Bailey Pegasus 534 - Practical Caravan

First look, November 2009 You’ve probably read all about what makes the new Pegasus range so special, but no amount of clever design will help a caravan which doesn’t do the job it is designed to. Having got to grips with the intricacies of the Alu-Tech body shell, got our head around the idea of a 10-year water ingress warranty and cooed over the LED grab handles, the time had come for the real test. How does Pegasus perform in a field as a caravan?

Verdict

9/10

Pros

The best four-season tourer on the market, which comes with a peerless warranty.

Cons

Kitchen adequate rather than generous
Dining table is difficult to move when not in place
Washroom’s under-sink cupboard is hard to see into.

Pitching & Setting-up

Outside, the first thing to strike you about Pegasus is how streamlined it is compared to recent Bailey products. Single-piece sidewalls made from thick aluminium mean they look less fussy than previous models and the lack of plastic front panel or seam above the window gives a stripped down, minimalist appearance.

The front locker lid is made in the same way as a caravan window and is very rigid with sturdy locks in each corner. The narrow opening looks like it could be problematic for loading, but the only thing that goes in the front is gas. The ends of the locker space are reached through flush fit locker doors in the sidewalls on either side of the caravan. This makes the spaces much more useable and ideal as wet locker storage.

Elsewhere outside, specification is at the usual high Bailey level, with Al-Ko Secure locks, stabiliser hitch head, shock absorbers and everything else you’d want to see on a top-end tourer.

Living

Stepping inside the Pegasus is reassuringly familiar. Bailey has resisted the urge to echo the cutting edge construction techniques into the interior. Look closely though, and there are details which betray this is not an ordinary caravan.

Firstly, the interior walls are all finished in GRP. That may sound unlikely but it offers a couple of advantages. It is impervious to moisture, it can be wiped clean if the kids smear dirty mitts across it and when the lights are on, the soft reflections give a very cosy light.

The front lounge does without the optional centre chest but the deep shelf across the front is much larger than most caravans and provides sufficient space for a sandwich and a glass of wine. The dining table is similar to the heavy but luxurious folding-leaf unit supplied with Pageant and Senator models. Great when in place, but a big lump to move about. The sprung seats are comfortable and with the extending leg supports pulled into position make a uniquely comfortable caravan.

Kitchen

The kitchen is adequate rather than generous.

Washroom

The rear washroom is large enough for most.

Storage

In terms of storage, there is plenty of it. Best thing is the lift up locker bases which lift the locker front with them and a huge wardrobe. The worst bit is probably the under-sink cupboard in the washroom which is very hard to see into.