Front chest or sofa

[jddev]

Hi All

Have been looking at upgrading to a Bailey Pageant Burgundy S7

I was wondering if you can add a chest of draws at the front instead of having the wrap around cushions

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If so is this easy, or something that a dealer will need to do

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I look forward to your thoughts also about this style of van. Has anyone got one??

Cheers for now

 

[Chris_Hyde_Cheshire.]

Julian, I may be totally wrong but it might have to be done during the building of the van.......

 

[Icemaker]

ive no experiance of the bailey but i have tried to live with a van with wrap around seating rather than a chest and it was frankly pretty awfull, anyone with a body build slightly larger than a small child was unable to use the center seat unless they had their head bent forward creating a uncomfortable experiance.
i cant understand why so many manufacturers are removing the center chest from their ranges its much better than an un usable seat surely.

 

[grom15]

We had a Burstner that came with both! The chest was easily removed to make way for centre seating - very handy when the grandchildren came with us and we had to eat inside. Also gave us a King size bed! However, that particular van had a wide under window shelf so there was no risk of head bumping when using the cushions. We had wrap around seating with an Eccles and found the corner pre-shaped cushions a pain to store when the bed was made up. We find the chest useful in our Bailey and having heard the cost of substitute cushions decided we wouldn't consider leaving the chest at home.

 

[GeorgeandAde]

We purchased our 2009 Bailey Pageant Sancerre last year from a local dealer.
It didnt come with a chest of drawers,but the dealer said that we could purchase one if required so i would imagine that it is a diy job.
Adrian

 

[ValA.]

We added a chest from a Burgundy Series 5 (pale wood) to the front of our Swift, to replace the wrap-around seating. It fits perfectly, the wood is the same, and it cost us only £25.00 from an ebay advert! We had to go to Worcester to collect it though!
It was a DIY job, but there were some problems with the bed slats which slide in under that area. These had to be carefully avoided when fixing the chest to the wooden panel which formed the base for the seats. The fixing needs to be very secure, too, as the chest is quite a weighty item, and could easily unbalance if the table top is flipped up and over. We added a fixing to secure the chest to the front of the van, too, and a bolt to keep the table top in place and prevent it sliding forwards in any sudden movement.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

If Julian is buying the van new I'm sure you can opt for a chest. From memory I think it costs about £260.
We had an L shaped living area when buying an Abbey new because it seemed more spacious but it was a big mistake.
We couldn't do without the centre chest.

 

[Lakey]

We leave the chest at home!! What a waste of time, would much rather have the very large bed at night! Don't have to get to close to the wife that way! Plenty of room for the dog too!!!!!!!!!! and the kids in the morning for a lazy lie in!

 

[Dustydog]

We couldn't do without the chest of drawers , particularly the fold out table top.

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

Our last three caravans have had wrap around seating - never again!!!

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

We leave the chest at home!! What a waste of time, would much rather have the very large bed at night!

I suppose it depends on the van on the size of the bed. Nobody would call me small but there's plenty of room for me and Her Ladyship with the chest on our Bailey. Infact the bed is larger than the one at home. The two dogs, small ones, sleep at the bottom of the bed.
Like DD, we use the table a lot and would miss the drawers where we keep our reading stuff

 

[jddev]

Hi all
Thanks for your thoughts

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It's a second hand 2010 Bailey, I think I would miss the table for the wine or beer in the evening

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Does anyone know if it can be retro fitted? Is it a dealer job?
Cheers for now

 

[ValA.]

As I said, we fitted ours ourselves. If you're a competent DIYer, and most caravanners are of necessity, then it shouldn't be a problem. The cost might be though - some of them I've seen since we bought ours, are expensive even second-hand, and a new one costs only about £40 less than our first van (which incidentally, had a front chest though not the flip-over table!!!).

 

[JoannaLesley]

We would love to have a chest of drawers at the front of our second-hand Lunar Premier and, particularly, the table top which comes with it. We have thought about restro-fitting, but the wide front shelf and low front window probably make this impossible without the whole effect looking clumsy. Getting the table out each time we want to eat (we don't like it left up and, as it is free-standing, it can't be left in situ - unlike our previous 'van). Has anyone successfully fitted a chest to this particular model?

Jo

 

[Mel]

Our new Eldis doesn't have a front chest> We were used to one in our last van. Only been for one short trip out so a bit soon to say, but didn't really miss it.
mel

 

[Mike_S]

I fitted a front chest of drawers into out 2009 Bailey Senator California - dead easy - just 4 screws! The chest cost a bomb but now we don't bother carrying the table away with us. Worth the cost.
Mike