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Topic: Help- Used Bailey or Swift?

thematches

01/12/2012 at 4:43pm
Location: Sheffield
Outfit: Swift Challenger 530 Vango Icarus 500

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Hi
We have seen two used caravans. A Bailey senator Arizona or a Swift challenger 530. Both 2006 both around £8000 both 4 berth side dinette.

Any information or advice regarding either of them would be very welcome. We have become caravan blind!!!

michael

01/12/2012 at 5:24pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Caravan now Sold

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hi we have a bailey without problems. there is no fixed rule one is as good as the other.you must get a full damp report and warranty or the damp test do it yourself if private..

Buying Secondhand

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LyndseyJ

01/12/2012 at 6:26pm
Location: Consett
Outfit: Montana 6 Swift Challenger

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We have just bought our very first van a Swift Challenger 520, it's lovely. Can't wait to use it!

trottster

01/12/2012 at 7:31pm
Location: plymouth
Outfit: Ford Kuga Swift challenger

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We have a swift challenger 490 2006 model year . No problems here

olliethedude

01/12/2012 at 7:44pm
Location: HAMPSHIRE
Outfit: ISUZU 3.1 CONQUEROR 530

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Had a Swift changed to an Abbey stafford had this 12 years! went for a new Light Bulb!

Ended up with a 2008 Swift 530 conqurer exspensive light bulb! but glad I am back with the swift a bit heavier than the Abbey but great van side dinnet and bathroom is great again can not wait to use it already booked for main holiday in Aug

Anniemacxx

01/12/2012 at 9:31pm
Location: Yorkshire
Outfit: Nissan 2.2 DCI & Sterling Europa 520

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Be very vigilant checking out the panels on the Swift - they are prone to cracking. We had a 2006 Charisma 560 which we loved, found damp in the bathroom which was 'fixed' under warranty - except that it wasnt! Six months later the damp came back even worse and the warranty had expired by then, turns out that the 'replaced' panel had hairline cracks that we hadn't spotted and hadn't been replaced at all. So we part exed with another dealer for a newer van, same layout but sterling europa 2008. And believe me we went over the new van with a fine toothcomb before we parted with our money having been stung once before, it was pristine. Second time out we discovered the back panel cracked near the rear lights. To say we are gutted is an understatement.

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pamanddoug

01/12/2012 at 11:01pm
Location: plymouth
Outfit: fiat trigano tribute 665

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whichever van you chose you will getgood reports and horror stories about people who have had that model van. I'm biased toward swift as I had a charisma 550 for 10 years and have just changed to a sterling explorer mainly because I had absolutely no problems with the charisma and the very minor problems I had with my new van were sorted by the dealer and I didnt like the baileys layouts and was put off by bad reports and customer service complaints and the swift talk website is excellent but that is my personal view

doug

DaveCoaches

02/12/2012 at 4:19pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche

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When we changed our caravan, we looked at several very similar caravans. The one we ended up buying was a year older than the others, but we felt the build quality generally felt more sturdy in the Coachman than any others. We also looked at Swifts and Baileys. The Baileys really jumped out to us because of the finishing touches that seemed to be lacking. Things like exposed screw heads and staples that were clearly visible made me wonder what other corners might have been cut where they couldn't be seen.

Bailey seem to be cheaper than a lot of other similar caravans for a good reason. A four year old caravan will have had some wear and tear though so I wouldn't make a decision based on the make alone. A scratch here or a dent there would make a bigger difference, also if one has a few accessories or an awning included in the sale it could clinch the deal, even if I didn't need the accessories.

rangerjim

03/12/2012 at 9:17am
Location: doncaster
Outfit: ford s-max series 5 pageant provenc

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Be careful with the baileys as the front and back panels are prone to airline cracks leading to a very costly repair if not spotted early enough. We had a 2005 pageant Provence and we had this problem with the front panel I was quoted around £2500 for a new front panel supplied and fitted and the damp repaired.
Obviously this is not the case with all baileys but when I was looking at different dealers there was a handful of similar age baileys with visible airline cracks in the front/back panels.
What ever caravan u decide to go for just make sure u get a damp report to protect yourself.

jim oldham

03/12/2012 at 9:49am
Location: Wigan
Outfit: VWSharan. Sport 442.

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When I asked about the Bailey Series 5 Senators, I was told that they had a history of problems with cracks on the front and rear panels. Once fixed; their owners were very happy with them. Apparently; the Series 6 did not seem to throw up the same problem.

Jim.

rangerjim

03/12/2012 at 9:57am
Location: doncaster
Outfit: ford s-max series 5 pageant provenc

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Aside from the damp in our pageant s5 it was a excellent caravan and we have found it very hard to replace.
I'm not sure about the series 6 caravans I can only comment on my own caravan.
We was also stuck between bailey and swift when we was looking I think it just comes down to personal choice.

thematches

03/12/2012 at 5:59pm
Location: Sheffield
Outfit: Swift Challenger 530 Vango Icarus 500

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Thanks for the replies. We have gone for the swift. The deal swung it really as there wasn't much between them. The interior is just finished a bit better on the swift. I just hope the build quality is as good as our 23 year old swift.

birdman101

04/12/2012 at 7:00am
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford

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Hope you are pleased with it, i have had 14 vans of all makes, presently Bailey but my next will most likely be Swift as in my opinion they are slightly better internally.

geoff+emmy

04/12/2012 at 9:02am
Location: Huddersfield
Outfit: swift conqueror 645+jeep commander

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Good luck with your new van..you will have to join SwiftTalk now.... we have had both a new Bailey followed by a new Swift We found on the Bailey everything was just that bit thinner like the toilet door that never stayed shut, the locker catches were just that bit cheaper but in all it never leaked and you do get a lot of kit for your money

DaveCoaches

04/12/2012 at 10:59am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche

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I too would have gone with the swift and very nearlly did. It felt much more refined than the Bailey. The Coachman clinched it for us though. The doors and everything felt more solid than the others, the downside was this was reflected in the weight.

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