The Discovery is Baileys entry model, the 400 is the largest of the 4 models. The 100 200 300 400 range were sold from 2002 to 2005, the earlier caravan had a more complex number 516 I think and the newest are named after planets. There were 2 basic versions, the earlier with 3 front windows, ... Read review
Advantages: Affordable, quite well made Disadvantages: Short on luxuries
The Discovery is Baileys entry model, the 400 is the largest of the 4 models. The 100 200 300 400 range were sold from 2002 to 2005, the earlier caravan had a more complex number 516 I think and the newest are named after planets. There were 2 basic versions, the earlier with 3 front windows, and the later with a large window, I am reviewing the earlier version.
Ours is a 2003 model Discovery, it was purchased new, it is a large single ... ...weight. It is quite well made (in Bristol), but not very well equipped.
Internal length is 5.19m, full length 6.61m, width 2.19m, height 2.71m, headroom 1.9m. It takes a 925 size awning, weighs 920kg with a maximum laden weight of 1203kg.
Tha chassis is Alco with a normal tow hitch, 185 size tyres, and the usual rubber suspension. A conventional sandwich floor is used with a GRP front, plastic rear and aluminium/wood/hardboard ... more
The Discovery is Baileys entry model, the 400 is the largest of the 4 models. The 100 200 300 400 range were sold from 2002 to 2005, the earlier caravan had a more complex number 516 I think and the newest are named after planets. There were 2 basic versions, the earlier with 3 front windows, and the later with a large window, I am reviewing the earlier version.
Ours is a 2003 model Discovery, it was purchased new, it is a large single axle 5 berth caravan which is under a ton in weight. It is quite well made (in Bristol), but not very well equipped.
Internal length is 5.19m, full length 6.61m, width 2.19m, height 2.71m, headroom 1.9m. It takes a 925 size awning, weighs 920kg with a maximum laden weight of 1203kg.
Tha chassis is Alco with a normal tow hitch, 185 size tyres, and the usual rubber suspension. A conventional sandwich floor is used with a GRP front, plastic rear and aluminium/wood/hardboard sandwich walls. The roof is aluminium as well.
The door is on the left hand side, as you enter the two front settees are on the left, with a pull out slatted centre to turn them into a double bed, opposite the door is the wardrobe and the heater, to the right of the wardrobe is the toilet compartment with shower. To the right of the door is the kitchen area, a sink, 3 gas rings, a fridge, grill, and a cupboard.
At the back of the caravan there is a settee which coverts to bunk beds behind the toilet, and a dining area which converts to a single bed behind the kitchen, this bed can be specified as bunks turning the caravan into a six berth van.
There are three windows across the front with one on each side for the front seating area, and there is a small window in the back panel with a window on each side for the rear area, also there is a small window by the hob.
There is a roof vent over the toilet with another in the kitchen area.
The heater is a Truma model with no blown air heating, a small fan heater does help when the weather is chilly. A truma hot water heater is also fitted this can run on 240v mains or on gas. The water is stored externally and is pumped into the caravan with a Whale 921 submersible pump. Some upper model caravans are fitted with internal tanks. The Electrolux fridge runs on mains, gas, or when towing 12v off the tow vehicle, 12v operation is understandably poor.
The toilet is a Thetford with manual flush, and a swivel sit on bit, it is of a cartridge design where a pull out waste receptacle is used. The shower is a pull out tap for the sink.
The lights are 12v round ones, three in total with two bulbs, there are two usable mains sockets one in the kichen area and one by the front beds.
The van is light and easy to tow, it is quite easy to manouver as well. setting up is also quite easy, get it level sideways with a wedge if required then level lengthways with the jockey wheel then wind all 4 steadies down. Electricity comes in via a 16amp cable into the battery compartment, water from containers out side the van and waste comes out in two drains. There is no TV aerial, if you have a TV you need to fit your own.
The seats are comfortable, and turn into beds quite easily, the beds are comfortable as well. The hot water heater is effective and provides enough hot water for a few showers, be carefull though as it is too easy to empty a container, estimate on around 50l a day. We need to empty the toilet daily to avoid it getting difficult to get waste into.
The toilet basin swivels around for comfort, it is mounted on top of the shower tray, unfortunately this means you get wet feet when you use the loo from water left in the shower tray as it does not drain too well.
The shower drain is situated where you stand getting in and out of the room, unforunately this is a design flaw - ours popped through and I was forced to fibre glass it back together. THe later model moved the drain to beside the toilet.
Curtains are fitted to all windows but the kitchen window (which has a blind), there is a matching curtain to seperate off the rear sleeping area.
The fridge is quite effective on gas and mains but is not very good on 12v when towing. The gas rings work well enough as does the grill. There is no oven.
The heater is not very good the caravan could do with blown air heating, but it will take the chill off a coolish evening.
The floor is vinyl which is easy to clean, rather than a carpet which is an optional extra.
Storage, there is storage underneath all the seats, but requires lifting the seats rather than having doors. There are 4 high level cupboards for cloths, a shelf at the front and a shelf over the dining area, the kichen has two cupboards and an open storage area, storage is not a brilliant feature of this van. It is also possible to store things under the wardrobe.
There is no shelf or obvious area for placing a TV, also no radio or clock is fitted.
Modifications. I have fitted 3 double sockets, one on each front bed (for camera/phone/torch/drill chargers ect), one on the dining area base for the childrens end, and another on the wardrobe side. I have also fitted a bracket for an LCD TV hanging from under a front cupboard, and a small shelf next to it for a PVR or DVD player. I have also fitted two reading lamps at the front and one at the rear.
Future. I will be replacing the shower tray this winter.
Good points, price, weight, space, all basic facilities fitted, quite well made, value for money.
Bad points, missing features such as reading lights and usefull shelves, early shower tray fragile, no oven, no blown air heating, very few sockets, wet feet when using the loo.
Would I buy again, I would but if I could afford a higher spec. model I would buy that instead.
