New Bailey motorhomes coming

Britain’s second biggest RV builder, Bailey Caravans, is set to launch two new innovative models at this year’s NCC Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show in the UK, with at least one, a bigger luxury van, set to go on sale Down Under.

Sure to grab attention at the show, which kicks off on February 14 at London’s Excel Centre, is Bailey’s new Retreat range, designed for European holiday makers who like to visit the same site each year.

Based on Bailey’s range-topping Unicorn van, the Retreat is longer, wider and heavier than any current Bailey model, and will be available with a variety of layouts including up to six berths and a central breakfast bar.

With an internal length of nearly 24 feet, internal width of 7ft8in and 6ft5in internal headroom, it has 25 percent more space inside than the Unicorn.

Due to its hefty (for Europe) 2200kg ATM, the well-appointed, twin-axle Retreat will not be towable by many of the smaller tow vehicles in that part of the world. Instead, Bailey recommends towing on-site by professionals, targeting what it calls “leisure homers”; holiday makers who like to return to their favourite site year after year.

Bailey is also set to unveil a lighter, more affordable version of its Orion 430-4 compact van. Designed in conjunction with the University of Bath, the Orion Evo-4 has no 12V system and comes with a smaller gas bottle, instead relying on 240V power to run its appliances.

The Bristol-based company says the Evo-4 is in response to customer research that indicates only 8.5 percent of caravanners regularly use their onboard 12V battery as their primary source of power.

Replacing the usual oven and grille on the Orion Evo-4 is a combi-microwave, while a two-burner/single electric hotplate is in lieu of the three-burner gas cooktop. The fridge, hot water and space heaters all run on 240V.

With a Tare of 1147kg and a price tag expected to be around £12,500 ($18,500), the Evo-4 kit shaves around 100kg and £1000 off the standard Orion package.
Bailey says it will be gauging public reaction to the Orion Evo-4 at the show, with a view to introducing it across the entire Bailey line-up.

Meanwhile, Adrian Van Geelen of Australian Bailey importer, Bailey Australia, said the bigger luxury Retreat had a greater chance of joining the local Bailey line-up than the stripped-out Orion Evo-4.

He cited the fact that most Australian buyers of Bailey caravans so far have been more inclined to add weight by including optional extras like air-conditioners, roll-out awnings, and extra water tanks.

“I’m actually not sure if the Evo package is really relevant (to the Australian market)... many of our buyers are actually going in the other direction,” Van Geelen said.

He said the heavier, luxury-lined Retreat is better suited to the typical Aussie caravan owner who uses a larger tow vehicle. As well as the possibility of offering “an alternative type of (Bailey) caravan with a fresh new layout”, Van Geelen said the Retreat might be of interest to mining companies in remote locations wanting to house temporary workers in affordable and relocatable accommodation.

He did however confirm that Bailey’s new range of Approach motorhomes is set to go on sale Down Under around mid-2012.  The initial line-up will include four models and should be based around the UK-specification of 2.2-litre, turbodiesel-powered Peugeot cab with Al-Ko chassis and  Alu-Tech body.

“If Peugeot Australia won’t support the product, then I’ll have to use the Fiat Ducato,” Van Geelen explained. “But I would actually like the Peugeot model, as it’s a point of difference as well.”

Pricing is yet to be confirmed but the new motorhomes should be “extremely competitive” compared to similar models already available in Australia.

The Bailey range of lightweight, UK-built caravans was introduced to the Australian market late 2011with three models -- the Orion, Unicorn and Pegasus – currently available.