Bailey launched the Pegasus range in 2010, but until the 2009 NEC show, they had kept their new construction system under wraps. Alu-Tech, the new system, was soon being incorporated into other ranges.
From Pegasus, the cheaper Olympus emerged, but the MK1 didn’t attract a huge amount of customer interest and was given a revamp soon after.
The Olympus replaced the popular Pageant range, which had been a mainstay in Bailey’s offering. It only lasted a couple of seasons before being dropped in favour of Pegasus.
That short production run means the Olympus is quite a rarity on the forecourts. But nearly 13 years on, does it still make a good used buy? In this guide, we find out – you can also take a look at our guide to the best Bailey caravans to see our top picks from recent years from the caravan manufacturer.
Model history
The 2010 Bailey Olympus 546 offered larger families a tourer that had ample kit, yet was still relatively light in weight. The single-axle 546 came with fixed bunk beds, a wrap-around lounge up front and a centrally placed kitchen with wardrobe and washroom.
At the rear were triple side bunks and the side dinette, which seated up to three.
The Olympus came with ATC as standard, plus hitch stabiliser and shock absorbers. You also got a CD/radio, Status TV aerial and spare wheel.
LED lighting was introduced throughout, and another useful design touch in a family tourer was the sizeable kitchen sink. A four-burner hob, full oven, microwave and 107-litre Thetford fridge all came as standard.
The small front gas locker was only big enough to house gas bottles, nothing else. Side lockers were added, however, to provide extra storage space for chocks and other gear.
There were grab handles at both front and rear, with LEDs for night-time lighting.
Price checker
As usual, it pays to shop around. We spotted several excellent examples, including the model reviewed here at £10,995, and found two others for £11,995 and £12,195. It’s also important to see what extras have been fitted – these can be valuable.
For the rest of the range, you can expect to pay:
- 462 £8495-£10,499
- 464 £10,895-£10,995
- 504 £10,995-£11,995
- 525 £11,100-£11,995
- 534 £11,565-£11,995
- 624 £12,599-£13,695
Alternatives
If your budget allows, you could take a look at a more upmarket 2011 Elddis Crusader Tempest, another comfortable six-berth. The Elddis is weightier than the Bailey, but comes with a very good spec. Check around to gauge prices, but you can expect to pay £14,995 or thereabouts.
Alternatively, you can take a look at our guide to the best used caravans, where we share our top picks on the market.
Another promising model to browse is a newer version of the Olympus, the 2012 540 MK2. Offering a similar layout to the 546, this was an improvement on the MK1, although it is only a five-berth. You can expect to pay around £13,995 for the 540.
Check for:
- Fading side panels
- Peeling graphics
- Signs of damp, especially in the flooring
- Noseweight – it can be high
- Damp in back panel
- Awning fitting the channel
- Sticking overhead locker lids
- Damp in front grab handles
Verdict
If you are looking for a budget, pre-owned, family-sized tourer, take a look at the Bailey Olympus 546.
It has a reasonable amount of kit, although some buyers might find the interior décor a little dated these days.
As always, it’s important to inspect for damp, especially in the floor. And check that your awning will fit the channel – if you’re looking for one, our guide to the best caravan awnings is worth a look.
The soft furnishings in the Olympus wear well and should provide good support, and in general, the build is good.
- Looking for a new family van instead? Then take a look at our guide to the best family caravans
Technical spec:
- Berths: 6
- MTPLM: 1457kg
- MiRO: 1222kg
- Payload: 235kg
- Internal length: 5.42m
- Width: 2.18m
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