Before saying ‘adieu’ to these fair shores, all our previous experience with Bailey motorhomes had been through the Autograph range, which had served us well on a series of much shorter adventures. So why the switch to the Adamo 75-4DL, you might ask?

Well, it’s one thing heading away for three or four weeks at a time and another living in a motorhome as a family of four full-time. Such an undertaking requires a different set-up, and one that would offer us maximum living space and an easy switch-over to sleeping mode.

Having seen the then-new Adamo range at The Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show back in February 2022, it quickly became evident to us that the 75-4DL model, with its twin drop-down beds and rear garage, would be the best solution for our needs. But would it stand up to the test?

Over two years later, it’s fair to say we have given it the ultimate road test. Travelling through twenty-seven countries across three continents, mixing campsites with wild camping, and taking it to places that even we might not have thought possible at first, it has stood up to everything. Beyond being highly practical, it has been our home, a place where we have felt a sense of belonging as we’ve travelled through foreign lands.

The first thing to say about the cab is that we love the automatic transmission. While on longer driving days, neither of us has any qualms; driving through villages and towns with frequent stop-starts makes life so much easier with an automatic. The steering wheel is similar to any modern Ford car, easy to operate with handy features such as cruise control—great for longer stretches on motorways when you can set a steady pace and manage your average fuel consumption.

A few other features we like are the rain-sensing windscreen wipers and the automatic headlights, both of which help you focus on driving without worrying about anything but the road ahead. Coming from the Autograph range, the seats felt like a slight downgrade but were comfortable, which is the main thing.

During the daytime, when both drop-down beds are up, it’s amazing how spacious the motorhome is. Being parents to two young children (Harrison was six and Dorothy three when we set off), we knew it could be challenging at times, even in a house, when they need their own space. By having two lounges, it meant that when they wanted to play alone, they had their separate areas. The spaciousness of the day setup was crucial, especially in wet weather when we were inside more. In the summer, we were out most days, so it wasn’t ever a factor.

The space also meant we could invite friends over, with more than enough room for two families. We often turned the back lounge into a cinema room, closing the blinds on the windows, drawing the curtain across, and using a laptop on a small pop-up table, which the kids (and adults) loved.

While comfortable, the double drop-down beds are, if we are being honest, a touch on the small side, but then that’s coming from someone who is 6ft3. Considering the space available, you won’t be able to get a bigger bed in any way. Our simple solution was for me to have one bed for myself, Kim and Dorothy to share the other one, and to make a third bed at the back. This was made possible by the back lounge having the same slide-out bed slats seen in the Bailey caravans, meaning the sofa can be quickly turned into a bed.

We travelled with a thick mattress topper to smooth out the inevitable cracks between the cushions. The fact that both of the main beds drop down in less than ten seconds each was a huge plus, and when not in use, the bedding can be kept on them as well.

This is another area where, in an ideal world, I would have liked some more space, but at 6ft3, most small rooms feel cramped to me. Given the space available, it makes the best use of it. We rarely used the shower, but when we did, it was more than enough for us all to get clean. Even if the bathroom is a bit wet after use, a quick wipe around with a kitchen towel solves the issue. There’s ample storage above and below the sink, and a heating vent means it’s nice and toasty in winter, also serving as a good place to hang and dry clothes.

We are a family of food lovers, so the ability to cook as if we were in a home kitchen was really important to us. While there might be limited chopping and preparation space at times, the four-hob Thetford cooker (three gas rings, one electric) and oven have been stellar performers for us.

One small point to note: when cooking or baking in the oven, everything takes a little longer than at home. Not a major issue but worth keeping in mind. The fridge is plenty big enough for a week’s shopping, and it automatically switches between energy sources. The space between the kitchen and bathroom is minimal when someone is cooking, but we soon got adept at doing the motorhome shuffle to pass without bumping into each other.

The adjustable table at the front of the motorhome has been incredibly useful. It adjusts in height and rotation. Throughout our time in the motorhome, it has been used for dining, drawing and crafts, a classroom for their online tutor and homeschooling, a place to play chess, and even as a table tennis table. A very clever and multi-purpose addition to the motorhome.

Storage was a big concern for us. Would there be enough for us to live comfortably? The simple answer is yes, but it required us to be very strict about what we did and didn’t need to take with us, and then pack cleverly. With a little bit of practice, we were able to fit everything we needed.

We kept our bikes (both mine and Harrison’s) in the boot, along with various other things, opting for a storage box on the bike rack due to the value of my bike. The box on the back worked well for us, holding all our outdoor and water gear and being easy to access.

Before setting off, we asked Bailey to add a few extras that don’t come as standard. The first was an outside gas point for our Cadac BBQ, and the second was a Thule awning. Both added great value for us. Cooking outside in the summer is far more enjoyable, and the awning provides shade in the summer and dry outdoor space in bad weather, preventing us from stepping into the motorhome with wet and dirty clothes and shoes.

The final addition, one we organised ourselves, was a GasLow refillable gas system, which we believe should be standard on all vehicles heading into Europe and beyond. The two 11kg bottles provided ample gas, and being able to fill up at fuel stations was infinitely easier than finding places to swap bottles.

The Bailey of Bristol Adamo 75-4DL is the perfect family adventure vehicle for those looking to explore the world. Robust in its build quality and with enough space for a family of four, it has enabled us to see the world in comfort, taking us to places we hadn’t even dreamt of when first planning our trip.