Bailey Olympus 534 - Practical Caravan

First look, May 2010 Bailey’s new Olympus range is manufactured using the same the Alu-Tech construction used in the Pegasus. Its aluminium frame and wood-free sidewalls reduce the chance of damp, earning it the 10-year water ingress warranty enjoyed by the Pegasus. Olympus also has Grade III Classification for insulation, making the range great for year-round touring. Specification in the Olympus matches that of the current Series 7 Pageant. Outside you get Al-Ko ATC and shock absorbers, and inside you get plenty of kit in the kitchen, a branded entertainment system and quality fixtures. While Olympus matches Series 7 Pageant for kit, it feels much more like a Series 6 Pageant. Bailey has returned to a 2.13m body width and the traditional Pageant styling that was so popular. Traditional, neutral-coloured furnishings complement light pear wood tones. The locker doors have positive locking catches rather than handles, but detailing breaks up the large areas of wood. The traditional styling means the van is bright, and though it is narrower than Pegasus, the good headroom (1.96m) ensures it still feels open.

Verdict

The new Olympus is an attractive and practical van. The narrower body shell makes it lighter and easier to store – 8/10

Pros

Alu-Tech construction method comes with 10-year warranty and Grade III insulation makes this a van suitable for all-year round touring
Styling is attractive and makes van feel bright

Cons

Storage space in the kitchen is limited to an overhead kitchen locker, and the location of the plate and cup racks makes it difficult to use all the space
Lounge lacks some of the refinement found in the Pegasus range

Living

The lounge is very comfortable, with firm cushions. The furniture construction is traditional; the seats do not pull forward to make day beds, the bed is made up using slats and the seat lids lift to access under-seat storage.

Lighting in the lounge caused a stir with the Pegasus range, but the problems have been resolved in the Olympus. LED strip lights provide pleasant, gentle light and two spotlights make reading in the evening possible.

Kitchen

The 534’s kitchen is well-equipped and when the drainer is stowed there is plenty of work surface. Even when the drainer is in place there is a convenient strip by the power point for a kettle.

There is just one overhead locker, and the location of the plate and cup racks makes it awkward to use all the space. However, the cupboard is very practical – it has a cutlery drawer and two wire racks, but still enough space for larger items.

Washroom

The washroom has been improved on that in the Pageant Sancerre. It is longer and the extra space is instantly noticeable. The shower is large and there is good storage. The one niggle is that the toilet is tight with the basin – the only hint that the layout has been squeezed to fit into a narrower body shell.

Beds

This van has the season’s most popular layout – an end washroom behind a fixed bed, all on a single axle and very like the Pageant Sancerre. The fixed bed is as long and wide as those in wider caravans.

Storage

Storage throughout is good. The space under the fixed bed is large and there is more space under the lounge seats, though this would be improved by front access. Many of the lockers have shelves so the space can be used effectively. The wardrobe is what really stands out. It is split in two and provides good hanging space along with lots of shelves.