Lightweight, single-axle family caravans with end washrooms are very much in demand on the pre-owned market. If you find one you like, snap it up quickly; that is what happened to one of these Shootout contenders after we had finished photographing it at Leisure Sales in Sandbach, Cheshire – it was sold just minutes later to an enthusiastic buyer! 

This and the other van we inspected fitted our budget of £10,500, and they were eye-catchers, even as used models: a 2010 Bailey Ranger GT60 and a 2010 Lunar Quasar 524, both lightweight and with attractive kit levels. 

These vans are the same age and cost the same. Which is the more sensible buy? 

2010 Bailey Ranger GT60 510/4 

The Ranger was Bailey’s entry-level range. To celebrate 60 years of manufacturing, the company upped the spec in the Ranger GT60, while keeping the MTPLM below 1300kg. This proved to be a boon for first-time buyers and those wishing to upgrade. To some extent, this dented sales of the Bailey Pageant Series 7, which was the next rung up the ladder. 

External spec included a directional TV aerial, shock absorbers, alloy wheels and a stabiliser. The Bailey Ranger GT60 borrowed some of its design features from the mid-market Pageant’s earlier Series 6 line-up, including the ABS full-height front panel. Inside, a microwave oven, a radio/CD player and positive catches on the overhead lockers were added to the standard kit list. 

The Bailey Ranger 510/4 layout comprises a spacious, full-width end washroom, an offside dinette and ample storage. The nearside kitchen has a generous worktop, a separate oven and grill, and a Thetford fridge. The long parallel sofas at the front are separated by a central chest of drawers. 

Bailey Rangers generally hold their value well and that’s all the more true of Ranger GT60s, which offer much more than the standard range. This 510/4 had been kept in cracking order; we couldn’t find anything to fault it.

2010 Lunar Quasar 524 

The heavier and slightly longer Lunar is better specified than the Bailey, which was reflected in the price when new. 

The Lunar Quasar range has been one of the manufacturer’s top-selling ranges, offering good specification without weight penalties. The four-berth 524 is one of the most popular in the range, with its nicely finished end washroom, comfortable lounge and excellent lighting options. 

Exterior features include smart alloys, external mains and gas points, a gas locker and a wet locker. The front and rear are clad in ABS panels; that at the rear is full-height. 

Like the Bailey, the Lunar’s kitchen has a microwave, but it ups the ante with a cocktail cabinet and better-quality upholstery, for a more upmarket feel. The layout is similar with a side dinette and end washroom. 

Despite it being a similar length to the Bailey, the Lunar’s MiRO is 75kg higher, because of the extra kit. The body needed a good wash, but it was otherwise in good condition. With no nasty marks or signs of heavy use, the Lunar would make a great buy.

Pitch and set-up: equal 

Both tourers ride on Al-Ko chassis with AKS hitch stabilisers and alloy wheels. The Lunar benefits from the easy-action Al-Ko handbrake, which helps when moving the van around. Each has a large gas locker in front, an external mains socket, a spare steel wheel and easy-access corner steadies.

The Lunar can also boast a wet locker, a barbecue point and a dedicated radio aerial. Its entrance door has the larger window of the two. A full-height back panel is fitted to both but only the Bailey has a full-height moulded panel at the front.  

Service points on both tourers are placed on the offside, except for the Lunar’s toilet cassette door, which is on the nearside. 

Both vans are easy to manoeuvre into place, helped by their solid grabhandles. 

The pair score equal marks in this round.  

Best lounge: Lunar Quasar 524

Both lounges are spacious and comprise parallel sofas, a central chest of drawers, ample overhead storage and a Heki rooflight. Each has a three-piece front window: those in the Lunar are covered with individual flyscreens and blinds, while the Bailey has just one blind unit to cover all three. 

Both centre chests boast slide-out table tops, but the Quasar’s is easier to operate. Each has a freestanding table for family meals, and their lounges are big enough to accommodate them and diners comfortably. 

Night-time illumination in the Bailey is courtesy of two corner lights, plus a mains light. The lighting in the Lunar is better, with mains lights and additional spotlamps in the dinette. The Bailey’s heater gets just one blown-air outlet here, compared to the pair in the Lunar’s lounge. Both have a mains socket in the lounge area, with the Bailey having an additional socket and TV aerial on the lounge side of the narrow cupboard separating it from the dinette. 

The Lunar runs ahead of the Bailey with its twin heating vents outlets, front access flaps to seat-base storage and better lighting. 

Kitchens: equal

Each kitchen is equipped with a separate oven and grill, uses the same microwave brand and model and the same fridge brand – that in the Lunar is the better, digital model, but both perform well. 

This is where their layouts differ. The Bailey has its heater in the kitchen area, which gives it a wider expanse of worktop above; the Bailey also scores highly for its covered sink, detachable drainer and four-burner gas hob. The Lunar houses its heater in the dresser separating the lounge from the dinette. This comprises worktop – although with TV and mains points located here, it is unlikely to be used as prep space – a drawer and a cocktail cabinet. The Quasar hob has just three burners and the sink, which is complete with drainer and is not covered, so it loses out on worktop. 

The Bailey kitchen has two drawers, while that in the Lunar has one and a narrow cupboard on either side of the fridge. The Bailey has more kitchen storage overall. It’s neck and neck here. 

Beds: equal

Both lounges offer two sleeping options: the sofas can be used as single beds or made up into doubles in the usual way, by pulling out slats from the base of the centre chest and rearranging the cushions. The upholstery in the Lunar is slightly better but both should deliver a comfortable night’s sleep.

The side dinettes are made up into bunks in the same way, folding out the upper bunk and using the table to bridge the gap between the seats for the lower bunk. Comfort should be assured in both camps. The Bailey benefits from a larger window here, while there are spotlights in the Lunar. 

Despite Lunar’s thicker upholstery we are allotting an equal score in this section.

Best washroom: Lunar Quasar 524

These end washrooms are different shapes and that’s down to the lack of a dresser on the Bailey’s offside. The space in each has been used in a diverse way, too. The Quasar’s offside wall is taken up by a large wardrobe, with drawers as well as hanging space, and the shower and toilet share the nearside wall space. Meanwhile, the shower in the Bailey occupies the nearside wall, while the small wardrobe is tucked into the offside corner. 

The Bailey’s shower is large and easy to step into, while the Lunar’s is a smaller, circular cubicle. Both have electric-flush, swivel, cassette toilets. The Bailey has the better space but the Lunar looks more upmarket and with that large wardrobe has the superior storage so takes this round. 

Best storage: Lunar Quasar 524

There’s little to choose between the ability of these two caravans to accommodate a family’s gear. Both have deep roof lockers for clothing, games and books, and good under-seat storage for stowing bedding when not in use. The kitchen areas will happily house cutlery, crockery and groceries and in the Lunar you have dedicated space for wine bottles and glasses. It’s in the washroom that the Lunar really has the edge, though, with that larger wardrobe and three drawers. We also like the front access flaps to the bed bases. 

What you need to know: 2010 Bailey Ranger GT60 510/4

  • Price £10,499
  • Internal length 5.11m
  • Overall length 6.78m
  • Overall width 2.19m
  • MiRO 1079kg 
  • Payload 202kg
  • MTPLM 1281kg 


Bailey kit list
 

  • Galvanised chassis with AKS hitch
  • Alloy wheels
  • Spare wheel
  • External mains socket 
  • Awning light
  • Status TV aerial 
  • Thetford fridge
  • Four-burner gas hob
  • Separate oven and grill
  • Stainless-steel sink
  • Microwave

What you need to know: 2010 Lunar Quasar 524 

  • Price £10,499
  • Internal length 5.23m
  • Overall length 6.82m
  • Overall width 2.16m
  • MIRO 1154kg
  • Payload 186kg
  • MTPLM 1340kg  


Lunar kit lis

  • Galvanised chassis with AKS hitch 
  • Alloy wheels 
  • Spare wheel 
  • Wet locker
  • BBQ point
  • Awning light
  • Exterior mains socket 
  • TV aerial 
  • Three-burner gas hob
  • Thetford digital fridge 
  • Separate oven and grill 
  • Microwave

Verdict – best end-washroom four-berth: 2010 Lunar Quasar 524

We’ve awarded the 2010 Bailey Ranger GT60 510/4 a 3.5-star rating and the Lunar Quasar 524 a four-star rating.

These end-washroom four-berths are great family tourers. Each is relatively lightweight and offers good kit levels for the class. Their former owners clearly treated them with pride: they were both in first-class condition.

The Bailey is a great-value tourer and has held its price well over the six years. The Lunar Quasar was £1900 more when new in 2010 and that is evident in the finish, the better-quality soft furnishings and extra equipment, which gives it a more upmarket feel. It’s the heavier van of the two, but if weight isn’t a big issue then the Lunar gets our vote. However, if you want to save the kilos, the Bailey is a great buy.