Wider berths
Seasonal pitching? Or are you happy towing a caravan that’s just a bit wider than the norm? In case you missed the news, Bailey has reinvented its Pegasus range as Pegasus Grande, the second part of the name denoting the fact that all six models now come in the largest, 2.45m (8ft) width for a UK touring caravan.
That might seem a slightly dauting prospect for towing – although its twin axle and Al-KO ATC as standard are big benefits – but there’s every reason to suspect models like this will be more at home when seasonally pitched. And that makes perfect sense if you return to the same campsite regularly.
The Turin, here, is one of four twin axle Grandes. As with the previous Pegasus GT70 version of this caravan, it’s a twin axle six-berth with a French bed and washroom at the back.
All six sleeping berths are over 6ft long. The widths, too, are crucial inches more than you’ll get in a standard-bodied tourer.
It’s the French bed for the luckiest couple, though, while up front you can have a transverse double (using pull-out slats) or two singles. Plus, the dinette makes another double.
True, there’s the comfort of a dedicated, one-piece mattress for the fixed double. There’s the downside of one of you (the taller) possibly having to clamber over the over to get out of bed. Among the bedroom details, the reading lamps have USB charging outlets, plus the corner ledges will prove handy.
As you can guess, then, there’s no shortage of seating in this caravan with long settees and that central double dinette. There’s also a feeling of space enhanced by the swoop up into the roofline of the middle of the three front windows.
It might look a little compact kitchen (considering), but the kitchen seems up to the job of catering for as many as six.
Thetford’s Caprice cooker has an added lid that flush-fits with the rest of the kitchen worktop. There’s also a rectangular sink with drainer. A large drawer under the sink includes a cutlery tray inset.
To the right of the dual-fuel hob, Dometic’s slimline fridge has a 145-litre capacity, with a Russell Hobbs 800W microwave oven set over it, albeit still at a convenient height for most users.
Again, the extra body width helps with the washroom alongside the main bed. There’s space for a separate shower cubicle (bi-folding doors, water-saving Ecocamel showerhead, two plugholes) at its farthest point, with a swivel-bowl toilet in the centre. And a fixed basin immediately opposite the doorway. There’s a rooflight, but it’s a surprise there’s no window to optimise ventilation in here.
Heating and hot water are courtesy of Truma’s Combi 6. There’s also a Truma 100Watt solar panel, stereo radio/CD/MP3 player, Status 550 TV aerial and more.
As with all Bailey products, bodywork is its Alu-Tech construction method, backed by the usual six-year bodyshell integrity warranty.
The Turin has exterior-access locker storage front and rear, with the front stretching across the whole width and accessible from both sides. There are also receivers, should you wish to add the extra security of an Al-Ko Secure wheel lock and get a small discount on your caravan insurance. Plus there’s the Tracker Retrieve system which will not only give you that extra peace of mind but will help to lower your premium.
Bailey’s Pegasus Grande line-up made its debut at the Caravan and Motorhome Show 2018, and will be arriving at many Bailey dealerships very soon.
Verdict: Bigger, better for this latest Turin
Plus: Interior space, big beds, keen price
Minus: A few bits to tidy up
In-a-nutshell: A Grande re-entrance for Pegasus
There’s more information on the Pegasus Grande range on the Bailey website. To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page
Alternatives: Elddis Avante 840, Weinsberg CaraOne Edition Ice
Bailey Pegasus Grande Turin factfile
Model | Bailey Pegasus Grande Turin |
Dimensions | 7.86m L, 2.45m W, 2.58m H |
Internal length | 6.33m |
Berths | 6 |
MTPLM | 1,686kg |
Payload | 179kg |
RRP | from £25,064 on the road |
Safety & security | Tracker Retrieve (with three-months subscription), Al-Ko ATC (Trailer Control System), AKS stabiliser, Al-Ko Secure receivers, laser-balanced wheels with security tyres and anti-tamper bolts, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, floor-mounted spare wheel, CRiS with concealed data chip. |
Key options | Truma iNet upgrade (£275), four-year extension to bodyshell warranty (£265), three-year extension to manufacturing warranty (£439), bedding set (from £230) |
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