First Bailey caravans sold Down Under

Aussie caravan buyers have welcomed the arrival Down Under of a range of UK-built, lightweight caravans.

Adrian Van Geelen from Bailey Australia, the official distributor of Bailey Caravans in Australia, said that enquiries have been brisk since a range of Bailey vans went on display for the first time in Australia at last week's Melbourne Leisurefest show at Sandown Racecourse.

Bailey caravans’ Victorian dealer, Canterbury Caravans, had received 15 enquiries in the two days after the show ended last Sunday, following an "amazing amount of interest" from showgoers at the Bailey stand during the four-day show.

"(Canterbury Caravans’) enquiry level after the show has been all Bailey and none of their other brands, and that says something, doesn’t it?" Van Geelen said.

Although not divulging an exact figure, Van Geelen said a number of Bailey caravans had been sold both during and after the show.

"There’s been multiple orders; not in double digit figures, but not far away," he said.

Canterbury Caravans had six of the award-winning Bailey caravans on display at the Melbourne show, representing the three model ranges currently for sale in Australia.

All featured the latest European styling, design and technologies, including Bailey's innovative Alu-Tech body shell, galvanised Al-Ko chassis with independent suspension and mechanical over-ride brakes.

The cheapest model on display was the Bailey Orion 400-2 at $42,470 (towaway, Victoria). With a Tare weight of just 1029kg and towing length of 5.34m, it like other Bailey caravans is easily towable by a range of four-cylinder vehicles.

The bright, 4.18m long interior, features a front lounge/dinette that converts to a double bed, as well as a kitchen with 65 litre Waeco fridge, three burner cooktop, oven, grille, and microwave.

Other standard features include a shower and toilet, air conditioner, floor mounted space heater and blown air heating system, CD player, gas/electric Truma hot water, 65 litre water tank, 12 volt battery system, and roll-out awning.

Also on display was an Orion 430/4, priced at $46,970 towaway. With a 1170kg Tare, towing length of 6.38m and 5.22m internal length, it comes with a bigger 107 litre fridge and permanent double bed at the rear, making it a four-berth van.

Three examples of the mid-range Bailey Pegasus model were also on display, including the four-berth, 7.25m long Pegasus Verona, which has a Tare of 1392kg and costs $51,370 towaway. The six-berth Pegasus Ancona, which measures 7.25m long and has a 1381kg Tare, was priced at $51,370.

There was also a four-berth Pegasus Bologna (7.86m long and 1565kg Tare), priced at $53,370.

Just one of the range-topping Bailey Unicorn model was on display. The 7.86m long, twin-axle Unicorn Barcelona, with a Tare of 1663kg, was priced at $56,980. It featured the most luxurious walnut and soft furnished interior fittings and all the latest appointments offered by the UK's second biggest-selling brand.

Both the Pegasus and Unicorn models are fitted with the Al-Ko AKS 3004 stabiliser coupling, trailer control system and anti-theft wheel locks.

Van Geelen said the lightweight Bailey vans were particularly attractive to buyers who don’t wish to upgrade to a bigger tow vehicle.

"(The enquiries are) all that small family sedan style of customer at the moment; nobody is coming in with your big four-wheel drive," he said.

"It’s another niche market, utilising your normal family car, so we're not impacting at all on the Australian (caravan) builders, we’re carving a new niche." 

There was no intention at this stage to introduce the fourth Bailey model, the Olympus, or the new Bailey motorhome just released in the UK.

"What we’ve done is issue the (Olympus) brochures, but we're not sure if the layout is suitable for our market (because) they’re more family bunk orientated," he said.

Bailey Australia is currently in the process of setting up a nationwide dealer and support network, with Canterbury Caravans in Victoria and Macquarie Caravans in NSW already signed up.

Buyers currently have a three-month wait for delivery from the UK, if the model is not already in stock in Australia.

Bailey Australia will have another display at the Bendigo Leisurefest from November 18-20.