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To be honest, they look absolutely terrific, outside and in.

But that is Swift's speciality - making vans that look great, but which aren't built great.

I watched the video - and the final comment was the most telling,  'built using treated redwood'

Well, if the wood *is* treated, that's a first - but it's *still* wood.

That, alone, is enough to render them obsolete and hardly to be compared with an Alutech Bailey.

I'm very surprised that Swift didn't come up with their own 'no wood' construction method - choosing instead to go for style over substance.

It's all immaterial to me, anyway - but if I *was* looking for a new van, then it would have to be a caravan without wood in it, and that means Bailey.

Quote: Originally posted by Swann Tibb on 25/8/2010

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It's all immaterial to me, anyway - but if I *was* looking for a new van, then it would have to be a caravan without wood in it, and that means Bailey.

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But do you really want to be seen towing a brick??

I will stick to Swift, wood an all. Our current van isn't falling apart!

I dislike the Baileys intensely, although early days regards the alutech, the interiors and fittings are awful.  Yuk!

And wood?  Don't you mean laminate??

I wouldn't have a Bailey either, would have a Coachman though.

Anne

Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 26/8/2010

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I wouldn't have a Bailey either, would have a Coachman though.

Anne

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Yes I would too. I wanted the new Swift Challenger with single beds (565 or Eccles Solitaire) which they have done and looks great but it has got the poor heating system in it that has been put in caravans since the 1980's. They don't do that layout with the Alde heating and it is not an option either.

Terrible disappointment to us as there doesn't seem much point in swapping.

Quote: Originally posted by Rizzo on 26/8/2010

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I dislike the Baileys intensely, although early days regards the alutech, the interiors and fittings are awful.  Yuk!

And wood?  Don't you mean laminate??

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I've looked, out of interest, at the Bailey Alutech range and - yes - some of the interior fittings are a bit flimsy.

There are the new top-of-the-range Bailey due, though, and that might be a different story.

But, surely, the most important part of any caravan is the structure?   All caravans leak.  Some leak sooner, some leak later - but, eventually, they will all suffer 'water ingress'

That being the case, it would be very reassuring to know that the water was running harmlessly down an aluminium & plastic skeleton, rather than being absorbed by a wooden frame and wodden interior boards.

As I said, I expected Swift to reply to Bailey with their own form of aluminium construction.  The new Swift range  (to me) suggests that they looked at the costs involved in such a project, and then decided just to 'fancy up' their existing models, rather than invest in new technology.

Where's the 'man & mondeo' on the roof of that new Challenger?