Any known pitfalls with a Bailey Approach Advance ?

[Fatmrsgeorge]

We are viewing vans at the moment. Going to see a 2016 Bailey Approach advance 615 soon.
Also wondering about a Swift Rio 320 2015 where the back door opens up. Is this good or not ?

I know it depends on a lot of factors but just wondered if these have any particular issues to look out for.

 

[Sneds]

We have a Bailey 79-4 Autograph and love it!
Go and see as many as you can, different layouts etc
One thing I would like is a drop down bed at the front and a u-shaped lounge at the back, but someone else may hate that idea!
Different things suit different folks, do go look, look and look.

 

[Phill D]

dont look at makes ..... look at layouts and how they suit your needs, then payload available for all your stuff that you will inevitably accumilate,

once you have a layout and a payload ( with the necessary license ) in your head then look whats available with those attributes in your price range. it is then the choice of Brand comes into play.

happy searching

 

[Ingwe]

Not the same van I know, but we’re pretty happy with our pre-loved (yeah I know, this is the term they now use for second-hand) 2012 Bailey Approach. But as Phill D says, concentrate more on layout and definitely payload rather than brand. Good luck!

 

[Fatmrsgeorge]

Thanks all.

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[scotzsue]

Can I add, no of seatbelts and outside access locker for chairs, hook up cable, muddy boots. No fun having to accommodate them in the living space, though we managed for 4 years, and changed van to carry a motorbike.

 

[Fatmrsgeorge]

Can I add, no of seatbelts and outside access locker for chairs, hook up cable, muddy boots. No fun having to accommodate them in the living space, though we managed for 4 years, and changed van to carry a motorbike.

Thankyou. We roughed it for the last ten years in a Ford transit conversion. Any move in the rock n roll bed meant potential concussion. Think 700kg payload will be a luxury in the next van !

 

[starquake]

Worth also noting that in 2018/19 forget when it was the advance/alliance system swtiched from Whale onboard heating to Truma on our model at least. In general Autograph models had the radiator based heating, the Advance/Alliance Truma or Whale.

No issues from what we can tell from other owners on the forum with either, but the Truma we have is very good.

We initially looked and liked layout of a few Baileys, (and some Eldis with same layout), but ended up with the one we have when we worked out we could have a 2019 euro 6 van for same money near enough as a 2016 one. Look at upgrades they added as standard later and negotiate with dealers.. I think 2018 Bailey started to do solar as standard, so older vans = no solar, newer ones had it factory installed.

The payloads vary a lot between the Bailey models, with ours having a huge payload (> 900kg) but get it on a weighbridge as the models do vary. Worth joining the relevant facebook group for the model you considering (they all have them) as thats the best place to ask. We ended up with a 66-2 after initially looking and viewing a few approach advance 640s (and yes I kniow they have different layouts!) - we worked out the French bed was too small when trying it out at a show. Thats why thinking critically is important as we nearly put a deposit on one, ended up working a twin single bench or convertable king was a better option (ie haivng to make a bed at night!). Since getting it we realise we were worrying about noting ref; makign bed, as we have it down to a sub 30 second conversion now.

So far we have not regretted the decision, our only niggle is that we have got stuck in the mud twice now as our tyres really need an upgrade now.

And I agree with scotzsue make sure the locker space is adequate, we use a full outside accessible locker for our outside gear, none of which we owned prior to the motorhome.

We woudl also love a longer van with a rear bed/garage, but we wanted something that fit on our drive and when we measured 6.6m is out limit for that.

 

[Fatmrsgeorge]

Thanks very much. This is all really useful stuff.

 

[Jabstatt]

I have a Bailey Advance. Fixed bed which is not negotiable and four seat belts which might be used!

I love the layout and level of comfort. With 560 w Solar and 3000 inverter on lithium we have everything we need at hand. A rear box provides all the room for crap!

Bailey support is non existent. Spares are very very long lead time and ridiculously expensive
The build quality is dire. Cupboard doors close the apertures but many are a very poor fit.
Wiring is not of a good standard and Bailey won’t give you a wiring diagram!

It’s more about fluff!

But it’s my choice right now!

All my personal views

Tony

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[lorger]

We had a Bailey caravan before motorhoming and thought it was a decent built van, the only issues I have heard folk mention is the payload, don’t believe the mags or sales rep, and width as some of their vans are slightly wider so more difficult on narrow roads.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

dont look at makes ..... look at layouts and how they suit your needs, then payload available for all your stuff that you will inevitably accumilate,

once you have a layout and a payload ( with the necessary license ) in your head then look whats available with those attributes in your price range. it is then the choice of Brand comes into play.

happy searching

Good advice.

 

[Fatmrsgeorge]

I have a Bailey Advance. Fixed bed which is not negotiable and four seat belts which might be used!

I love the layout and level of comfort. With 560 w Solar and 3000 inverter on lithium we have everything we need at hand. A rear box provides all the room for crap!

Bailey support is non existent. Spares are very very long lead time and ridiculously expensive
The build quality is dire. Cupboard doors close the apertures but many are a very poor fit.
Wiring is not of a good standard and Bailey won’t give you a wiring diagram!

It’s more about fluff!

But it’s my choice right now!

All my personal views

Tony

Good to know. Thanks very much.

 

[Lenny HB]

Any known pitfalls with a Bailey Approach Advance ?​

The fact that it's British build would be enough to put me off.
Money spent on bling rather than build quality.