Hi Cameron! Great to see you, love the jumper! I love the D4-4L, very roomy and practical. I didn't realise the Xplore range had been suspended, I love the 304 myself, pity if they don't do any more! I've been very quiet lately, this is because my mum is very ill, she's now in hospital and we thought we would lose her. She's a fighter! I have been sharing the caring duties with my sister so haven't been on social media much. Anyway, great reviews Cameron! Excellent work! When's the big day, have you named the date yet for your upcoming nuptials?! Take care, Anne xxx ❤
Thanks Anne, glad you liked the video. I saw on Twitter that you'd been having some difficulties with your mum lately, sorry to hear that. Hopefully things are calming down for you now. Glad you like the jumper too, everyone keeps complimenting it! haha x
Thanks Cameron I love the D4-4 layout .. I had a Bailey Orion 450-5 for 7 years and it was a fantastic family van. We’re now looking for a smaller van and I think Bailey have nailed it with the D4-4.. I was just about to get an Eriba which is about £9K more but have now decided to get the Bailey instead.. it just doesn’t come across as a Budget van.. can’t wait to pick one up 😊
I like the Orion, we've been looking at a rare Orion 460/5 because I like the layout. I like the Eribas too, but like you say, they're quite pricey for what they are and they're missing some of the refinements that we're used to in British caravans. Glad you settled on the Discovery, I think it's phenomenal value for money compared to everything else on the market at the moment.
It’s so refreshing to see recordings like yours because you’re not smarmy , it’s a compliment btw. I still remember fondly my first caravan and it was a Thompson Glendale, it only cost me £250 and I loved her but the only thing I changed was the gas fridge to an electric one which caused me many shocks of the 12 volt variety and caused my young at the time to laugh at me, oh happy ish days apart from spraying the outside till she gleamed
Great video Cameron and an interesting van. Had no idea about the Explorer range 😮 and amazing that c.20k is now the cheapest caravan. I have had 3 Swift vans previously, all with SMART construction built with polyurethane replacing all wood and bonded GRP walls. Excellent vans, equally as efficient as Baileys Alutec and arguably more flexibility in caravan exterior design. The D4-4 French bed layout is excellent. Swift Alpine 4 and Bailey Phoenix 440 are the only UK ranges doing French beds now. Got to say, the jumper was amazing.
Thank you. Yes it seems strange that £20,000 is now "budget", about ten years ago we got a mid-range dealer special for £16,000, the same van now is almost £10,000 more! The Swift SMART construction is only used on the Basecamp and Elegance/Elegance Grande ranges, I know that Sprite and I think the Challenger range are still built conventionally. I've seen a lot of issues with water ingress on the Basecamp range lately, I really hope they can get on top of it. We'd have probably taken the plunge and ordered the new BC3 after the NEC last year, but seeing the trouble people had on the Owners Group, it's put me off for a while.
@@NotAnotherWhiteBox Thanks Cameron, All Swift products built with SMART (including Challenger and Sprite) but not 100% sure about BC. And yes, the BC has had water ingress issues and the Facebook group is full of complaints about the same. Such a shame as they offer such a wonderful alternative to the average van. I’m looking at either the Adria Action (bullet proof and quirky) or a dealer special on the Sprite Alpine 4 (Swift Accord 510) as Mrs C would love a fixed bed. Loving the videos. Great production and presentation….. very professional. Keep well
That was a very nice overview of the new Discovery range Cameron. I hope that you will be able to revisit the D4-4L for a more in-depth look. The backrest nearest the front of the caravan is removable and can be configured to be placed 90 degrees (with its back against the wall). Thus allowing for some very flexible layout options. What I am specifically trying to work out is how strong the support 'U' shaped bar for the backrest is. Naturally, the easiest thing to do would visit a Bailey dealer but that alas is not possible as I am located in Japan. I therefore rely on reviewers on RU-vid and the like. My take on the new Discovery range: In a nutshell: Definitely an improvement on the previous range and many niggles have been ironed out. D4-4L: A vast improvement on the previous D4-3 which was not a very good layout at all in my opinion. My biggest gripe with the D4-4L is that the door opens onto the kitchen window, meaning that you either never open this window or find a way of restraining the door so that it doesn't bash onto the open window. This door should have opened in the opposite direction. Options Wishlist: Whilst I think that the level of equipment and fittings is appropriate for the price point, I do wish Bailey would offer a fly-screen for the door (a MUST here in mosquito land). I also cannot fathom why there is a supply chain issue with the awning. They should be sorting that out asap as that it is one of the main attractions of this budget caravan. Fitting an air conditioner for me will be a must and that is relatively easily done although losing the skylight is a shame. The typical thing that is done here in Japan is to fit a domestic air conditioner with the external unit put into the gas locker and the internal unit above the front window. Bailey not having a front locker and the infinity window makes this impossible. I do wish they'd frame out a separate area on the roof that can be cut to fit an air conditioner (on all ranges) that doesn't do away with the skylight.
Thank you Andrew for your kind words. A few notes for you: 1) I've deliberately left out the details of the beds and the bunk because there *may* be an in-depth live-in test coming soon... 😉 2) Sadly the door fouling the window is just one of those design compromises that we have to accept. If it opened the other way, it would overshoot the body and contact the awning. 3) There is an optional flyscreen offered from Prima Leisure, which is Bailey's aftersales website. There's actually a lot more options on the Discovery range than probably any other range from Bailey. 4) I *think* you can have the Truma Air Conditioning unit fitted on the roof. I know you can in other Bailey models. It's expensive but it's actually a very efficient system and surprisingly quiet too. Have you looked into options of getting one to Japan? I know the dealership I worked with at the show, Leeds Caravan Centre, work with a guy who exports caravans to New Zealand/Australia.
@@NotAnotherWhiteBox Thank you for reading my long comment and replying in detail. Glad to hear that there is a test coming soon - perfect! Yes, I understand about the door, but a stopper would be a nice touch. The air conditioning is exactly as you suggest. I just wish there was a separate 'air-con ready' space to avoid losing the skylight (ceiling window or whatever you call it). I would order the fly-screen from prima leisure at the time of purchase and prior importing. Prima Leisure doesn't ship internationally. I have gone into depth about importing to Japan. More than I can say here to be honest with you :-). I've made a note of the dealership you mentioned, however! Thank you Cameron!!
What a magnificent overview of this range! I'm not sure I'm taken by the front graphics, much preferred the old larger "swooshes"/theatre type curtain look and less white, but other than that the changes look excellent, PS personally I really liked the old grey & mustard ;- ) but I guess the blue is on brand and coordinates better with the lighter wood. IMO the new 4L is absolutely the pinnacle of what this range is aiming at - simple, easy, lightweight but massively practical. The payload upgrade brings it to a more useable 218Kg, which is essential if you want to make the most of the long A frame and put a bike rack or storage box on. That's a real winner and deserves to do really well. Pleased to see the not another white box mindset being applied to jumper purchasing ;-)
Thanks Becky, I agree that the D4-4L is great, it's such a good compromise of size, space and weight, it definitely stands out in the range for me. I also liked the mustard upholstery but the new stuff feels better quality, I know there were issues with the old upholstery sagging after a while. Jury's out on the graphics, I think they're a lot less offensive than most new graphics on caravans, I think I'd prefer something simple. There's only so many swooshes you can stick on the side of a white box to attempt to make it more interesting!
Watched your review, very very good, no idea why i not been shown you before ? I watch all caravan n motorhome stuff. Very informative and professional cheers bud ps i subscribed
Thank you ☺️ I don’t think that you’d be able to swap the oven I’m afraid. The cooker top is an integral part of the oven unit, so you’d have to find a way of replacing that too.
Good vid, awesome jumper. What is the likely price to add solar? Doesn't seem right to tow with an EV and use gas. Many EV's now have vehicle to load so it would be practical to power the van from the car for a night or so if there was no power at the site.
What a shame the wrap around awning is no more… it was a huge selling point for this range (for me, anyway). Have they at least left the rail in place so it might be purchased once their supply issues have been resolved?
Bailey have missed a trick here. The excellent D4-4L kitchen added to the the D4-4 washroom would be a winner. As they are, the D4-2 and D4-4L wetrooms with their clingy, cold wet shower curtains are just bad news. A separate shower cubicle is a must. And the kitchens on the D4-2 and D4-4 are just too tiny. Combining the two good elements might mean a slightly longer van than the D4-4L, but that extra length would leave space free on the offside for a wardrobe between dinette and washroom. The other problem with the D4-4L is that whilst the offside bench can be extended to allow a 6 footer to sleep in a single bed, the nearside is stuck with 4ft 11ins which is too short as a single bed, 5ft 6ins would be better for adults of a slighter stature to use. I love the three panel concept of the Discovery's and hope that it works through on the other Bailey ranges. I'm afraid I do miss the full width view of the two extra small front windows, somehow not having them just feels wrong, as does the lack of curtains which do so much to make a caravan feel softer and more welcoming as well as providing a design coordination opportunity. As it is we'll stick with our conventional Phoenix + 420, with its excellent washroom, so, so kitchen and 6ft 2ins long beds, plus our microwave for warming cherry pillows and a proper oven and grill. Though Bailey ought to throw in a course to teach us how the radio works. BTW my other half is a trial knitter for knitwear designers and I think that jumper would drive her frantic.
They are nice caravans but I do prefer the base camp range which the floor on them caravans are not wood that’s what puts me off the Bailey discovery range is wood but great caravan s great video
Nice vans for a growing niche in the market (owners of small tow vehicles or EVs)..the price is very reasonable ...EU competitors would struggle to match!!.♥️🇬🇧
=5:18 It gives me a strange feeling to see a colour combination between the grey of the exterior panelling and those white, blue and beige inside. The colour of your shirt doesn't help either 😂
So sad UK caravans have poor representation on mainland Europe, and Bailey's one of the worst with a link on their website to EU 'retail representative' in Holland which isn't one and has no info at all. I'm a Brit in Germany with an EV (max 1,200kg towing capacity) & want a good 2 berth light caravan with good bathroom. Only one I can find that gets close-ish is Adria 391LH but the bath/shower is still no match.
does not look like it has awning rails at the rear end unless my eyes are deceiving me, from experience of owning small vans in the UK you need to have an awning to dry off your rain soaked clothing and dog. I love the look of the Bailey vans but what puts me off buying them is the missing front locker, that too is a must for me to keep all my nic nacs in that we all need when we go off galivanting into the wilds. Style and flair is great but not very practical, this looks like a caravan built by Ikea too utilitarian and spartan and I am not old either . £20k sounds inexpensive but there are too many detractor for me to consider swapping my 2018 Elddis so I dont think it is value for my money.
I don’t think there are any cheap conventional Continental caravans in the UK. The Campmaster King from Turkey is the cheapest at £19,999 on the road but it’s the most appalling piece of caravan design I think I’ve ever seen at the caravan show. After that is the Polish Freedom caravan at about £16k but it’s obviously not a normal size tourer or the Freedom Carpento from Turkey, which again, is a poorly executed design.
@@NotAnotherWhiteBox the prices are just crazy today. In 2012 my uncle bought a Sprite Lite 4 (4 berth fixed bed budget caravan) brand new for £10,500. What's happened to all the budget caravans?
@@koksydue to the global financial crisis of 08, prices for caravans were rock bottom back then. Luxury product had been sold off at the time and selling new ones meant getting competitive on pricing
Why? I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate on why you said 'oh Lord'. Serious question as I am genuinely curious. Especially if you have experience with it.
@@andrewjones-productions I think they are terrible designs and very claustrophobic especially front windows. You could at one time sit back and view the scenery or your kids playing or caravans arriving, etc. Sit back in these and all you have is a wall against your face, I think they are terribly designed, there is not really any flat surfaces either to put things on, such as even a chopping board. Even the Swift Basecamp, no food prep area, the front window is to small, to high and not wide enough, no where to sit at the front to admire the view and there was you would not be able to see out of it. Been far better with 2 seats and a central table, plenty of room. A Sprite 400 is far, far, far more practical. As the black plastic Tupperware down the side - well we all know what going to happen to that, it will fade to light grey, it always does.
@@robbeard6929 I think the issue is that manufacturers have an obsession with this roof level skylight now and customers sort of expect it. I'd do something more along the lines of the Adria Action if it was me and have a high level window and a separate full width window below, but make the bottom window taller than the one on the Adria Action. I don't agree that they're terribly designed in terms of workspace, other than perhaps the D4-4. The D4-2 has plenty of space on top of the fridge and the D4-4L has one of the biggest kitchens I've seen in most new caravans, right up to top end stuff. Once you've added a fixed bed, you've lost the kitchen length. The Basecamp 2 also has a great kitchen, though the Basecamp 3 and 4 one is pretty small but no smaller than average. I agree about the plastic body kit on the Basecamp, it's the final thing that puts me off actually buying one at the moment. The faux off-road look just looks cheap. I'd love a stripped back version, much like Tab do with the standard Metropolis/Mexican Sunset models and the stripped back Basic spec with less of a body kit on it. It would make the Basecamp cheaper too.
I would never buy a Bailey caravan again, Why because they leak like a sieve from brand new, and Bailey don’t care stay away and don’t buy a British built caravan. Go for caravans built abroad.
