Detailed Review

THE combination of fixed-bed convenience and short, lightweight caravan usually results in compromises, usually kitchens lacking good workspace and cupboards.

Bailey’s 4.78-metre long Olympus 464, though, is different. The kitchen contains a large central cupboard and work surfaces to both left and right of the big rectangular sink. And the lounge floor space is amazingly large.

That’s partly because there is no centre-front drawer unit and partly because of the deep windowsill that is a characteristic of Bailey’s steeply-shaped Alu-Tech construction caravans.

The result is a lounge that looks bigger than it is; keep in mind, though, that in reality Olympus models, at 2.19m wide, are narrower than Pegasuses, at 2.28m, and that difference is discernable in the bedroom area more than in the lounge.

For a caravan under £14,000 this kitchen is amazingly elegant looking. A totally domestic-sized steel four-burner hob is set into a worktop that looks like highly-polished slate, in deep, glossy brown shades that reflect like a mirror.

The front of the Thetford fridge is matt grey, looking much more classy than the upper-model Pegasus Dometic fridges which get rather mundane-looking wood-effect panel fronts. Olympus clearly sets out to make clear to you that its image far exceeds expectancy within its price range.

Down below the eye-catching top, the cupboard contains two sizeable wire basket drawers and a deep space beneath, plus a cutlery drawer that has a fitted tray and space for utensils beneath it. There’s even room in the cupboard for the dining table to slot into a ledge along side the drawers.


Storage elsewhere, keeping in mind the short length of this model, is impressive, too. The near-flat front body line gives you much deeper head-height cupboards across the front than in any other model except another Alu-Tech Bailey. Good, large head lockers elsewhere in the lounge and four over the bed, plus the usual under-bed storage all add up to more capacity than we’d guess you’d ever want.

The refinements list tots up higher than you’d expect for the price. Rows of LED lights run under all lockers in the lounge; that’s two more LED strands than in Pegasus models. There are more LED lights above the kitchen and the bed area has twin, pointy little spotlights, unusually placed close together in the centre – very stylish!

The exterior gets the LED touch, too, in the form of grab handles containing rows of sparkly lights that, together with the dark grey plastic gas bottle compartment cover, distinguishes both Olympuses and Pegasuses at a glance on the road. If you want to get noticed, this is one of the caravans to pick!

Another surprising Olympus touch appears on a lounge wall in the form of a hessian-type fabric magazine holder – practical and different.

The bedroom gets four deep overhead lockers, plus huge corner shelves. There’s also a large corner cupboard under the washbasin in the vanity area just forward of the shower-toilet room. The shelf count is high in the vanity area, too, with four of them to the left of the washbasin that’s set into an attractive soft-bronze shade matt surface.

The 464’s bedroom has a lovely touch of practicality – a hinge-down breakfast bar. It’s actually an extension to the kitchen surface that raises to form part of the barrier between living area bedroom. But we think it’s perfect for the toast and jam and coffee!
The top portion of this divider is designed to house your television – and there’s plenty of space for a reasonably large one up here. A sliding door enables you to turn the TV around and watch it in bed. No television? Then this space makes an extra kitchen shelf.

Go Caravan verdict:

Bailey surprised us all with its 10-year-guaranteed, wood-free Alu-Tech construction, introduced initially with the Pegasus range. Olympus is a cheaper range that is also equipped with Al-KO Secure Wheel Locks and the ATC trailer stability control system.

Those two factors, plus the light weights and all the high-tech, ultra-strong Alu-Tech build, zoom Olympuses right to the top of the value tree. The 464, in particular, is a stunning example of what can be achieved in a small frame and with a light weight.