Well, here’s us thinking we’ve got this down to two choices of preferred motorhome (as per the previous post) but then we actually got to try them both out. Here’s what we found:

The Auto-Trail F72 –
Whilst this is a great choice of motorhome and ticks a lot of boxes on our list, not least being shorter than the much bigger, 8mtr Bailey, and with the smaller price tag (around £10k cheaper) we were kinda hoping this would be our final choice. However, we didn’t like a a few things that we knew were too big on the ‘comprised’ list.

1. The rear lounge was not being enough in length to comfortably stretch out on al sides. The seating itself was not as comfortable as we’d have hoped. Add to that the furnishings we not very well secured and the rear upholstery moved around – even loose – was enough to make us think twice. After all, we plan to spend most of our relaxing in this area. Its important we are comfortable in it.
2. We felt the build quality was not as high as the of the Bailey. The small details like finishing touches, handles, cabinet quality and rigidity etc. didn’t match that of the Bailey.
3. The drop down bed, which is our biggest ‘must have’ was too narrow (and shaped to accommodate the habitation door) at only 4ft wide. Thats just not big enough for a lump like me. Plus, the bed has attached cabinets to the underside which limit how far the bed can actually lower. We are not wanting to use steps to get into bed at our age!
4. No Dual Fuel hob and only 3 burners

I wouldn’t go as far as to say the F-72 is a bad motorhome at all, its all about personal choice and of course what is important to each end user, but for us, there were enough niggles that would drive us mad down the road.

The Bailey Autograph 81-6 however, ticked many more boxes:
Much more comfortable seating – the rear lounge just invites you come sit down and get comfy – more space, good quality and detail on the framework, cabinets, build, material etc. Mechanical dropdown bed at the front (one less electric gadget to go wrong) and a nice dining area. Plenty of storage too.

But then the killer –

The drop down bed was more hassle than you could imagine to lower and put back up. In fact, we struggled to lower the bed properly and raise it again. You even have to detach and remove some the backrests in the seating area below the bed, to lower it fully. It just killed it for us. It was more trouble that making up a bed in the seating areas – something we are trying to shy away from!

Dam it!

So where does this leave us? Back where we started. In the VERY FIRST motor we stepped in when we started looking in earnest. The Bailey Adamo range. More specifically, the Adamo 69-4 and the 75-4DL (double lounge)

Why the 69-4 with no rear lounge you might be saying, or the 75-4I which is the 3rd of the three in the Adamo range.

Well, we quickly dismissed the 75-4I which has the island bed. We are dead set against having a bed permanently on show and in our experience, not very roomy to get around.

The 75-4DL does indeed have the rear lounge we seek (this is THE first motorhome we stepped in) and ticks most boxes. It not only has and electric, easy to operate dropdown bed but TWO – one front one rear. All it takes is to move to little cushions and lower the thing right down to the bench seats. AND its fully size, not shaped at all. Result. Why did we shy away from this originally? Two reason:

1. That gawd awful fixed electric table in the front. Why in gods name have Bailey added that??
2. The Shower/Toilet is a smallish wet room. something big on our list is a decent shower, toilet. We will be using our ‘facilities’ more than most users due to medical reasons. No more needs to be said on that here.
3. I’m not a fan of the curtain around the cab. It looks untidy a cheap night-time solution to me.
4. The front bench seating – is good in as much as it converts to two extra single belted seats – looks ‘unfinished’ underneath. I heard someone say they “feel sorry for the Adamo” because it was ‘rushed’ as a lockdown motorhome. I think I can appreciate part of that statement.

So this bring us to the 69-4 with its drop down bed at the front, same as the 75-4DL, but a massive rear end for a separate shower and toilet, It also boasts a huge Garage (as does the 75-4DL) which models mentioned early suffer a lack of, and internal storage.

The BIG question for us: Can we ‘live, eat & sleep’ in the one front area? When I need to work and take up all the table (that awful electric thing) where does Les go to sit and read a book in peace (if not outside an easy chair of course). We can just see having to do everything in that one area being an issue for us but we have not dismissed it our of hand. We will take a close look a the 69-4 to satisfy ourselves one way or another.

Its become apparent that we will have to compromise (as many say you do) on the fixed table and things like the pull around cab curtains (we can problem remove and add our own blinds) smaller wet room etc. The other issue with the Adamo, Is doest come with an awing as standard which I find amazing at that price point.

A dealer close to us will have the two Adamo’s in stock soon and we’;ll pff runs there to hop in and out of both, side by side. We’ll let you k ow if we leave a deposit 🙂

Happy to hear any of your own findings, especially if you own needs resonate with ours and where you ended up when it came to making your purchase. We’re open to feedback and other MH suggestions at this stage!