Full review

Words: Val Chapman  Photography: John Chapman

The Bailey Phoenix+ 440

Double beds aligned along the side of caravans – sometimes called ‘French beds’ – have largely gone out of fashion, swept aside by the tide of island beds that now dominate caravan layouts. Bailey, until a short time ago, had two side-bed layouts in the Unicorn range. There is still one in the Discovery range, the D4-4, but that’s all – apart from the Phoenix+ 440. Swift has the Sprite Alpine 4. All of the other layouts with side double beds are larger and heavier than the Bailey Phoenix+ 440.

So, the Phoenix+ 440 has few competitors in its lightweight class. Which makes it a pretty special caravan. And there is still a strong case for the layout that gives you a bed on one side of the caravan and a corridor alongside it leading to a shower room behind. That’s because it’s a layout that works superbly; the reason why it became so popular.

The 440 is only 5.35m in body length and 2.2m wide, but it has a spacious feel. One of its greatest assets is its high-arching front central window, the Bailey hallmark, that gives the lounge an almost conservatory aspect, and the amount of light it lets in is definitely a major factor in creating the feeling of space. Another is the very pale shade of the upholstery that adds to the light and open feel.

While the 440 has a spacious aspect, its overall virtue is its compact size – and therefore its light weight. But in none of its four areas does it feel compact.

The shower room is spacious; the bedroom achieves a good amount of storage space; the lounge sofas are plenty long enough for four to sit.

The kitchen

The kitchen, while at first glance may appear comparatively small, is so well configured that it’s very workable – and not small at all. There’s 75cm of work surface width in the main area of the kitchen, plus another surface measuring 54cm by 65cm opposite, on the top of the fridge. Together, that adds up to plenty of space for meal making. And storage is fine, too, with a double-doored cabinet that’s 73cm wide, containing two shelf spaces, plus a 73cm-wide drawer above it. The top cabinets are both a generous 62cm wide. There’s a 52cm-wide locker above the microwave that sits opposite, above the fridge. That all adds up to great storage capability in this area.

The 440’s kitchen has a neat attribute, too; the microwave is the latest Dometic model that has an inbuilt ceramic plate, so there is no need to remember to remove a glass plate every time you tow.

Bailey’s unique double hob covering, with a top that matches the kitchen surface, to hinge down over the glass hob top, means that you have 61cm by 49cm of extra surface when you’re preparing meals, or washing up. So, in total, the 440’s kitchen gives you 1.24m width of surface. We rate that as excellent, especially for a caravan of modest size.

The storage

Again, considering the size of the 440, the overall storage provision is first rate. The space under the bed is superbly easy to access, having none of the framework associated with island beds that impedes getting stuff in and out. The under-sofa space is accessed by raising the tops, they hold up on substantial spring hinges. It’s easy, so you won’t miss front-opening hatches. And Bailey has used up every inch of space above the lounge, with two large lockers each side, each containing three shelf dividers. In addition, there are two large shelves that follow the curve of the roofline, and have stylish concealed lighting running inside.

Centre-front, there are two drawers, 60cm wide, plus a floor-level locker that’s just big enough for a couple of pairs of shoes or boots, perhaps.

When it comes to eating time, the centre-front piece of furniture provides a table 59cm by 37cm; when you factor in the windowsill that’s 46cm deep and 72cm wide, this makes a really practical eating area for two. The four-person free-standing table stows away in clips under the shelf that is just to the rear of the wardrobe.

Bedroom storage is excellent, again considering the 440’s size. The double-doored wardrobe provides a generous 83cm of hanging width. There’s a small shelf at one side, plus three gigantic shelf spaces beneath the hanging rail. A top-class wardrobe, then, given the caravan’s size.

The bedroom’s two top lockers are both 86cm wide and, like the over-lounge lockers, they are divided into three sections; one full height and the two others with a shelf halfway.

The washroom

The shower room is 1.15m deep at the doorway. The room’s shape follows the curved wall of the bedroom, making it 58cm deep in front of the shower. There’s plenty of space for dressing, as well as the showering routine. Excellent lighting comes in the form of a very bright circular light in the shower cubicle and a strip of light above the mirror. Two cabinets and three shelves give more than enough space for the preening essentials. Altogether, the 440s shower room is not just spacious, it’s quite luxurious.

Lighting

Lighting runs above all of the top lockers. Spotlights are over the bedhead, one with a built-in USB point, and two more over the lounge (again, one with a USB port), plus two bright spotlights set into the frame of the high-arching central window and two more over the kitchen. It all adds up to a good amount of lighting and a bright, welcoming environment no matter what time of day it is.

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