Pros & Considerations of the Best 4 Berth Caravans

A 4 berth caravan is able to cater to tourers like couples who want a bit of extra space, families who travel together, grandparents with visiting kids, or even solo travellers who enjoy a roomy lounge and a proper bed.

All of the Bailey caravan ranges include several 4-berth layouts, which means you’ll not be picking from one or two designs. Instead, you’ll be choosing from an entire family of shapes, widths, bed types and living spaces. Hence, our range is brilliant for helping you find exactly what you need… but it does mean you have that bit more to consider.

This guide walks through the pros and the considerations to help you understand what actually matters when choosing the best 4-berth caravan for your style of touring. In it, you’ll find range-by-range guidance and a few little hints that buyers tend only to think about after years on the road.

Why 4 berth caravans work for so many caravanners

If you’re travelling as a couple:

If you’re used to 2-berth caravans, that extra bed of a 4-berth changes how you can create your routine at night. You likely won’t be climbing over each other to get to the washroom, especially if you choose an island bed setup or if you even decide to take a separate bed each.

If you’re travelling as a couple with friends:

A 4 berth makes it easy for you to host friends. They can get a comfortable sleeping space, and you still keep your own bedroom. Everyone has room to get ready in their own space within the caravan, without leaving the washroom as the only option for a bit of privacy.

If you’re travelling as a family:

This is where a 4-berth comes into its own. You’ll have enough beds for everyone to claim their own, and they’ll typically be within two separate bedroom areas (one in the front lounge, and one towards the rear), so kids and parents get a bit of nighttime privacy from each other. There will also be more than enough storage to handle all the clothes, toys and outdoor gear that you’ll all need to bring along.

If you’re travelling with pets:

Dogs (and their beds, toy baskets and towels) fit in far more easily when you’ve got an extra berth to play with. You’ll have space for crates, muddy paw gear and outdoor kit without feeling cluttered.

From a practical perspective, 4 berth caravans are also the berth size with the widest layout choice. You’ll be able to pick between things like:

• Rear island beds
• Twin singles
• Corner beds
• End washrooms
• Central washrooms
• L-shaped lounges
• C-shaped lounges
• Standard or 8ft-wide bodies

All of these options are there, so the Bailey range means you’ll be able to genuinely choose a layout that feels right for the way you holiday, rather than settling for whatever’s available.

What makes a great 4-berth caravan

Every range and model has its own strengths, but the pillars of a great 4 berth are surprisingly consistent:

1. Types of beds

One of the biggest advantages of a 4-berth caravan is the sheer amount of choice you get in how and where you sleep across the different models, so it’s worth thinking about what really suits the way you travel.

A fixed bed gives you a proper bedroom space that stays made up all the time. It means you can head straight to bed without having to make the bed up each evening. Our 4 berth models give you several kinds of fixed bed to choose from:

• Island beds: This style of large double bed gives you easy access from both sides with the headboard sitting against the back or one of the side walls of the caravan. In the 4-berth caravans, this style bed typically comes in its own bedroom, so it’s ideal if you want extra privacy in a master bedroom-type layout. Transverse island beds are ones where the headboard is against one side of the caravan and a rear island bed has the headboard against the back wall

• Corner double beds: With this type of bed, one side sits against the caravan wall, which keeps things compact while still giving you a dedicated sleeping area. In the current Bailey models they often sit beside wardrobes and dressing table areas or next to bunk beds.

• Fixed single beds: These are ideal for families because kids get the same bed every night, and you don’t lose the lounge in the evening. The double bed for parents is made up from the seating in the lounge.

In your 4-berth caravans, make-up beds are a form of a front lounge that turns into a double (or twin single beds). This style of bed keeps the caravan flexible. They’re perfect for couples and families who value living space during the day and don’t mind a quick bed setup at night. It also works well if you only occasionally need the extra sleeping space and have the bedroom permanently set up at the back.

2. Lounge Layout

People can underestimate the lounge until they sit by the front window for the first rainy day of the year. Do you want somewhere to curl up? A space big enough for card games? Or a lounge with parallel settees that allows everyone to sit facing each other?

These small things make a big difference, so for example, if you’re a:

• Reader: If you like somewhere to curl up with a book, look for sofas where you can curl up into a corner, there is somewhere for your cup of tea to sit and you can easily charge all your devices at the same time (Bailey caravans have several USB points scattered across each van so this should never be a problem).

• Gamer: If you’re into games or evenings where everyone gathers around, L-shaped or C-shaped lounges come into their own. You get more of a social set-up and it’s easier to fit everyone around tabletop or board games this way. You can also fit quite a few people into a shaped lounge so this option is great when you have guests for the night or a group of you all staying on the same campsite. These L or C-shaped options are available on Bailey’s 8ft-wide caravans which means there is even more room inside the van due to the extra width.

• Stargazer or people watcher: If you like sitting with a cup of tea and watching the activity outside your caravan or love looking up at the night sky in a secluded campsite, the large infinity windows on all Bailey caravans allow you to let in lots of light during the day and have a front-row view of the stars at night.

These little things shape how the lounge feels day to day, which is often the deciding factor between a layout you like and one you genuinely love to spend time in.

3. Heating and Insulation

If you’re planning to tour all year round, the heating system matters more than you think. Bailey 4 berth caravans all come with one of two kinds of leisure vehicle heating systems. However, the way each one works and feels in practice is slightly different. So, if you have a preference, that helps you narrow down your choice to the Bailey models that have that heating system.

• Alde radiator heating (Alicanto, Unicorn): This system works and feels very much like your home’s central heating. Radiators warm the space gradually and evenly, so there are no hot blasts or cool patches. Because the heat is more ambient, the caravan stays warm for longer once you’re up to temperature, which is great for long stays or holidaying throughout winter.

• Truma Combi heating (Phoenix, Pegasus, Discovery): The heat from this system feels more immediate. You put it on and within minutes you’ve got a warm, cosy space. For families coming and going (kids dashing in after a muddy walk, dogs shaking rain everywhere), that responsiveness is ideal. You can warm up the van quickly after a day out or take the chill off first thing in the morning without waiting around. The air circulation means you feel the heat straight away, even if it’s more directional than Alde.

Both systems are Grade III rated and thoroughly tested, so you’re covered for year-round use. It’s really about which system fits your style of touring.

4. Storage and Payload

Payload matters more than people expect. Plenty of storage in the form of a huge wardrobe or a big under-bed space looks brilliant, but it means very little if you don’t have the payload to actually use it.

Payload is simply the amount of weight you’re allowed to add to the caravan: everything from clothes and bedding to bikes, food, bottles, toys, dog gear and the odd “just in case” item we all pack. Once you hit that number, you can’t add anything else to your vehicle. That’s why it’s worth thinking about how you holiday, not just where the overhead lockers are.

Consider things like:

• Are you swimmers who carry a lot of towels?
• Are you cyclists with helmets, shoes, chargers and spares?
• Do you have a dog who somehow travels with more gear than you do?
• Do you cook properly on tour and need space for oil bottles, spices, cast-iron pans, etc.?

The best 4 berth caravan for you is one that gives you the storage that is useful to you and keeps you within your payload limitations.

5. Tech that actually makes a difference

Most Bailey 4 berth caravans now come with a lot of useful tech built in. Here are several features you’ll come across in various models throughout our ranges that genuinely pull their weight:

• SONOS Bluetooth speaker
  This brand is well known for clear, reliable sound that fills the space properly. It’s great for music in the background, podcasts while you cook, or you can even take it outside when you’re having a BBQ.

• Avtex Wi-Fi (either pre-installed or pre-wired)
  Avtex Wi-Fi gives you an easy, reliable internet connection on the move. Some Bailey 4-berth models come with it pre-installed with all kit including the receiver on the roof, and others are pre-wired, so your retailer can install the kit at a later date should you choose to have it. Once fitted, it creates your own secure Wi-Fi network.

• Wireless charging pad
  One of those things you don’t think you need until you have it. All you need to do is place your phone down and it’s charging, without the need to hunt for where you last saw your charging lead.

• USB sockets where you actually use them
  You’ll find these in all the places you need them, so by the lounge seats, near the beds and close to the TV point. They’re perfect for all of your devices that might need a quick battery top-up.

• Adjustable, warmer lighting (especially in Unicorn and Alicanto)
  Some models let you control the colour of your lighting, which means you can take it from a brighter white to a warmer, yellowy glow by pushing a button. It’s a small thing that can set the tone of your evenings.

• Thoughtfully positioned TV points and brackets
  These are positioned so you’re not craning your neck or blocking the walkway.

Bailey’s 4 berth ranges: your top considerations

Key Features:

• 8ft wide
• Luxury interiors
• Alde heating
• King-sized fixed beds
• 137 -156 litre fridges with 15- 29 litre freezer compartments

The Alicanto Grande Deluxe is Bailey’s most luxurious touring range, so it’s the one people tend to choose when they want their caravan to feel as close to (and comfortable) as home as possible. It’s designed for longer stays, and its 8ft width is a big part of that. This extra space opens up the lounge so it feels calm and roomy, and it gives you the area to move without constantly shifting around each other.

The king-size bed is another big draw for this range. It’s ideal for couples who value being able to spread out a little more while sleeping, and it can make a big difference to the quality of sleep you get on longer trips.

Elsewhere, the large fridges follows the same logic: if you cook properly on holiday or you’re away for a couple of weeks at a time, having space for real food (not just the essentials) changes how you eat and how relaxed you feel.

Consider:

• How much time you actually spend indoors: Alicanto makes the most sense if your holidays involve a slightly slower pace (like reading days, listening to podcasts, playing cards or just generally spending time on site)

• Whether you holiday all-year round: This range’s Alde heating and Alu-Tech construction in an 8ft body makes it brilliant for winter

• How much kit you bring: The bigger footprint and storage make sense if you carry bulkier items (like camping chairs, sports kit, extra bedding and a BBQ)

Key Features:

• 8ft wide
• Family-friendly layouts
• L-shaped lounges
• Truma heating
• King-size beds

Pegasus Black sits in that middle ground between being a purely practical caravan and having the plushier features for a more comfortable feel.
Like the Alicanto Grande, it’s 8ft wide, so you still get the generous living space, but it’s aimed at families and couples who want room to spread out rather than a full luxury spec. The L-shaped lounge (In the Brindisi & Bologna) is a standout because it changes the whole feel of the van and creates a natural “gathering space”.

The king-size beds make life easier for taller sleepers and for families with a mix of ages staying over. And the stain-resistant Aquaclean fabric is far more useful than most people expect. If you have kids, pets, or you tend to live in the lounge (as many families do), it’s so much better at dealing with the spills of everyday life.

Consider:

• How sociable your trips are: The L-shaped lounge is ideal if you like to socialise as a family or with friends, because you can sit around the table together like you would at home

• Whether you want a good balance between comfort and price: It’s spacious and practical without being a premium-price jump.

Key features:

• Standard width
• Luxury spec
• Alde heating
• Premium kitchens

The Unicorn Deluxe is great for couples and families who want a premium feel but prefer to have it in a standard-width caravan. If you’re confident towers but not necessarily looking for the widest caravan you can find, this sits in a really nice sweet spot.

The kitchens are a standout feature of the Unicorn range. It comes with a dual fuel hob, oven & grill, plus a fridge/freezer and microwave. If you like cooking while on holiday, the worktops, appliances and general layout combine to feel much closer to a small domestic kitchen than an on-the-road caravan.

Consider:

• How you feel about towing: The Unicorn Deluxe is the top of the range standard width caravan from Bailey so you can get a lot of similar features to the Alicanto Grande here if you don’t want to go up to 8ft
• If you enjoy a touch of luxury: Unicorn Deluxe features premium fixtures and fittings and a choice of 4 upholstery options, so you can have a luxurious home-from-home throughout the caravan
• A good kitchen is important to you: The kitchen in the Unicorn Deluxe features an oven, gas hob and electric hotplate, a flatbed microwave and a fridge freezer meaning you can cook in the caravan just like you would at home.

Key features:

• Standard width
• Lightweight (Max MTPLM of 1448kg for wider tow car compatibility)
• Truma combi heating
• Hartal two part habitation door

Phoenix Black is ideal if you already own a mid-size tow car or you’re fairly new to caravanning. The lighter maximum standard MTPLM of 1448kg gives you a bigger chance of having the caravan match your current car, which is a big deciding factor for lots of people.

It’s worth thinking about how often you need to move around inside, because some layouts include retractable island beds (644 & 640), which free up walkway space during the day. It’s a great option for families who want to be able to free up as much space as possible during the day, or for couples who want a fixed bed but want to ensure it’s not too short to sleep comfortably in but also doesn’t restrict access.

If you want practicality first, this is the range to look at.

Consider:

• Which towcar you want to use: Lighter MTPLMs on the Phoenix range increases your choice of tow car

• If you have a growing family: Phoenix is a great choice for a first family caravan, but make sure that growing children won’t outgrow the caravan too quickly. Check that beds and bunks will accommodate them for a decent amount of time

• Your payload: If you have a lot of kit that you want to take away with you (especially with a young family), then consider the amount of payload you need. Again, make sure as far as possible that this can grow with you.

Key features:

• Compact single axle layouts
• Lightweight
• Infinity window at the front of the van
• Clever use of space to contain kitchen & washroom in a tiny footprint

Discovery is built for travellers who prefer exploring. It’s compact and very easy to tow; this means it fits onto sites that larger caravans sometimes struggle with (think Certified Locations or Certified Sites).

Despite the smaller size, you still get proper beds, a full washroom and a comfortable lounge, so it feels much more capable than most compact caravans at this size.

If you value manoeuvrability and the ability to get to places others avoid when towing a caravan, the Discovery range is the one that tends to stand out.

Consider:

• How much storage you genuinely need: It’s cleverly designed, but it’s still compact, so this is a great caravan range if you tend to travel light

• Where you store the caravan at home: If you’re able to store your caravan at home, the Discovery’s smaller bodies can be easier to fit on a driveway

• How confident you feel towing: Discovery is one of the easiest tourers to tow, which is perfect if you’re a first-timer or moving from a campervan

Which 4 berth caravan suits you?

Thinking about your next caravan?

Take a look through the Bailey 4-berth models and see which layout fits the way you travel.

Or, if you’re still gathering ideas, the blog is full of inspiration for planning your next trip.