Model Year | 2017 |
Class | Twin Axle |
Price From (£) | 24,999 |
Internal Length (m) | 6.38 |
Shipping Length (m) | 7.92 |
MRO (kg) | 1554 |
MTPLM (kg) | 1,714 |
Max Width (m) | 2.28 |
External Height (m) | 2.61 |
This Bailey Unicorn Pamplona is a new rear island bed tourer which has a central en-suite shower room, a 190-litre fridge-freezer and an inboard water tank.
Until October last year, Bailey was the only manufacturer who didn't offer the in-vogue, open-plan, central, en-suite shower room layout. Now, two new models have arrived in the Unicorn portfolio, to change that. They bring the number of models in this hugely successful range to 10.
And, just as Coachman, the inventor of this layout in 2014, did, Bailey has launched both a single and twin axle version of it. The twin-axle Pamplona has some key advantages over its shorter cousin, the Cabrera – other than the enhanced tow stability factor of four lumps of rubber on the road, of course.
The lounge is around 30cm longer, which means six can sit in comfort here. The fridge-freezer is larger the previous version. The capacity is a massive 190 litres, compared to the 133-litre fridge in the Cabrera. The central washroom is 25cm longer.
Sadly, the bed isn’t longer, though, at 1.77m. But, although Bailey didn't design the Cabrera and Pamplona for six-feet-tall buyers, they have enormous appeal to those for whom the bed is long enough, as we discovered during our review week.
Unicorns have the silent, warmth efficiency of Alde heating, plus 40-litre onboard water tanks, so they’re suitable for year-round caravanning. And they have some features found in no other caravans. Among them are the slightly angled backrests.
They’re not just shaped to give good back support (and they do); Bailey designed them for enhanced heating efficiency; warmth from the Alde radiators rises from behind the backrests.
All models in this range have a unique little feature: concealed storage recesses that reach into the forward bodyline, hiding behind the armrests.
Bailey’s thinking is that these are perfect for items such as wallets, keys and phones that you may want to keep out of sight when you leave the caravan with the blinds open. For us, though, they’re simply additional storage places; the more storage you have, the tidier your caravan stays!
Unicorns have unique design front windows; the central one reaches high up into through roof line (we love these). And they also have stable-style, two-part doors. We love these, too
There’s another feature of the Pamplona which we love. It’s the shoe cabinet right beside the door; a hatch leads into the storage space under the offside settee. So, no risk of footwear obstacles in the doorway – and there are two coat hooks to the right of the door. Superbly convenient!
The showering arrangements are superbly practical, too. Regarding floor space, this shower room is up there with the biggest you find. The shower is on the nearside and the loo on the offside, like most rear shower room models.
But there the similarity stops. Doors lead into the bedroom from both the shower and toilet areas; these doors slide into a central wall unit with the washbasin on one side and, on the bedroom side, a TV station.
Three cabinets hide away the washing necessities; one is under the sink, one is on the offside wall, and there’s also a small, two-shelf unit. There’s also a storage device that’s a Bailey hallmark: a linen bag suspended on four hooks under the hinged lid of a cabinet.
You could cram an awful lot of clothes you are waiting to wash in here, and that's its purpose. But we've found an even more practical use for this feature.
There's a linen bag of the same design in our long-term-test rear shower room Barcelona, and we use it for bulky items such as clean towels, rolled up, so they take up little space, and packs of toilet rolls.
We can’t help but draw comparisons with the Barcelona, as will many potential buyers. Bearing in mind the two Chapmen in my family are sizeable guys, the circular shower in the Pamplona is not as spacious as the rectangular one in the Barcelona.
It's something to consider when you are making sure the caravan you are looking to buy fits all the people who will be using it.
…And on that subject, unfortunately, the Pamplona's bed is only 1.77m long (hence only a C rating) That’s only just long enough for your reviewer; my feet are against the bulkhead, and I’m no miniature at 5ft 7in.
That apart, the bedroom is lovely, there’s a socket for phone charging on one side of the bed and a shelf forward of the wardrobe for the phone. On the other side is a switch which operates all of the bedroom lights, in the perfect place.
Storage A
The wardrobes each provide 34cm of hanging width. The usual array of overhead cabinets, plus shoe cupboards under the wardrobe, give you enough space. The best storage asset, though is under the bed. And this is probably the most convenient under-bed box we’ve yet to see. Why? There is only one piece of cross-framework and, because of its position fairly far to the rear, it won’t impede loading large folding chairs. And you can reach both sides of the bed easily.
There’s a star storage design in the front, too. The offside under-settee space is accessible from the outside (as well as by lifting the top). And of course the other entrance to this locker is directly alongside the door; you can take off your shoes on the mat and put them straight in here out of the way! Another brilliantly convenient feature of the Pamplona.
The dining table lives in its cabinet aft of the fridge; the description ‘convenient’ is appropriate yet again. Even though the pull-out table above the lounge chest of drawers is suitable for breakfasts, quick lunches and even simple dinners, you’d get the main table out more often in a Pamplona than in many other caravans just because it’s easy, and you store it near to where you use it.
At 1.69m (nearside) and 1.79m (offside), the Pamplona’s settees are perfect for feet up relaxing. Chunky armrests at the rear ends of the sofas, lower armrests that fit neatly into recesses in the front chest arrangement, plus four well-filled cushions ensure comfort is guaranteed.
Our review example has the Trafalgar fabrics scheme option, involving prominent dark brown imitation leather along the tops of the backrests. Fabrics are all a matter of personal preference, of course – and we think the standard mauve-and-cream fabric scheme is 100% more appealing.
The kitchen’s biggest asset is its 190-litre fridge. That feature, alone, may well be a factor in swaying you towards a Pamplona rather than the shorter, similar-layout Cabrera.
The cook gets a generous 1.2m of surface length. Even when the circular drainer is in position, there's ample space, chiefly because of the shape of the kitchen. It's almost L-shaped, jutting forward over the dual-purpose unit beneath. The curved door opens into four shelf spaces. The second purpose of this unit is on the outside, to house gas cylinders, positioned close to the axles for minimum influence on nose weight. (Unicorns don't have front lockers; Bailey designed the plastic-lined nearside locker for loo chemicals and other stuff that you might otherwise store in a front locker.)
At 1714kg MTPLM this is one twin-axle caravan that proves you don’t have to tow with a top-weight beast of a car.
We ventured out among the lanes of South Lincolnshire, through Grantham (some quite tight corners) and onto the A1 for the Pamplona’s test tow. No surprise that it towed like a dream. One to consider if you're looking for a caravan for long-haul, cross-continental holidays for which lots of living and storage space plus the smooth and safe towing characteristics of twin axles reinforced by ATC sway control are ideal.
Bedding set to match the lounge upholstery, at £209
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