Member Since: 12 Mar 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 1739
elddis, bailey or swift
Advice or comments please chaps. Spent a good day at NEC yest looking at vans. Seen a layout we quite like. Fixed bunks at back with a corner rear bathroom and side dinette. The above makers all produce this design. Friends have got baileys and seem happy, we liked the bathroom in elddis and the swift was nice and bright due to roof light above front window. Anyone got any positive or more importantly negative thoughts on the makes above. Adria was another option but not sure on dealer network.
comments would be greatly received.
Cheers Dan
21st Oct 2012 8:18 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
We have a Bailey and it is the first one we have owned, have had Lunar, Avondale and Dethleffs, Bailey is probably the best one we have had so far, hope that helps.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
21st Oct 2012 8:30 pm
Biffysun
Member Since: 09 Jul 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 1790
Can only speak from personal experience Used to have a Compass Reflection, bought it new in 1993, kept it for 9yrs and never a days problem from a 'budget' van and sold it for 55% of its value!
then had an Elddis Avante 524, great van, kept for 5 years, no probs and only dropped £3K on it
NOW I got a Swift Charisma 550D (Iona) bought it new last year, had a whole host of problems which have been fixed after 5 trips back to dealer but confidence in it is wrecked If I could sell it without losing a bomb I would ditch it tomorrow, God knows whats going to go wrong next and just waiting on the warranty to expire in 2 years time
I say again, this is my experience and I won't buy another Swift - I'm sure others have had great vans but mines is a dud
Asking which is best is a bit like asking a football fan which is the best team, he will naturally say his team.
IMHO (as a Swift owner ) I go for the layout and trimings I (and MrsG) like and go for that one, they all have some niggles.
"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you read is not what I meant"
21st Oct 2012 8:36 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8244
Look at the spec of a Hobby and you won't touch a U.K. made caravan with a barge pole, insulation and heating system you can use all year round without freezing, roof you can walk on, 5yrs warranty against water ingress just to name a few.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
21st Oct 2012 8:40 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
M3DPO wrote:
Look at the spec of a Hobby and you won't touch a U.K. made caravan with a barge pole, insulation and heating system you can use all year round without freezing, roof you can walk on, 5yrs warranty against water ingress just to name a few.
Bailey tick all those boxes, first rate insulation, Alde heating, at the end of the day it is down to personal choice and layout.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
21st Oct 2012 8:53 pm
maplecottage
Member Since: 01 Feb 2011
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3171
Russell wrote:
We have a Bailey and it is the first one we have owned, have had Lunar, Avondale and Dethleffs, Bailey is probably the best one we have had so far, hope that helps.
+ 1
We've had various in the past 20 years - current Bristol offering is on a par with our previous Stirling.
21st Oct 2012 8:53 pm
subaru60
Member Since: 05 Oct 2012
Location: crawley
Posts: 277
ive had a bailey from new and never had a problem got a sterling made by swift now only 10 months old been back 3 times for minor things to be done its the inconvenice of taking it back that anoys me as for the german stuff ie hobbys ,tabbert, they are very well made and finished nice but because people think that only gypsys have them it makes there second hand value alot less than an english made van but i think the german stuff is well made
21st Oct 2012 9:55 pm
twoakers
Member Since: 15 Nov 2010
Location: Harwich
Posts: 367
We have had several caravans over the years.......
Get a nice big twin axle Coachman.
As of this year we now have a Coachman Laser 650/4 and absolutely love it.
Fixed island double bed, separate shower and toilet, air con, big kitchen etc etc.
Easy to tow with a Disco 3/4 - that's what they are made for
Twin axles are more stable and safer to tow IMHOCheers, Dave in Essex
D3 07 TDV6 HSE
Clubs - Turbo changed, EGR valves replaced, General Grabber ATs, Hawkeye FC reader, Front/rear wishbones, manual gearbox change, autobox flush, cam belt change, HPFP belt change, oil pump change....
Coachman Laser 650/4 caravan
Amateur Radio Callsign - G8PAI
Playing with Big Boys Toys!
21st Oct 2012 10:11 pm
Klinkhammer
Member Since: 02 Jul 2012
Location: Highlands
Posts: 266
Ha d Swift and Bailey both on a par. Currently Bailey as fancied the new construction.
Go for twin axle you won't regret the space or the stability and the disco will handle with aplomb.I'm to old to know everything......
D4 Gone over to the Dark Side (D5)
D3 gone ...... But now want one for knocking about! Is this a form of insanity?
21st Oct 2012 10:18 pm
Madrunner
Member Since: 23 Oct 2011
Location: Dorset
Posts: 391
Personally I think there is not one UK manufacturer of mainstream vans that stands head and shoulders above the others.
It's all down to personal choice and make sure you pick a good dealer !!!
Our first van was a new swift - rubbish. Now own a bailey unicorn as Russell. Faultless.2013 Evoque
22nd Oct 2012 6:59 am
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Madrunner wrote:
Personally I think there is not one UK manufacturer of mainstream vans that stands head and shoulders above the others.
It's all down to personal choice and make sure you pick a good dealer !!!
Our first van was a new swift - rubbish. Now own a bailey unicorn as Russell. Faultless.
Would agree with the main stream comment however Inos were at the NEC and they stand way above all others including German vans.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
22nd Oct 2012 7:45 am
allforus
Member Since: 20 Mar 2010
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 492
I had a bailey prior to this van which is a hobby the bailey was a great van but the hobby is excellent but as others say its you're choice just liked the extra width and space age shape and the quality of the finish
22nd Oct 2012 7:49 am
dantheman
Member Since: 12 Mar 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 1739
Thanks guys. Seems more positive for bailey. The layout we were happy with on any of the 3. Dont want to be back and forth to dealers for problems after all i bought the disco for that pleasure !!
Has anyone had experience of an Elddis? Now the show is over we will have a ride round the dealers and have a closer look at them all. The show was to manic for that!!
Andy Buelbeast as a good one for sale Home of RLD Hidden winch mounts Spare wheel Locks Trailer Body Fabrication ray@rld-tech.co.uk D3/4 sump plates MY 14 sump plates and the Discovery Sport wheel protectors Discovery 5 wheel locks
more Helsport tents and other things for camping Law of Mechanical Repair:
"After your hands are coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee!"
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Used to have a Compass Reflection, bought it new in 1993, kept it for 9yrs and never a days problem from a 'budget' van and sold it for 55% of its value! 
bought it new last year, had a whole host of problems which have been fixed after 5 trips back to dealer but confidence in it is wrecked 
If I could sell it without losing a bomb I would ditch it tomorrow, God knows whats going to go wrong next and just waiting on the warranty to expire in 2 years time 
