Bailey Orion 450-5
Image
Image
Key Features
Model Year
2012
Product Class
Single Axle
Price from (£)
£13995
Berths
5
Caravan test date
Full Review
Price £12,995 Berths 5 MIRO 1130kg MTPLM 1287kg
Body length 5.22m Shipping length 6.38m Body width 2.19m
Contact Bailey Caravans T 0117 9665969 W bailey-caravans.co.uk
Exterior
Bailey designed the curvy, rounded Orion to make caravanning appeal to a new crowd. Orions don’t look like any other caravan. There’s no gas bottle compartment to influence the front line; Orions carry their gas in a hatch on the nearside, just forward of the kitchen. And, at 1130kg, the five-berth 450-5, in particular, was destined to draw new families into caravanning. With an all-up weight of just 1287kg, it’s towable with mid-range cars. And, at under £13,000, it’s among Britain’s cheapest caravans. Yet Orions look anything but cheap – and that goes for the interior, too.
Interior
The 450-5’s unique and amazing layout packs beds for five, two lounge-dining areas and a surprisingly long kitchen into just 5.22m. The rear seating area is L-shaped, stretching from the door around to three fixed bunks. A table clips onto the edge of the centre bunk, creating a dining area for two.
The Orion’s heating system is the new Whale blown-air unit, mounted under the floor, saving space compared with the familiar Truma heater that has to be accommodated in the furniture layout.
Warm air is ducted to three outlets, in the lounge, opposite the kitchen and in the shower-toilet compartment. The system draws its air in from within the caravan, rather than outside, so it warms up quicker. On test we found that its power of air propulsion and amount of heat delivered meant that the whole caravan warmed up in just a few minutes.
Another Orion distinguishing feature is the front table arrangement. Along the wall between the settees is a plastic clip to which you attach a small coffee table. At dining times you can remove this table and clip in the larger one, with a single leg that clips into a cup. All three tables are simpler in construction and lighter in weight than freestanding caravan tables with two fold-out chunky metal legs.
More weight-saving is in the kitchen, in the form of a combined oven-grill unit.
The hob is triangular, with three-burners; its shape creates surface space in the centre of the kitchen, alongside the big, round sink which has a lightweight plastic chopping board cover. A clip-on plastic drainer is provided. But it takes up most of the surface, so we found it has to disappear when not in use. The only place to hide it out of the way is the wardrobe – because there are no lower kitchen cupboards. And that’s because the gas bottle compartment intrudes into the kitchen space.
The up-side of this gas housing arrangement is that, inside, its top forms an extension to the kitchen surface. But the housing is made to precise dimensions for one 6kg cylinder and one 3kg cylinder in front of it. We found that extracting the 6kg cylinder from its recess at the far side of the compartment was difficult, because of the angle of lift and the confines of the housing.
We like
The layout – especially the L-shaped rear lounge – and the surprisingly large amount of kitchen surface. The 450-5 has a cosy feel and, although it’s a small caravan, it doesn’t feel confined, that’s down to the open aspect of the L-shaped rear seating.
We dislike
The tight fit of the gas bottle housing which makes extracting and putting in the 6kg cylinder pretty hard work.
Exterior 10/10
Chic, rounded looks are like a breath of fresh air in the caravan market. Swishing graphics help the eye-catching image along, too.
Lounge 9/10
Small caravans don’t come much better than this! Kids get their own space at the back.
Dining 9/10
Two dining-lounge areas with an innovative space and weight-saving table arrangement.
Sleeping 10/10
Kids will love their own bunk area – and the double which makes across the width of the front is easily constructed. Another perfect 10, then.
Kitchen 6/10
Less perfect owing to lack of lower storage. Great on surface space, though.
Storage 7/10
Other than lack of kitchen storage, there’s just about enough space in the 450-5 for the holiday needs of five.
Showering 6/10
The compartment is small, as you’d expect in a small caravan; the shower spares the little room with the toilet – but all you need is here.
Interior 9/10
Bright and light in appearance, with quality cream upholstery fabrics and red cushions, the ultra-chic exterior image matches the wow-factor exterior looks.
Towing 8/10
It’s narrower than most caravans at 2.19m, so you get slightly better visibility through the mirrors. Our tow took in motorways, twisting minor and major roads – and the Orion felt inherently well balanced throughout.
Value or money 10/10
Terrific! Less than £13,000 for a caravan for five with high build quality and all the spec you could possibly need.
Body length 5.22m Shipping length 6.38m Body width 2.19m
Contact Bailey Caravans T 0117 9665969 W bailey-caravans.co.uk
Exterior
Bailey designed the curvy, rounded Orion to make caravanning appeal to a new crowd. Orions don’t look like any other caravan. There’s no gas bottle compartment to influence the front line; Orions carry their gas in a hatch on the nearside, just forward of the kitchen. And, at 1130kg, the five-berth 450-5, in particular, was destined to draw new families into caravanning. With an all-up weight of just 1287kg, it’s towable with mid-range cars. And, at under £13,000, it’s among Britain’s cheapest caravans. Yet Orions look anything but cheap – and that goes for the interior, too.
Interior
The 450-5’s unique and amazing layout packs beds for five, two lounge-dining areas and a surprisingly long kitchen into just 5.22m. The rear seating area is L-shaped, stretching from the door around to three fixed bunks. A table clips onto the edge of the centre bunk, creating a dining area for two.
The Orion’s heating system is the new Whale blown-air unit, mounted under the floor, saving space compared with the familiar Truma heater that has to be accommodated in the furniture layout.
Warm air is ducted to three outlets, in the lounge, opposite the kitchen and in the shower-toilet compartment. The system draws its air in from within the caravan, rather than outside, so it warms up quicker. On test we found that its power of air propulsion and amount of heat delivered meant that the whole caravan warmed up in just a few minutes.
Another Orion distinguishing feature is the front table arrangement. Along the wall between the settees is a plastic clip to which you attach a small coffee table. At dining times you can remove this table and clip in the larger one, with a single leg that clips into a cup. All three tables are simpler in construction and lighter in weight than freestanding caravan tables with two fold-out chunky metal legs.
More weight-saving is in the kitchen, in the form of a combined oven-grill unit.
The hob is triangular, with three-burners; its shape creates surface space in the centre of the kitchen, alongside the big, round sink which has a lightweight plastic chopping board cover. A clip-on plastic drainer is provided. But it takes up most of the surface, so we found it has to disappear when not in use. The only place to hide it out of the way is the wardrobe – because there are no lower kitchen cupboards. And that’s because the gas bottle compartment intrudes into the kitchen space.
The up-side of this gas housing arrangement is that, inside, its top forms an extension to the kitchen surface. But the housing is made to precise dimensions for one 6kg cylinder and one 3kg cylinder in front of it. We found that extracting the 6kg cylinder from its recess at the far side of the compartment was difficult, because of the angle of lift and the confines of the housing.
We like
The layout – especially the L-shaped rear lounge – and the surprisingly large amount of kitchen surface. The 450-5 has a cosy feel and, although it’s a small caravan, it doesn’t feel confined, that’s down to the open aspect of the L-shaped rear seating.
We dislike
The tight fit of the gas bottle housing which makes extracting and putting in the 6kg cylinder pretty hard work.
Exterior 10/10
Chic, rounded looks are like a breath of fresh air in the caravan market. Swishing graphics help the eye-catching image along, too.
Lounge 9/10
Small caravans don’t come much better than this! Kids get their own space at the back.
Dining 9/10
Two dining-lounge areas with an innovative space and weight-saving table arrangement.
Sleeping 10/10
Kids will love their own bunk area – and the double which makes across the width of the front is easily constructed. Another perfect 10, then.
Kitchen 6/10
Less perfect owing to lack of lower storage. Great on surface space, though.
Storage 7/10
Other than lack of kitchen storage, there’s just about enough space in the 450-5 for the holiday needs of five.
Showering 6/10
The compartment is small, as you’d expect in a small caravan; the shower spares the little room with the toilet – but all you need is here.
Interior 9/10
Bright and light in appearance, with quality cream upholstery fabrics and red cushions, the ultra-chic exterior image matches the wow-factor exterior looks.
Towing 8/10
It’s narrower than most caravans at 2.19m, so you get slightly better visibility through the mirrors. Our tow took in motorways, twisting minor and major roads – and the Orion felt inherently well balanced throughout.
Value or money 10/10
Terrific! Less than £13,000 for a caravan for five with high build quality and all the spec you could possibly need.
