TWO Baileys, we have no confidence in either the company or their local dealer.
Remember the distance you may have to travel for warranty work if 'deal chasing'.
We are very happy with our Swift , which we have owned for two years now.
0 -
Unicorn v carbera December 22,returned within three weeks with a plethora of serious faults and failures,not fit for purpose.
swapped to a Swift challenger 880,this went back nine times in nine months for jobs doing we kept this for 15 months and there were still jobs outstanding,got fed up with so swapped again,didn’t enjoy it at all.
We might be foolish but we swapped it for a unicorn v Madrid,and the quality of finish etc is leaps and bounds above the original Bailey a couple of minor snags,there all as bad but we have found the Bailey to be a far more comfortable van,than others we’ve had the sprung seats worth there weight in gold.
The front blinds just put up slowly hand at each side no problems and as mentioned before nose weight is a challenge,first time I’ve needed a nose weight scale in thirty plus years of Caravanning.
Hope that’s some help
0 -
Thanks for your comments GT and Jaybeeb.
I take on the comments by GT about not chasing a deal from a far off dealer. For reasons I don't understand, caravan dealers are very reluctant to look at caravans supplied elsewhere, even to the point of not servicing them. They're not like car dealers.
We have a Swift dealer about 3 miles away who have a very good reputation. We've been there and looked at some but, try as I might, I just don't rate the interior design compared to Bailey. There are too many features in our current Bailey that we now consider indespensible that Swift don't offer. Even the dealer salesperson said, and I quote 'it makes you wonder if caravan designers are caravanners'
I just have this nagging doubt about Bailey quality and customer support. I'm hoping for answers at the NEC next month
0 -
The quality control at Bailey is appalling.
We bought a new Cadiz in 2022. It arrived with badly fitted panel which it took them 6 months to replace.
We returned it in Aug 2023 for its first service and a list of various items which needed rectifying under warranty. The major one being the front blinds.
We are told that Bailey have had to redesign the front blind as the ones fitted to 2022 caravans are not fir for purpose. They do not know when the redesigned blind will be available so the caravan is still with the dealer awaiting parts!!!
As I part paid with my credit card I have asked Visa to get involved and issued a section 75 as I am rejecting the caravan and want my money back.
Bailey are not interested in customers once they have your cash.
I don't understand why the Caravan Club does not have a campaign against the shoddy products that companies like Bailey produce. We all know that the quality of many uk caravan manufactures is poor but the Caravan Club does nothing to highlight this and work with members to get us all a better product.
Maybe the members are not as important as the manufactures advertising money!!!!
0
