After the Manchester Show,and wondering if there was to be an Orion facelift this year or next,I began to ponder what I would like to see in any new incarnation of the Orion,here are a few things I thought of ( apart from better workmanship ) :-
1. I think the new panoramic front window would look good even at the expense of the above window locker,but would it add to the weight or reduce it ??
2. Replace the Belfast sink in the washroom with a bowl shaped one so even if the van is not quite level the water will still drain.
3. Go back to a window/blind in the door as there was in the prototypes.
4. Shock absorbers as standard ( Bailey say they are OE now but I would have to check ).
5. The new 4Kw Whale heater.
6. Exterior door hinged at the other side so it doesn't foul the front window and with a means of securing the top half.
7. Lagged heating ducts.
8.Two plug holes in the shower tray as in more upmarket models to aid draining when the van isn't quite level or a single central plug hole with a slightly dished shower tray.
9. In the 440/4 at least,a wider door to the front nearside "wet" locker.
10. Steady support pads as standard ( they only have to be bought so why not provide them ).
11. Fit the "green cap" to the 13-pin plug as standard.
12. Offer Al-Ko ATC as a factory fitted option.
13. An Al-Ko steady winder instead of that skin trapping contraption that is at present provided.
14. A grille or mesh cover to the heating exhaust to keep creepy crawlies out especially when in storage.
15. Be able to access the spare wheel via a trapdoor from inside the van.
I don't think the above would add much,if any,mass especially if Bailey used the new lighter weight Al-Ko chassis as fitted to the grander models.
Has anyone any further suggestions ??
Ian
Well without the big window locker there'd be no locker door to develop a crack Ian LOL
ReplyDeleteIan
ReplyDeleteHave been to Caravan Show today spoke to design staff about next Orion morf,do not hold your breath about your wish list,the door is the same on the whole Bailey range but without window, it would mean a new door just for Orion it is all down to cost!!,I did not see shock absorbers,
One thing that did come out of my visit Whale are coming to look at how they can improve the heat in our van, A rep from Whale looked at the 440/4 (the whole range was on the Bailey stand) and agreed it was not how they expected they seem to agree with me that the pipe should not run that length outside(bailey design man agreed but off the record. John B
John,
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting,I imagine Bailey will be issuing a recall on all Orions to reroute the heating ducts then ??
I shan't be holding my breath.
Ian
Ian
Deleteone other thing ifound,Whale were showing the new 4kw heater it is still only 2kw elec the extra heat comes from the gas burner to get the 4kw you can now use both together.
John B
John,
ReplyDeleteThanks,didn't realise that.
Ian
Hi Ian
ReplyDeleteI bought an Orion 460/5 in Oct 2012 and enjoy reading your blogs. I agree with your suggestions for improvements but would most support 2, 4, 6, 9 and 15. In addition I would like to see :
- A couple more power sockets in the lounge area.
- The upstand on the end of the front nearside seat lowered below the cushion height to allow people with long legs to hang their feet over the end.
- Install fly screen on main door.
John
John,
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoy reading the blog.
We had a couple more sockets fitted inside the van when we bought it,one at the back and one at the front,wouldn't be without them.Plus we also had an external socket fitted.
Just to show you can't please everyone,I have seen comments that people wish their van had an upstand at the end of the seat as it stops cushions etc.falling off,personally I have never really thought about it.
If you look back in my blog posts we fitted a Fiamma fly screen to the main door,works rather well.
Ian