2024 Bailey Alora 69-4I motorhome

It’s all about the width when it comes to Bailey’s new-for-2024 Alora 69-4 range – a trio of low-profile coachbuilt motorhomes based on Ford’s Transit.

Slim chance

All are 6.99m long with a maximum weight of 3,500kg.  But they’re all positively slim, at 2.12m (to contrast, the equivalent Bailey Adamo motorhome is 2.38m wide and a typical van conversion is some 2.05m, with mirrors folded).

All three are badged 69-4, too, but it’s the I variant here that’s the island bed model, no mean achievement given the overall dimensions. Yet it doesn’t always feel that cramped inside.

In this video, we take a look around the 2024 Bailey Alora 69-4I motorhome:

As is the Bailey way, it’s a one-spec’-fits-all base vehicle, so you get Ford’s Transit with 130bhp engine and a very slick six-speed manual gearbox as standard. Although with the Alora motorhome range, you do have the option of automatic transmission (at £2,000, somewhat better value than rival base vehicles can manage).

Other base vehicle attributes as standard with all Aloras include: 16in alloy wheels, automatic day-running headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and Ford’s own reversing camera system, to help avoid a motorhome insurance claim and attracting a discount on a Caravan Guard motorhome insurance policy.

While in the particularly user-friendly cab you get a 12in touchscreen infotainment system (DAB radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satnav, Bluetooth etc) as well as adaptive cruise control, blinds to the windscreen and side windows and FordPass Connect App technology, which allows you to keep tabs on the base vehicle’s essentials, plus help locate your vehicle if, for any reason, you don’t know where it is.

Behind the cab of this Bailey Alora 69-4I motorhome, there’s a conventional enough floorplan – short settees-cum-travel seats that combine with the swivelled cab seats for daytime living around a fixed pedestal leg (with height as well as fore and aft adjustability) table.

Beyond, the kitchen is along the offside, and the washroom is aft of the habitation door on the nearside.

Then there’s the crowning glory of a 1.88m x 1.43m island double bed at the back, set high enough for a decent-sized garage area below, accessible from both sides outside.

If you can’t quite squeeze your bikes in here, there’s the exterior bike rack option to consider, with fixing points already in position on the rear wall.

The kitchen in the Bailey Alora 69-4I might look a bit cramped, but it more than suffices in its provision of cooking and washing, storage and worktop fittings – the latter thanks to a fold-up extension to the left of the sink (which does have a loose cover in the same material as the rest of the worktop).

On the right is a Thetford Triplex cooker with duel-fuel hob and combined oven and grill. Further right is the fridge, a 141-litre compressor model, also from Thetford.

On the kitchen bulkhead, there are two mains outlets and the control panel for the Truma Combi D4E heating and hot water system. Stepping back from recent Bailey kitchens, where there’s a section of worktop over the cooker lid, the hob has just a glass cover.

As well as its tambour door, there’s a clever feature in the washroom that really allows you to optimise the space needed for toileting or showering – a sliding basin.

Also, here is a shower with its own on/off switch, plus a hanging rail for wet attire.

At the back of the Bailey Alora 69-4I motorhome, the longitudinal island bed sits well enough despite the slimmer body width. There are still wardrobes and ledges to both sides. And don’t under-estimate being able to sit upright on this bed either!

There’s also a third sleeping berth thanks to a transverse single which can be made up from the settees.

Luxuries are well catered for throughout this Alora motorhome, with everything from a flatscreen TV holder to 100Watt solar panel, opening sunroof over the cab, pre-wiring for wi-fi, remote control central locking to all three doors, and more.

Safety hasn’t been forfeited, either. Those rear seats, from Aguti, include Isofix and are fully safety-tested. Bailey also says the whole Alora body is a crash-tested design, featuring reinforced floors, complete with underside GRP covering, and strengthened furniture.

To find out more about insuring a Bailey Alora 69-4I or your current motorhome visit our motorhome insurance discounts page.

Verdict: Narrow-bodied, maybe, but there’s all you need on-board here

Plus: Ford base, keen pricing, plenty going on in a relatively small package

Minus: Not the tallest of garages, rear travel seats take up storage space

In-a-nutshell: Bailey serves up a slimline tonic

Alternatives: Auto-Trail F74, Chausson 788 Titanium Ultimate