New Bailey Pursuit

[ahawley]

Hi, I was looking at the new Pursuit, a very nice van but with a seemingly bad and completely avoidable design flaw.

When the front lounge is made up into a bed the pull-out slats are too low. So the cushions in the middle are about 3cm lower than those set on the seats. I'm not sure my back could take such a dip!

Anyone think of a temporary solution? A roll up mattress topper I guess, but what a faff! The obvious one is for Bailey to make the back rest cushions an inch thicker.

One more demonstration that sometimes designers can't get even the very basics of caravan design right.

 

[Anseo]

Not ideal, but lightweight and quite quick ad easy to stow away:

I would go for a 5cm one as you can deflate it if a little too high, place it under the cushions, lots to choose from but e.g.:

(AldiLidl have them from time to time at around £15.00, my Aldi one has given years of good service).

https://www.tesco.com/direct/trail-5cm-single-self-inflating-camping-mat-blue/723-8207.prd?skuId=723-8207

 

[Martin24]

Possibly try putting both of the backrest cushions foot end and then the dip may be less pronounced.

 

[Raywood]

If the bed is not suitable as it is then a decent mattress topper is probably the only solution. I am not sure how much the cushions on the Bailey can be rearranged but you could try that first. Personally if you do not like the bed then I would look at another make.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Are the front beds long enough to sleep on as singles? Save having to climb over somebody in the night.

 

[Marbles007]

The cushions work fine you just spin them round so the rolled leg support is at head and feet end. Tried it at my dealer today.

 

[Martin24]

Are the front beds long enough to sleep on as singles? Save having to climb over somebody in the night.

Nurse Jenny wouldn't like that. I'm her mattress topper

 

[Anseo]

I suspected that cushion arrangement was the answer but had no way of checking.

Non level beds is not something Bailey would make such a big error on.

Good answer Marbles.

 

[ahawley]

Well sadly they have.

Marbles idea would be great except there aren't any leg supports on the cushions in the new Bailey Pursuit. The seat base cushions are completely flat. I can only think that Dr ****-up has paid a visit!

 

[Marbles007]

Don't know what you are looking at but the 430-4 platinum i'm looking at buying has leg supports.

 

[ahawley]

You're looking at the old model Pursuit, we already own a 560/5. There is no problem with it, the front bed is extremely comfortable.

The new model is quite different. It has slats which pull out of the centre. They're 3cm too low. There are no knee bolsters to fill in. I think there needs to be. See this video, you'll see what I mean...

https://youtu.be/tpOi1ebulNM

 

[Marbles007]

I can see what your saying about them flat cushions but the platinum model i looking at has the rolled front leg booster.this is a chipping sodbury caravan dealer special.i did try the base model seats and they come pretty level on the 530 model ????

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

If you are trying to match the knee roll height with the flat height then, of course, yes there will be a difference. In this case do what everybody else does and position the knee roll edge against the outside of the van (head and feet).

 

[Marbles007]

That's what i said i would do on the platinum model.been on the caravan talk forum and nobody else mentions this seat mattress problem ?

 

[ahawley]

Again, the Platinum model you are looking at is a Mk1 Pursuit.

The Mk2 Pursuit has a completely different set of cushions, now made by Ozio. The are entirely flat, they do not have a knee roll. Plus the Mk2 a completely different design of bed base, with cheap pine slats which pull out from under the centre cupboard as opposed to the Mk1's high quality sprung beech slats which slide out in a frame from the O/S bed box.

Consequently swapping the knee roll position will make not the slightest difference. There is no comparison or similarity between the Mk1 and the Mk2.

 

[ahawley]

See what I mean?

 

[Marbles007]

Not going to argue mate but it's the mk2 platinum I'm looking at and it has leg rolls on cushions. That why I'm ordering one. Look at images on chipping sodbury caravans. I know the standard model are flat . Just been in white arches at Rushden checked there 530 and cushions matched up fine when I tried.

 

[Raywood]

See what I mean?

I have seen this complaint on another forum and can see the problem from the picture. It certainly looks wrong and unless the dealer can demonstrate a workable solution I would look elsewhere.

 

[Marbles007]

https://www.flickr.com/gp/156618433@N02/pD679G
Pursuit 430-4 Platinum MK2 Seating.

 

[Marbles007]

Spoke with white arches caravans this afternoon and they said Bailey were aware of the problem and all models now are being delivered with thicker back cushions.

 

[Raywood]

I had not noticed it before but if you look at the photo of the front bed in the review of the Pursuit 560-5 in the reviews section you can see the problem.

 

[ahawley]

Gotcha! Sincere apologies Marbles!

I wonder if they came across this problem and insisted Bailey add a knee roll?

 

[ahawley]

We have taken delivery and I can assure everyone that the front bed is an absolute disaster. On top of the idiotic height difference (and which I've had to buy a 40mm thick piece of foam to fill in the gap, there's also a width issue.

I have measured the gap between the bases at the front of the van (i.e. when the bed is retracted) and also at its furthest reach when extended. Unfortunately the gap between the near side and off side bases is around 15mm wider at its furthest reach.

Consequently the lead bed slat has around 15mm of lateral play in the tracks when extended and this is beyond design tolerance, the supporting edge of the lead slat only having a couple of mm to take the load and the plastic track not being strong enough to bear it. Result; collapse the first night we slept in it, destroying the front of the bed box. The fact that this was on our honeymoon and "combat" had not even commenced made things doubly annoying. Although it did result in a massive fit of giggles.

I don't think it's possible to upload photos (of the smashed bed base, not the combat!) on this forum which is a shame.

 

[KeefySher]

We have taken delivery and I can assure everyone that the front bed is an absolute disaster. On top of the idiotic height difference (and which I've had to buy a 40mm thick piece of foam to fill in the gap, there's also a width issue.

I have measured the gap between the bases at the front of the van (i.e. when the bed is retracted) and also at its furthest reach when extended. Unfortunately the gap between the near side and off side bases is around 15mm wider at its furthest reach.

Consequently the lead bed slat has around 15mm of lateral play in the tracks when extended and this is beyond design tolerance, the supporting edge of the lead slat only having a couple of mm to take the load and the plastic track not being strong enough to bear it. Result; collapse the first night we slept in it, destroying the front of the bed box. The fact that this was on our honeymoon and "combat" had not even commenced made things doubly annoying. Although it did result in a massive fit of giggles.

I don't think it's possible to upload photos (of the smashed bed base, not the combat!) on this forum which is a shame.

First thing that came to my mind was 'Sumo Wrestlers'. Glad you can laugh at the incompetence of caravan assemblers making basic errors.

Hope you get it sorted to recommence battle

 

[Dustydog]

Clearly Bailey and their Dealers know they have a problem supported by their redesign. Hopefully they will remedy your problem without fuss.