1970 Bailey Maestro vs 2023 Bailey Discovery D4-4L: Part II

A few of years back, I stumbled upon a remarkable Bailey Maestro from 1970. It was immaculately preserved, with the original paint still gleaming and the interior untouched, sporting the distinctive orange and brown colour scheme that was all the rage at the time. More recently, Bailey extended an invitation to experience their 2023 Discovery D4-4L, allowing me to explore how it measures up against my vintage model. Continuing from the previous blog, where I discuss exterior style and towability, this blog post will now shift focus to interior style and practicality.

INTERIOR STYLE

This is where the two caravans are probably at their most extreme in contrast. It has to be said that the Maestro had a contemporary style back in 1970. The light wood veneers used on the interior are pleasing to look at, and the orange/black upholstery and orange carpets add to the cosy vibe of the interior. Of course, it feels extremely dated, but it’s a pleasant place to be nonetheless. The huge single-glazed windows let in lots of light and provide a good view outside—but I’m also aware that they turn the caravan into something of a fishbowl!

The D4-4L is also contemporary in style, and its modern blue and grey hues are a little unusual in the British caravan industry. Of course, it lacks the warmth of the Maestro, but it still feels like a cosy space to relax. I think the new swooping wooden shelves at the front, padded wall panels, and curved cupboard door bottoms add enough style and flair to make the D4-4L a cool place to be. Unlike the Maestro, which feels a little flimsy and delicate, the D4-4L feels substantial and robust. It certainly feels like it’s going to withstand whatever a family of four can throw at it.

PRACTICALITY

You can count the home comforts that the 1970 Maestro has on less than one hand! Standard equipment included a water foot pump for cold water only, a Calor enamel gas stove/grill and oven, a gas lamp, and two 12v lights that originally ran off the battery fitted in the tow vehicle. That said, the Maestro redeems itself with storage, especially the 1950s-inspired kitchen unit with a drop-down bureau-style worktop. This should be fitted in all caravans—it makes the perfect place to prepare a gin and tonic! Though it’ll be a lukewarm one in the Maestro, as there’s no fridge fitted as standard…

The glass windows offer little in the way of insulation, and you’ll find yourself mopping condensation off them each morning as part of the daily camping routine. The Maestro is at least insulated with fibreglass, constructed with a timber frame,

and finished inside with plywood walls, while the exterior is clad in 10-gauge aluminium. It’s surprising how sturdy it feels, but the caravan can get excessively hot on a summer’s day unless you open the windows.

Although the Discovery range is marketed as “entry-level,” the 2023 definition of entry-level is certainly luxurious to me! In the kitchen alone, you’ll find a Dometic 3-way fridge, a Thetford combination grill/oven, a three-burner hob, a sink with hot and cold water supplied via a 12v pump, LED lighting, and blinds/flyscreens fitted on the windows. In the washroom, the D4-4L has a Thetford toilet with electric flush, a shower, and a Belfast-style sink. Bailey has even had the foresight to place a heater outlet by the toilet, so you can warm your feet as you sit on the loo—I want that feature at home! Joking aside, it turns the washroom into an airing cupboard, and we found it to be a superb place to dry wet towels and coats, which you wouldn’t necessarily find in caravans at a much higher price point. The D4-4L’s washroom couldn’t be more different from the Maestro, which has a lowly cupboard for placing an Elsan porta-potty inside! The D4-4L is heated by the latest Truma Combi 6E boiler, which provides ample blown air on mains electric or gas. Other practical features include double-glazed plastic windows, grade III thermal insulation, and Bailey’s established patented Alu-Tech fully bonded construction method. This industry-leading method of building caravans gives the body shell extra strength while keeping water out.

Despite the age gap between the caravans, there are surprisingly some similarities in their designs. Making the beds hasn’t changed in 50 years, except the Maestro repurposes the table to form the bed base. This sounds like a great idea in theory, but in practice, condensation forms on the tabletop and wets the seat cushions. The D4-4L uses bed slats that are breathable and slightly more practical. Both caravans have a stable door, though the Maestro has an unusual arrangement in which the top half of the door is one giant pane of glass that opens separately from the rest of the door. Surprisingly, the kitchen layout of the two caravans remains roughly identical, with the cooker next to the entrance door, the sink in the middle, and a skylight for ventilation above. The Maestro’s front window is almost the same width as the caravan, allowing for a wider field of vision from inside, while the D4-4L has a similar idea but stretches vertically. I have to be honest, I was wary of the D4-4L’s narrow front window at first, but in practice, it makes lounging more comfortable when sitting with your back to the front wall of the caravan, with the upholstered panels on the wall acting as head support.

VERDICT

As you may have gathered, I’m a staunch supporter of the classic caravan movement. So much so that I founded the YouTube channel “NotAnotherWhiteBox” back in 2020 to share my love for vintage caravans and modern ones that dare to be different. I’ve loved owning the Maestro, but I appreciate how far caravan design has come in the last 50 years, leading us to the superb D4-4L. I’m truly impressed with the interior design—it just works so well. Features such as the handy shoe cupboard next to the door and the fact that the washroom turns into an airing cupboard are practical ideas that you wouldn’t typically find in caravans at twice the price point of the D4-4L. It gives me the impression that the D4-4L has been designed by someone who knows a thing or two about caravans. The fact that it manages to pack in all that extra equipment, beefier build quality, and an industry-leading construction technique, while still maintaining a maximum weight not too dissimilar to the Maestro, is staggering. The D4-4L has been a pleasant surprise for me. Its ease of towing, user-friendly interior, and choice of modern conveniences make it a very practical and enjoyable caravan to use.