Views on Bailey or Knaus (automatic)

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Cathryn

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I'm new to this forum so here goes. We're looking for a used mh. I have no preference for make although husband wants a German one. I quite like the Bailey 745 , he likes the Knaus Sky ti 645 (automatic) The Bailey is wider and longer obvs.
I'm interested in any thoughts re comparing the above makes and any thoughts on the Knaus being automatic.
Many thanks
 
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Hi and welcome 🤗

My choice would be the knaus. But , I prefer European built motorhomes ( we have an Adria).
However, my advice is pick the layout that best suits your intended use and look at the respective payloads .
Those 2 things are the most important. You can live with the make of convertor but you will soon tire of a poor / layout that does not suit and be illegal if your payload is not enough.
 
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We have a Knaus Sun ti 650MEG platinum edition and love it, this is our fourth van and by far the best. We did have a Bailey caravan which was very good but to me that’s the main issue they build their Motorhome’s like caravans, on a site in U.K. last year a Bailey parked next to us and still had to use an aqua roll as the onboard water tank wasn’t sufficient in size. Another thing to watch out for with the Bailey is payload, as you say it’s wider and longer which equates to being heavier in most cases.

Don’t know about the Bailey but our Knaus has no wood in the structure so less chance of damage due to damp, I believe the Bailey still has wood in the floor although that might have changed.

Good luck
 
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I have no idea who Alan Heath is but a reviewer who starts off prejudiced against a manufacturer is not going to make a realistic report. I very soon gave up listening to his bias.

I had a Knaus 600 Sport Ti and was very happy with it. It was my first non UK motorhome and I haven’t looked back since. Length isn’t a problem but I find wider motorhomes a lot less fun to drive. I would always favour the narrower one and sadly the German one too. Just an opinion based on my personal experiences.

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Manxcat said:
Alan Heath really does not like Knaus. Look at his recent video

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Alan heath despite being a full timer comes across as someone who doesn't seem to know his way around a motorhome, often blaming locks etc as being broken when he is unable to work out how to use them.
 
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Wh05apk said:
Alan heath despite being a full timer comes across as someone who doesn't seem to know his way around a motorhome, often blaming locks etc as being broken when he is unable to work out how to use them.
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I find him excruciating to watch and listen to, I usually ffwd to the shot of the layout and the price of anything I am interested in before moving on.
He is not alone in his format though, most of the reviewers spend ages going around the outside when the first thing I want to see is the layout, then how much and then the details..
 
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Roby2008 said:
I find him excruciating to watch and listen to, I usually ffwd to the shot of the layout and the price of anything I am interested in before moving on.
He is not alone in his format though, most of the reviewers spend ages going around the outside when the first thing I want to see is the layout, then how much and then the details..
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Exactly the same as me, i've seen a toilet cassette door, unless there is something unusual I don't want to see another one, he annoys with price as well, quoting this van is £x but actually it is £y + £30k of extras! he should give the base price, and say what is included.
 
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He annoys us too. We always look out for the "in my opinion ....."

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Our first motorhome was a Bailey Autograph 745. It was a very comfortable well equipped motorhome. In just over 3 years apart from a few initial minor snagging issues that were quickly sorted out by the dealer we had no trouble with it. We now have Pilote Galaxy also bought from new and though we love it we have had far more problems with the Pilote.
As far as the wider width goes it’s down to how happy you are driving it. I soon got used to driving the Bailey.
 
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Personally, out of the two, I would choose the Knaus, even though I haven't owned either brand.

I think it is a well respected converter, oh and I'd go for the automatic gearbox every time.

Many Bailey vans - including the one you're considering - are oversize when it comes to width. I believe they are wider than any other mainstream coachbuilt converter (UK & Continental), and that would be a real turn off for me. Have had two standard width coachbuilts (narrower than the Bailey), and they were OK, but took the fun out of driving along country lanes and through interesting villages etc.

Good luck whatever you decide. (y)
 
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We had a 2013 Bailey 740 Autograph, and wouldn’t have another. We liked the layout, and the width wasn’t a great problem - you have to balance out the feeling of space inside it gives you with the increased unwieldiness on the road. But we had real problems with damp, it went back to the factory under warranty and we made sure to trade in before the water ingress warranty expired. We had a number of other problems as well, and it never really felt well put together.

This may well have been a “Friday afternoon” model, and their quality control may have changed for the better - but we’re not inclined to put it to the test again.

Never had a Knaus, so really can’t comment on them.
 
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I thought Bailey advertised this Alu tech wood free construction impervious to damp?

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Solwaybuggier said:
I’m certain we’re not the only Bailey owners to have had problems with damp! Although I know others have been very happy with theirs.
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Weren't Bailey the ones that had a swimming pool at the front of the roof ?
 
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Wh05apk said:
Alan heath despite being a full timer comes across as someone who doesn't seem to know his way around a motorhome, often blaming locks etc as being broken when he is unable to work out how to use them.
Click to expand...
Quite! 😂

I only watch Alan Heath as in fairness he does do a lot of motorhome videos - though it would be much better if someone else did the actual reviews/talking. He does seem to be biased against some manufacturers - but ’in my opinion’ his opinions tend to differ to mine! He also makes some gaffs - I’m not sure if they’re deliberate or not ….
 
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Knaus every time - Bailey are not even in the same league IMO.
Knaus-Tabbert Group have a fine pedigree, and their Morelo marque is one of the finest, if not the finest built in Europe. 👍
 
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Had a Knaus for several years and loved it, the build quality was first class. In particular the cupboards and catches were solid. Ours had a double floor and was really warm in the winter, the double floor meant that there was loads of additional storage in the gap. The only reason i sold it was because we needed an additional bed. I have never had a Baileys but someone i know has one and is always backwards and forwards to the dealer for warranty work.

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Cathryn said:
I'm new to this forum so here goes. We're looking for a used mh. I have no preference for make although husband wants a German one. I quite like the Bailey 745 , he likes the Knaus Sky ti 645 (automatic) The Bailey is wider and longer obvs.
I'm interested in any thoughts re comparing the above makes and any thoughts on the Knaus being automatic.
Many thanks
Click to expand...
We have a Knaus and find it a lovely vehicle for us and our Cockerpoo.
 
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