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Hello

We are in the process of selling our much loved swift 2 berth caravan to upgrade to a bigger van with a fixed bed. We have looked at the bailey oklahoma (2004) and I was just wondering what others think of this model and whether you have had any problems with it?

Also, do many of you use the showers in ur caravans? We will mainly be staying at sites without facilities like electric hookup and showers so wondered if the showers are really any good in caravans???

Thankyou

We always use the toilet and shower facilities in the caravans we have owned. Not much point in having them if you are not going to use them. However we do tend only to use sites with electrics. Not really familiar with Bailey vans but I expect the facilities are very similar. Using your own facilities allows a much wider choice of campsites like you hope to do. The water heater will run off the gas supply and only requires a 12volt supply via a leisure battery for the pump. Obviously if you are away for longer periods you might need to consider some way of recharging the battery.

David

The Senator is the top of the range with Bailey and although its well equipped and luxurious, it's also heavy. I always think that one important luxury is space. You may find with a lesser specced van you can have more space for an end washroom and fixed bed at a weight you can still tow.

For instance you could look at the Bailey Pageant Sancerre at 1435kg with an end washroom.

Having said that we have a Bailey Ranger 520/4 which has a similar bathroom arrangement to the Oklahoma but in a van 4 inches narrower. The bathrooom is cramped but it is just big enough. I find the toilet being behind the shower tray a pain as you have to wipe the shower tray straight after a shower. I would prefer an end washroom very much but just can't tow it with our car. However the fixed bed is a must.

We have a series 5 oklahoma and love it. The reason for buying this model was that we wanted a fixed bed and 2 long bench seats at the front suitable as single beds for our 2 sons.

I must admit my wife misses her end washroom that we had in our bailey pageant moselle but the fixed bed and 2 big singles more than make up for it.

We had the Oklahoma for 2 years and loved it

Getting into/out of the fixed bed became too difficult for my wife so sadly the van had to go

Its not heavy compared to a similar layout vans in other makes and the Senator has that luxury feel

The microwave position in the Oklahoma is just right with waist level access

We had 2 faults with ours

The chopping board cracked and we never used it and there was aslight crack in one interior lights

We did about 200 days in it and went to France etc so it was well used

Hi we part  ex our oklahoma mainly because the toilet and shower was a bit cramped but still a great van

zinnia

But the woodwork is nicerin the Senator

The Ranger 520/4 is also 40kg lighter than the Bordeaux but these weight differences reflect the reduced level of equipment

The Senator Oklahoma is very well equiped but is lighter than other makers vans with the same level of kit (by about 50Kg cf our Ace Award)

We now have the Senator California which is 100kg lighter than the similar Swift 570

Post last edited on 27/02/2010 08:50:15