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quoteFive go caravanning!
A company like Bailey was never going to let its 70th anniversary pass without some celebrations. And here’s the start. Six of them, in fact. That’s the number of models in its Pegasus GT70 line-up that debuted at October’s Motorhome and Caravan Show 2017.
And, arguably, it’s the top-of-the-range Bailey Pegasus Palermo that catches the eye most.
Fact: According to government figures, of 18.9 million families living in the UK in 2016, 15 per cent had three or more children. Admittedly, that’s a small decline since 1996, but it’s a sizeable market to go for, surely? Bailey rivals might have six-berths to cover off this sector, but none offer a five-berth, twin axle model like the Palermo here. Indeed, sister model the single axle Ancona might turn out to be its biggest rival in terms of offering accommodation for a two adults, three kids family.
It’s a welcoming lounge, with its curved backrests and high-level bolsters, and settees long enough (1.87m and 1.83m nearside and offside respectively) to act as single beds. Or you can make the usual double, a generous 1.93m x 1.62m. The high central front window also makes sure lots of daylight gets into the lounge.
At the back, the single beds are definitely more suited to children (the smaller bunk is only 1.78m x 0.62m). Bed five? That’s made from the dinette seating next to the bunks. By day, it all makes for a handy “kids’ zone”.
Beyond these, there’s a full-width washroom that’s just what the family ordered. Bearing in mind it can often be more convenient to wash small children in the ‘van rather than trotting to the campsite toilet block, it’s good to see such a roomy shower cubicle, with handy ledge (ideal for shampoo bottles etc) at (adult) shoulder height and an Ecocamel showerhead. There’s also a fixed basin and swivel-bowl toilet here, the latter with a window – beware, it’s clear rather than opaque – directly behind. There’s even space for clothing storage, too, with the wardrobe occupying the opposite corner to the shower.
However, stowing the main table in here isn’t the best idea – it makes for a tricky journey from the back to the front of the ‘van.
Kitchen facilities, too, are well up to catering for the family. Thetford’s Caprice III cooker is the focal point – with its duel-fuel hob and separate grill and oven, supplemented by a Daewoo microwave oven over the Dometic 8-series 145-litre fridge with removable freezer section.
Bailey eschews the opportunity to fit a sink with permanent drainer, opting instead for the usual add-on plastic item – even though there’s plenty of worktop here; there’s more, too, thanks to a large flip-up extension. Kitchen storage is good, in particular thanks to the curved-front locker under the main worktop.
It’s the unit on the nearside directly opposite the kitchen that really helps to open up the whole of the interior. That’s because it’s low-level – yet still offers oodles of drawer and locker storage space.
Kit ranges from Al-Ko’s ATC (Active Trailer Control, reintroduced as a standard fitting after being dropped to the options list for last season’s Palermo) to a 100Watt solar panel, to “graphite” alloy wheels, while furniture and soft furnishings (carpets, curtains, cushions) have all been moved on a step from the previous Pegasus series.
Buy the in-car monitor for the TyrePal tyre pressure monitoring system sensors and couple this with ALKO’s ATC and you’ll be able to get a healthy discount on your caravan insurance.
The GT70 sees Bailey, in its words, “kicking off our 70th anniversary celebrations in style”. Sounds like there might be more to come…
Verdict: 70th anniversary special, but it’s limited edition
Plus: Roomy family-friendly layout
Minus: Main table storage location
In-a-nutshell: GT for Good Times?
There’s more information on the Pegasus range on the Bailey website. To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page
Alternatives: Coachman Vision 630, Swift Eccles/Challenger 590
Bailey Pegasus GT70 Palermo factfile
| Model | Bailey Pegasus GT70 Palermo |
| Dimensions | 7.92m L, 2.23m W, 2.61m H |
| Internal length | 6.29m |
| Berths | 5 |
| MTPLM | 1,639kg |
| Payload | 179kg |
| RRP | from £22,164 on the road |
| Safety & security | Al-Ko ATC (Trailer Control System), AKS stabiliser, Bailey-branded wheel locks, laser-balanced wheels with security tyres and anti-tamper bolts plus tyre pressure sensors, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, floor-mounted spare wheel, CRiS |
| Key options | Truma iNet upgrade (£275), four-year extension to bodyshell warranty (£265), three-year extension to manufacturing warranty (£439), armrest removal (£63) |
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