Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8244
Upgrading caravan
Anyone have any comments or recommendations to make on Bailey Senator Vermont caravans? - I am thinking of upgrading and the Vermont is at the top of the list, I have a Hobby at the moment and don't want to regret the change.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
28th Jun 2017 11:11 am
Madrilleno
Member Since: 13 Oct 2014
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 1788
I'd have a look round at some of the FB groups for Bailey and Swift (same group). It would seem that the build standard and quality control for this year's vans may be a little lacking. I know it's a bit like the D3 and D4 forums - if you don't have a problem, you don't post, but there do seem to be a lot of niggles out there.There are two rules for success,
1. Never tell everything you know.
D4 gone!
D5
28th Jun 2017 11:26 am
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10361
Bailey and Swift are made by 2 completely different companies (Swift are part of a wider group but nothing to do with Bailey)
Hobby (as a continental manufacturer) has had a "reputation" for better build quality than British made 'vans (which is why our travelling friends like them) The Senator pre-dates all of Bailey's current AluTec construction methods, so is more old school, with timber construction, so damp could well be more of an issue. The Senator was top of the range for Bailey at the time, so should have "all the toys" and if its been well looked after is still a very nice 'van.
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
28th Jun 2017 11:31 am
ClassikFan
Member Since: 02 Nov 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1049
Our friends have a Senator and have had a damp issue with it this year. Apart from that though it has been many years trouble free. Still looks good when given a polish and the interior is very solid.
28th Jun 2017 6:32 pm
Cellerdweller
Member Since: 05 Oct 2012
Location: Macclesfield
Posts: 1315
Crusader group ( elldis, bucaneer )have been sold to Hymer so maybe an improvement In quality coming there You're not afraid of the dark are you ?
I have the Wyoming from the Series 5 Senator range. Great 'van with lots of room and a sensible layout. Nothing about it's use that niggles. I have fitted a lot of mirrors, changed lights to LED bulbs, fitted LED strip lights under the pelmets without any hassle and it is very light and bright even in long winter nights.
I was down your way with it a couple of weeks ago as well!A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
28th Jun 2017 7:28 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2230
Hi,
had a different model Senator for a few years now, 2008 series 6
we keep looking at other vans but still like what we have
not sure if that model is the same but check the cooker glass lid raisers full (is there!) the cupboards above can sag and foul the lid, it should have ATC so make sure that works.
The only issue we have is the CD player does not want to eject some times serviced and damp tested couple of months back and all good.
we have had one window with condensation but re-glued the edge and Argon filled it and that seems to have cured it
I would recommend going on ours Transit! 2019
Gone D3 HSE 2008
Another Porsche Cayenne 2022
Gone Porsche Cayenne 2020
Gone RRS HSE Dynamic 2016
Gone RRS HSE LUX 2011
Gone RRS HSE 2006
Gone D3 SE 2.7 2008
gone D2 Td5 1999
Also had a 2009 Senator, close run if our current Swift Elegance or the Senator were the best vans we've ever had.
We may even had still had our Senator if some kid hadn't scraped his bike almost the full length of the offside.
Sold our 2008 Senator last year, still ok no damp at all.
Good van but check it out, and get a local mobile engineer to check it over.
Might cost you £80, but could also save a lot of heartache going forward.
28th Jun 2017 7:40 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Madrilleno wrote:
I'd have a look round at some of the FB groups for Bailey and Swift (same group). It would seem that the build standard and quality control for this year's vans may be a little lacking. I know it's a bit like the D3 and D4 forums - if you don't have a problem, you don't post, but there do seem to be a lot of niggles out there.
They are not the same group and a totally different build quality.
I have had a Bailey Barcelona and have a swift elegance 645, the Swift Elegance is heads above the Bailey in my pinion and I would not go back to a BaileyMY17 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
28th Jun 2017 9:15 pm
Snowman
Member Since: 06 Aug 2016
Location: Holmfirth
Posts: 317
Imo all UK built vans are very similar in build quality, not as good as the German vans.
That said all manufacturers have customer who love and loth there products due to fit and Finish Ahmed the dreaded damp. No matter the make or model damp can occur.
Just find the style and layout you like and buy on condition. Lunar , Elddis, Swift, Bailey and Coachman all much of a muchness.Andy.
Series 3 SWB Wagon OEC614Y sold
Discovery 1 50th Anniversary Edition S882 BMA sold
Freelander TD4 ES Y615 YEC sold
Freelander TD4 Kalahari NX53 EVH sold
D2 TD5 XS 2003 YF03 WVW sold
D3 TDV6 2008 SE
28th Jun 2017 9:23 pm
therealboss
Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Co Carlow
Posts: 1958
We have a S5 Bailey Senator Carolina and we love it, good build quality and lots of room., Oh and it look well on the back of the Disco.Dale
Member Since: 03 Oct 2014
Location: Pwllheli
Posts: 3976
Cellerdweller wrote:
Crusader group ( elldis, bucaneer )have been sold to Hymer so maybe an improvement In quality coming there
Explorer Group, Crusader is an Elddis model.==================================
05 D3 HSE V8 4.4
04 MG TF 135
03 MG TF 115 Cool Blue Edition
02 MG TF 160
00 Hymer B564 Lionheart
1971 Series III 109
28th Jun 2017 11:11 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10361
and quite often, even from one manufacturer a specific model or year can be a lemon. I'd always had top of the range models (Lunar Delta, Swift Conqueror, and an Abbey Spectrum (2004), and whilst the Abbey was a lovely 'van its build quality wasnt great. In fact almost anything from the Swift Group around that age seem to have been "thrown" together, whereas, as others have said, newer models seem better. I now have a Bailey which isnt top of the range as brought with head rather than heart this time around and build quality is OK but more importantly (to us) is more practicle in terms of layout/locker sizes etc, so works for us.
just goes to show (like owning a Disco) there isnt a simple answer
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
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serviced and damp tested couple of months back and all good.
