Bailey Olympus 525 2011

[Rubels]

Going to view one at a dealers tomorrow as really like this layout.
Anyone here got one or had one and if so would you recommend?
Looks in good nick on the photos, and priced at just under 9k.
It will be our first van and I’ve done lots of research but still it seems a bit daunting..

 

[Hutch]

Going to view one at a dealers tomorrow as really like this layout.
Anyone here got one or had one and if so would you recommend?
Looks in good nick on the photos, and priced at just under 9k.
It will be our first van and I’ve done lots of research but still it seems a bit daunting..

Rubels, welcome to the forum, ask the dealer for a damp report, very important , it cost them nothing to do and gives you piece of mind. .

MY first caravan came with a "New Pack" awning battery Water barrels etc, We didnt need the full heavy awning, great idea, bu not for us we could have saved £500 on the van and afterwards. bought the same awning second hand for £200, bargain with the dealer , they wantvto sell, I reckon you could beat them down a 1k.

 

[Rubels]

Thank you. Sadly we didn’t like it. It appeared a bit tatty..didn’t have a quality feel. Now our attention has returned back to the coachman..but wondering if too heavy..not for the car or licence they are both fine..just for us!

 

[Raywood]

This is a layout we have had in two previous caravans, although neither were the Bailey,and it worked well for us. The layout is a lounge at both ends with an extra bunk across the back. You do not say what family you have but if there are just two of you then it can be used as a two berth with normally the rear lounge left down as a double bed.
It worked well for us as a family van but we had three girls. They loved the bunk and there was some competition for it. The one point here though is that they were all girls and if your family is a mix of sexes then you will have to make your own mind up as the whether you are happy with the sleeping arrangements. This may depend on their ages and also if you regard this as a longer term purchase.
It gives the children their own space at the rear and gives you the front to yourselves so that helped us if the weather was bad.
The layout is perfectly workable, although it has now died out, and if it suits you go for it.

 

[audiorob]

pleased that you were able to walk away! There are vans out there that will have the nearly-new feel even when several years old as some will have been used sporadically. The dealer should provide a service and full damp report. Also if you want it dealer serviced might book it in for next year as they do tend to get booked well in advance - especially if you have a warranty provided which will usually depend on annual serving. The starter pack already recommended as a bargaining tool is good advice, start by adding up costs water/waste, a battery, mirrors etc and you very quickly get to several hundred pounds that the dealer might include for free!

 

[Raywood]

Not sure how your second post did not appear when I posted my reply, but you are right in that if you are not happy with the caravan just walk away. Coachman caravans are heavier but without details of the car cannot say if it might not be a decent match.

 

[Rubels]

Thank you Raywood . What did you get? The car is a Volvo XC60 so ok for towing a coachman. We do really like the layout..2 adults and 2 pre teen girls so should in theory work ok.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Rubels,

I have a feeling this might not apply to you, but i should at least raise it with you . Bearing in mind you are discussing a moderately heavy caravan and a Volvo XC range vehicle there is a strong possibility that the outfit may exceed a combined MAM figure of 3500kg, and if it does the driver must entitlement Be or B+E on their driving licence.

If you passed your basic driving test before 1/1/1997, the you will automatically have "Be" If you passed after that date you will have "B" with no extensions and that limits you to driving an outfit of combined MAM not exceeding 3500kg.

The combined MAM is the numerical sum of the Gross Vehicle Weight of the car + the MTPLM of the caravan and it cannot be fudged by only part loading teh combined MAM remains the same.

You can extend a "B" to B+E by taking the extension test

(EDIT) I see from another thread that you dis pass your test before 1/1/97, so licence is not a concern - Good luck

 

[Raywood]

We had a Trophy, now long gone, followed by a Coachman Mirage which would now be a Vision. We had that ten years, largely because we could not find anything we liked better.