First test of the year
Discussion
Little Bailey compact in the North Wales mountains, was good to be out again and what a clever little van it is too. Black cab is a bit odd. but otherwise it's great at the £40k mark
Site was empty but the weather was far from ideal. Fully serviced pitch at £20 per night was great too.
On the way back a pigeon ended it all by flying into it on the M40
Site was empty but the weather was far from ideal. Fully serviced pitch at £20 per night was great too.
On the way back a pigeon ended it all by flying into it on the M40
Excellent, we are itching to start getting away for our first trip of 2014. New baby and wife working some weekends have hampered any trips so far but hopefully the next few weeks we will kick off the season.
The Bailey models did seem to stir up things when they came out a few years ago, they appeared to push the build quality and standards up with their new construction method that has forced others to compete like the Eldis Solid stuff and Rollerteam looked to have upped their warranty to 10 years.
I'd not seen a black cab on one before but i've not been buying MMM for a while now to see new vans. I like the blue on the swift escape range but a few others I have spoken to prefer white cabs all the way.
When I was last looking to buy their was a Red/Silver Hymer which looked great and very different to all the others at the dealer but the internal layout was not suitable.
The weather looks pretty standard for Wales, we did Easter around Conwy last year and Snowdon/Bedgelert the year before. Over a few years it took 3 or 4 attempts at getting a good view from the top of Snowdon.
I have read your leaving thread in Gassing, is this the new role?
Have you done motorhoming/caravanning before or are you coming fresh into it all??
Ben
The Bailey models did seem to stir up things when they came out a few years ago, they appeared to push the build quality and standards up with their new construction method that has forced others to compete like the Eldis Solid stuff and Rollerteam looked to have upped their warranty to 10 years.
I'd not seen a black cab on one before but i've not been buying MMM for a while now to see new vans. I like the blue on the swift escape range but a few others I have spoken to prefer white cabs all the way.
When I was last looking to buy their was a Red/Silver Hymer which looked great and very different to all the others at the dealer but the internal layout was not suitable.
The weather looks pretty standard for Wales, we did Easter around Conwy last year and Snowdon/Bedgelert the year before. Over a few years it took 3 or 4 attempts at getting a good view from the top of Snowdon.
I have read your leaving thread in Gassing, is this the new role?
Have you done motorhoming/caravanning before or are you coming fresh into it all??
Ben
Not my new role, my caravan/ motorhome reviews are a hobby 
Owned a caravan back in 2004 (Bailey Ranger 470/4) and have been caravanning with parents for years as a child. When I came to PH almost nine years ago I realised we shared office space with Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome so offered to do a few tests for them and have written quite a few since then. Of late I seem to be in more motorhomes than caravans but I'm happy with that...in fact, it makes a one or two night stay a little easier.
Bailey motorhomes are great, they push the width to the legal max for UK roads so living space is class leading, add in the fact they add all the caravan know-how and you get a very civilised motorhome that lacks the 'chintz' found in others.
North Wales was great, we climbed Snowdon but the weather closed in on us for the last hour. At the summit they said it was the worst weather they'd seen in years. Poor GF used all her energy and more to complete and needed the medic at the top
Still, we did it and once back in the van we soon warmed up and recovered!
Owned a caravan back in 2004 (Bailey Ranger 470/4) and have been caravanning with parents for years as a child. When I came to PH almost nine years ago I realised we shared office space with Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome so offered to do a few tests for them and have written quite a few since then. Of late I seem to be in more motorhomes than caravans but I'm happy with that...in fact, it makes a one or two night stay a little easier.
Bailey motorhomes are great, they push the width to the legal max for UK roads so living space is class leading, add in the fact they add all the caravan know-how and you get a very civilised motorhome that lacks the 'chintz' found in others.
North Wales was great, we climbed Snowdon but the weather closed in on us for the last hour. At the summit they said it was the worst weather they'd seen in years. Poor GF used all her energy and more to complete and needed the medic at the top
Still, we did it and once back in the van we soon warmed up and recovered! Which Compact is it Garlick the 520 with the garage or the 540 with the drop down bed?
I like the 540 bar the lack of external locker but not so sure on the 520, both sell ok though.
No trouble with the Alu tech build (in motorhomes at least) but I spent this morning dropping off a "Solid" Elddis caravan for a damp repair and picking up a 13 plate Auto trail that was in for the same, they had a 2013 Elddis Motorhome in for damp too!
I like the 540 bar the lack of external locker but not so sure on the 520, both sell ok though.
No trouble with the Alu tech build (in motorhomes at least) but I spent this morning dropping off a "Solid" Elddis caravan for a damp repair and picking up a 13 plate Auto trail that was in for the same, they had a 2013 Elddis Motorhome in for damp too!
520 with the garage. Thought it would be too small at first, but with the cab seats swivelled we had plenty of space for two. Bed is awesome and wetroom was fine for two nights
Sprightly too, that 130hp engine was great on the motorway and in the welsh mountains, cars were holding us up
Sprightly too, that 130hp engine was great on the motorway and in the welsh mountains, cars were holding us up
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