Bailey is the latest UK brand to see the attractions of the van conversion market. Endeavour was launched at the NEC in October, but it had already been through rigorous testing with base vehicle manufacturer Ford and Bailey itself.

The model I’m reviewing here, the Endeavour B62, was one of the vehicles taken on the Bailey Sahara Challenge. With its chrome blue exterior, black sunroof, alloys and roll-out awning, it must have cut a dash on the dunes.

The cab in this luxury campervan is standard Ford, with an added reversing camera. The B62 runs on Ford’s 2.0-litre 155bhp engine, but as standard, you get Ford’s six-speed automatic gearbox. In fact, it’s well-specified throughout, something which could be a deciding factor when choosing the best campervan for you.

Standard Ford cab
Standard Ford cab, with the bonus of a reversing camera

Both cab seats swivel smoothly and have swan-neck reading lights. That is as much as you get up front in terms of a ‘lounge’, although you could use the shelves at the end of the kitchen as a bookshelf.

The rest of the seating is at the back. The motorhome brand has fitted the side washroom with a tambour door, so you have a much larger aisle to the rear than in many other van conversions.

It’s comfortable, too, with U-shaped seating that goes across the barn doors. The tabletop and leg have storage slots under the offside seating – but most of this area is taken up by the heater and the ducting anyway.

Rear seating and table
U-shaped seating at the rear, with table to accommodate three

This rear lounge isn’t gloomy – a huge amount of natural light comes through two rooflights. A spotlight in each rear corner adds to the ambient light coming from behind the lockers, and there are TV sockets on the washroom wall, ideal if you’re planning to take a motorhome TV on tour with you.

The nearside kitchen has an extension on the left that juts into the lounge, but it is conveniently placed for the three-burner hob, which is safely out of the way of any breeze as a result.

This area is well lit with a striplight and ambient lighting, and there is more workspace in front of the large sink on the right. You get a combined oven and grill below the hob, and no fewer than three mains sockets nearby – two on the wall above the extension and a third at the end of the peninsula. The half-height fridge is fine for two, but take a look at our best cool box for a campervan guide if you want additional options.

Kitchen
Kitchen work surface can be increased with the extension flap

When you close the tambour door to create the washroom, you’ll be surprised at the headroom. The shower tray is oblong, but it has two holes for easier drainage. You also get a circular toilet, a small handbasin with a mirror, a towel hook and a heating vent.

At 1.9m long, the two settees make good single beds. The complications only arise when you try to make the double. The U-shape means there are no slats. Instead, you have to fold out the double-hinged wooden platform and rest it on the ledges at the front of the settees. It’s easier to lift the base cushions while doing this.

You don’t simply place the backrest cushions on top of this platform, you have to fold them together and detach part of each to make some extra infill. This creates a very comfortable bed, but it seems a lot of effort just for the bonus of U-shaped seating, especially as you have to put the backrests back together in exactly the right place.

When it comes to storage, while the offside underseat area is partially obstructed, the nearside is clear. You get four deep overhead lockers down the side of the lounge, and a shallower one across the back at the top. Open the barn doors from outside and you will find some handy retainer shelves in the doors, as well as access to both underseat areas from the back.

The large cupboard in the kitchen is not quite as big as it looks, because it is shallow at the bottom and has a cutlery drawer in the middle.

There is a much deeper cupboard underneath the oven, and an overhead locker above. However, with all of the lockers, Bailey has gone back to having push knobs separate from the handle, something you need to remember before trying to pull them open.

Overhead lockers
Overhead lockers are opened with push knobs

The washroom has a sizeable double cupboard underneath the handbasin.

Alternatives to consider

The Pilote Vega V600G X Edition provides a comfortable base, with a good washroom and decent kitchen storage options, even if clothes storage may be limited. Alternatively, the Swift Carrera 144 comes with plenty of storage, an impressive washroom and a clever design throughout.

Technical spec of the Bailey Endeavour B62

  • Price: £69,999
  • Sleeps: 2
  • Belts: 2
  • Base vehicle: Ford Transit
  • Engine: 2.0-litre, 155bhp with auto gearbox as standard
  • Length/width/height: 5.99/2.50/2.82m (19’7”/8’2”/9’3”)
  • MTPLM: 3500kg
  • MiRO: 2873kg
  • Payload 627kg
  • Water (fresh/waste): 100/56 litres
  • Leisure battery: 92Ah
  • Gas: 1 x 6kg

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