I cannot see anything wrong with Bailey caravans if you do not go off road with them the roads are no worse here than some roads in england and on the continent ie Europe and I have traveled thousands of miles both in England and in europe I think if you want to go off road that might be a different matter
Go the Bailys if you just doing "road" work.
They'd be no worse than most on the roads today.
And a damn sight easier to tow than some of the monster vans
the MFG's are turning out today.
Vans I had in UK were Sprite. but that was 50 yrs ago.
Comfortable to both tow, and live in for their day.
Diesel Landie, then Ford Zephyr 6 were tugs in them days too.
Mate has one nice van but not built for Australian conditions
Please substantiate your claim. If you are basing your tales on the past performance of the Viscount Ultralite series you are way off beam. There are several weights of Al-Ko chassis available. Viscount used the wrong one. They used the cheapest one available and even extended it longer than they should have. The chassis should have been incorporated into a the floor construction as the Europeans do but they just hung the chassis off the bottom of an Oz style van.
Jurgens are constructing vans in Oz using the same construction as you are heaping disparaging comments upon. These vans are regularly used on outback gravel roads without problems. There are many reports of them and other similar European vans successfully negotiating the Birdsville Track.
In 1994 I negotiated the design of my new van with well respected designer in Melbourne. We were discussing chassis at the time. He remarked that he would have liked to produce a van with the correct model chassis. The big problem is that Viscount had put paid to any acceptance of his proposed vans with their bad models.
Please cease parroting others without having in-depth knowledge of the subject.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
It's funny. People saying that some caravans aren't built for "Australian conditions".
I'd say that most caravans including "semi-offroaders", from what I've been reading, aren't build for Aussie conditions, if that means crossing the Simpson desert driving over sand dunes, or down goat tracks used by real 4WD vehicles.
When we were looking at the Baileys, the imported ones, not the ones built here, the only ones that were available were new ones. No-one seems to be selling them second hand.
Now, either no-one owns them, therefore none are for sale used, or that people are happy with their purchases and are keeping them. Dunno...
We like the basic layout. Enter the van at the front, a club lounge seating to the left, kitchen etc. to the right, then through a partition to the bedroom and the ensuite at the rear.
Of course, the Aussie version has to revert to type - enter the van into the bedroom then have a crappy diner style seat with a table that's difficult to get past when seated and the rest of the fitout to the rear.
But as we didn't have $75k to spend on the Bailey that we wanted we ended up with a Royal Flair Family with, you guessed it, front entry into bedroom, crappy diner seating, with 3 bunks down the back opposite the ensuite....
European vans did not appeal to us for several reasons and what we have wont appeal to others,But there's a lot of happy campers out there that love em . So they must be Ok...
Now I'm more confused than ever, they are more expensive than I wanted to pay but so many people have negative reviews of the Jayco, I guess it doesn't matter which brand of van one buys, there are always people with problems. I'd really like to hear more positive opinions on the Jayco though.
I do not have a Jayco as they do not suit the camping that we do.
The main thing to remember is that Jayco has a 50% market share so 50% of the complaints may be directed at them.
There must be a huge number of happy Jayco owners out there.
A good mate and my BIL both have Jaycos and are very happy with them.
Basic trouble with Jayco.
Is they have no quality Controp.
Roll them off the line and chuck 'em out the door.
All Problems can then be fixed by the after sales mob.
Dunno about you.
But I prefer a mob that goes through QC and haslessproblems
All have some. Jayco seem to have more than most.
Regarding Layouts.
Rear set Suspension (aft of centreline)
Rear side door. rear Galley along back., Centre Lounge both sides with removable table between.
Shower/Toilet one side just forward of. with linen press/water heater small hand sink the other.
Then double/queen bed at front under sloping roof.
It's bad enuff having a huge bathroon across the rear 3 ir 4 ft of van
when you consider how much time you spend brushing your teeth and having a c--p.
Without adding to the waste by following it up by having a bed taking up the rest of 50% min.
of the van.
Just for a few hrs sleep.
It probably doesn't occur to most.
But they spend a zillion dollars on a van. with normally over half it's length/space.
Taken up with a Bedroom and Bog,
which most would use maybe 6hrs max. in a day..
then spend another zillion just dragging it around all day?.
There is a word for that.
But they got so many well conned.
Just like Coke. Toyota. and Apple.
Sooner they get back to drop down doubles and corner b/Rooms the better.
I reckon.
Macka17, I agree Jayco may not have a great Controp, however Controps just like roundtuits are very hard to come by these days. You assume everyone should be the same as you, what a boring place it would be if they were. Suggest you put some thought into what you write and only speak for yourself.
But "my" opinions are what I put to paper.
(YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THEM...).
Others can decide themselves, whether to read or not.
SOme do. SOme don't. Ce-La vie.
You can't please 'em all. All the time... chuckle.
But it's good for a stir.
They come. basically, mostly from, 40plus yrs vanning in this country,
Plus others.
and the ideas. opinions, remarks, experiences of both myself and a lot of other people I've mingled
with over that period if time.
Round campfires. in parks Shows. Forums etc.
Mainly 'general" views/opinions in conversations etc, in passing.
Over time. some click together and you think. Well.
This many with similar opinions,experiences.
Must be something in it.
GOOD and/or BAD.
It's up to the individual to decide what to believe. and Not believe.
With Jayco.
The general concencus seems to be.
After seeing and hearing so many BAD reports. Faults, over the yrs.
"There's gotta be something in it"
They are basically NOT a van that I would buy.
Most buyers seem to be first timers.
Not too many I've heard of go back for seconds.
(Some do) But the reputation precedes them.
Once bitten etc.
It's a bit like Toyota, Jeep. coca Cola etc.
Heavy advertising sucks them in.
I've personally SEEN several of the bigger Fibreglass vans,
passing through on way back to factory.
due to split, rippling.cracking walls.
One was going back for his second roof collapse. and a refund.
Cupboards off walls, Too short shower mount screws etc. etc.
are par for the course with that brand.
Even Evernew and Phoenix The pick of the bunch basically
(Mostly by owners reviews reports). have hic-cups.
but a lot less than others.
I've had several Roadstars and swear by them.
They can have problems too. But less of.
and mine never missed a beat.
1 off roader. others "semi" (double chassis rails) offroaders.
I've personally always bought the "Semi" models from reputable builder.
You get stronger chassis/Suspension Framework, Interior. with much better fastenings all round.
Bolts over just screws staples and glues.
The Price factor. Should NOT be the deciding factor in buying something you and boss are going to live in and travel in.
Often round and round this island.
Money restricted.
But a SMALLER better quality.
CHEAP/ER... Is so for a reason. Think about it.
There are reasons why chinese cars are at lower purchasing pricing than Thai, Japanese.
No difference in Caravan Manufacturing.
Off his box.
Just think for a minute..
And EVERY post I ever write on these forums.
Is posted with a 'smile". and a chuckle.
Some for information.
others to "interest" (one way ot t'other) certain persons.
Some just to stir.
Life is good hey. and always....
have a good one. It could be your last.
Hi J, Bailey vans are really good , tow well , fitted out well and appearto be built to last
Ours is a 2008 and we love it.........very comfortable and well appointed, we bought it used and saved about 50%
We don't own a Jayco but know people that do ,there about 10K cheaper to buy than other similar vans so no wonder they sell well, but haveing said that most new vans will have teething problems and I Think from what I have heard they look after there warranty work pretty well...
However, there is an issue regarding that - spares availability. Some insurers won't insure the UK made Baileys and other 'vans due to the cost of parts and getting them here as our insurance broker told us when we got our 'van insured.
Hi we have a Bailey Senator Oklahoma and we love it, light weight, easy to tow, good lay out. Bedroom at the rear with en-suite which has a sliding door which we can close off.
Have never had a problem getting it insured, with CIL at the moment, we did need a part for the heater a few months ago, got this part direct from UK, half the price to what i was quoted over here.
It travels very well on the roads, TBH its that light we forget that the van is behind us some times.
