Swift vs Bailey

I just love it when a question like this is asked.

everyone has their opinion even if they have only owned one or neither of the makes.

Well here is my opinion.

I have owned 4 caravans made in the Swift factory and 3 made by Bailey. All bought from new. 3 of the 4 from the Swift factory had to go back to the factory for major work, only one of the Baileys has needed to go back to the factory.

But what I think is more important is that if you need a repair I have found Bailey much easier to deal with, keeping the caravan for far less time.

As I said it's my opinion and will for the moment stay with Bailey.

We did look at a top of the range Swift the inside looked as if was aimed at a "certain"" mobile market

...but surely the 'market' you refer to, only buy vans that will last, like Hobbys and Fendts......for that reason, theyre tough....

..They only buy them because they are "bigger" that is allowed to be towed by anything other than a "transit" and come complete with no on board water and plastic seat covers

Not true any more. Dry vans are extremely rare now and I've not see plastic seat covers on models for sale. 

As far as the original question goes I think there aren't many differences between Bailey and Swift but would echo other posts suggesting other makes. 

Adria for a start 

The Adria vans, specially built for the British market are a good alternative.  They are well made (or our 'Harrogate van' is at least), they have fittings such as an oven and the upholstery etc complies with British regulations.  Not only that, but prices appear to be very competitive compared with both Swift and Bailey, and similar layouts are available.

The thing I will say about Baileys is.......you certainly get you money's worth of stickersl Must be about half the caravan covered in them. Trying to hide something?

The thing I will say about Baileys is.......you certainly get you money's worth of stickersl Must be about half the caravan covered in them. Trying to hide something?

...Of couse you mean as on all latest LVs vinyls

I'm about to buy a Swift HT model, having had a Senator for 7 years, and now a Unicorn for 6.

Senator was dry but the front panel had started with the common abs cracks.

Unicorn had minor ingress to the front lockers, but still took three attemps before a permanent repair, now been dry for near 4 years.

But 40 faults didn't impress me, most of them minor.

Problem is Bailey insist in fitting a tall fridge in most models, so our preferred layout the Valencia now has no sensible place to fit a TV or Humax box.

So its over to a 570 Swift with totally woodless construction for me. I'll really miss the clear shower room window and the stable door.

swift sprite over bailey any day

baileys are made like a meccano set  with nuts and bolts

We on our second unicorn fabulous caravan only looking at the moment at the  ALICANTO 2 GRANDE  other wise we would stick with unicorns.

they are a great caravan keep their price well never had a damp problem we had a 2nd and 4th addition of 

We had 2 Baileys. First one (Olympus) was not too bad but the second one (Unicorn series 3) was awful - so-called broken axle and damp at the rear all in the first year. Changed to a Coachman VIP which I feel is far better built. Baileys have more attractive interiors which is what attracted my wife but for me, it's a case of 'fur coat and no knickers'.