Swift, Bailey or Coachman?

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Please do not think by making those silly comments about every one who tows a caravan with a car? you really are a bit blinkered if thats what you think,and as for a "snipe" at motor caravaners ,we have been there with two ,and am well aware of the drawbacks of them ,that for us, far outweighed what some find acceptable in the uk  so for us having a vehicle  alongside that "supports" our return to towing far better than when having just  motor caravans

But then as you say, the weight of some c/vans from "over there" is in the materials used, where as in the uk and now some imported lighter c/vans , the market has always been , it seems , to have the all the latest bells and whistles in the largest possible c/van , ,that can be towed by the smallest tow vehicle,(on our congested roads and houses with minimal parking) , and thats what the uk makers have done,  , mostly quite well , ,and with modern materials ,damp is almost non existent ,  the internal equipment and windows are about 99% imported, and is installed into all,types of LV wherever they are made

WN - our current van is on a 1350 axle not the 1500 which I think yours is on.

After fitting the mover adding the battery etc we were left with 80kg of a payload, increased by 35kg on the uplift. This to us is a pathetic payload even for a 2 berth van. The VIP's I believe have the better payload as they are on the 1500 axle. 

We had an Elddis 2 berth previously, same size as the Coachman they payload was huge back then, far more sensible but then the manufacturers were not trying to squeeze caravans to be towed by little puddle jumpers like they are telling us we can nowadays. 

We have 2 big tow cars both of them more than capable of towing a much heavier van so the next one will have the payload that we want.

Couldn't agree more Freddy, we love the Hobbies but I'm not sure that the lounge layout of the vans we've seen would work for us. We have not seen all the models as there is only one dealer within 100 miles of us that do them. However the ones we saw at the last show all had a U shaped lounge which we are not that keen on. We much prefer the 2 long setting benches opposite each other. 

Something we will have to think about when its time to change the van, the other thing to think about will be do we go for a fixed bed again or stay with a smaller 2 berth that we make up at night time. We've all different types over the years and the current 2 berth works very well for touring as its small enough for even small pitches, yet its big enough inside to offer comfort and space.

and with modern materials ,damp is almost non existent ,

sorry JV but cannot agree with that statement, we had a Bailey MH for 6 years, 3 times it had damp floors all down to the construction and the very poor way they seal them. 

We were not alone, there are I believe well in excess of 100 MH's that have suffered 'serious' damp issues with the new Bailey Alutec construction. Even now the 'new'  MH's are still suffering the same problems, the main reason we got shut of the MH was because of damp and their inability to fix it properly

"Damp?" or water ingress? ,our alutec c/vans have both been water tight ,but then as said the main problems is down to who does the work, ,when alutec were  C/vans were first made there was a problem with water getting into the the front lockers ,it was found to be the front imported grab handles were not as water tight as the maker said,

it is always the same with any make of LV the ones with faults will always be mentioned  ,,but the very many more that do not have problems just keep going ,and how many Bailey motor caravans are out there, as with their  caravans they seem to outnumber other makes on the many sites we use,

And someone will jump in and say those from overseas do not have similar problems?,   but they do.  its just the volumes in the uk are far less than uk made LVs

i get slapped down if i mention the horror story i was told about a Hymer M/C

 

Nothing to do with parts failure all down to the wheel arches and floor not being sealed properly to the side walls. The early vans suffered with it a lot, 9 years on and they still have the same problem in the new vans according to the Bailey FB group.

A company as big as Bailey should have solved this problem as soon as it became a problem, not just keep mending them until owners get fed up with the van.

Just shows you that even the new Alutec vans are not damp problem free as they claimed.

“i get slapped down if i mention the horror story i was told about a Hymer M/C”

I don’t think you get slapped because you mention it.   It is the tedious repetition that becomes irritating.    Actually it your stunning double standards that amaze me. I do not for one minute deny that any make can have problems or lemons.   To be honest I think our previous Hymer had it share of faults.   But you hear one story of disatified owners and trot it out as representative of the marque.  But if anyone dares to criticise your beloved Baileys then they are immediately jumped on by you as moaners and not worthy of owning such a fine LV. Double standards or what. 

I mention it ,as those with rose tinted glasses about anything from "over there", and as there are so few over here,as also dealers,  in comparison with what the majority the UK  buyers have, it just  seems one  has to "remind" some , that every model  from where ever it is made has its "friday vans!!"but then its all comparisons,,and as with all it seems if one has not had the problems?that some seem to have?,it is only right to say so,  as with all things in this country , any one with only minor problems will complain , where as those that are satisfied will normally say nothing, and so far our "beloved Bailey" caravans we have owened and still have ,seem to be as good as those from "over there" but much lighter, better equipped , and cheaper