We bought a 2001 model Sunncamp 350SE last year for £500, but also (it's a long story) bought a 1980 Conway Crown for £150. We put both up last weekend to air them and compare sizes, and noticed that the Sunncamp canvas looked far thinner than the Conway canvas. You could see small pricks of light in several places on the Sunncamp, whereas the Conway looked solid all over. The Conway has an extension awning so is almost as big as the Sunncamp, but doesn't have the kitchen/wardrobe annex to the side. The sunncamp also has a fridge box on the A frame - the Conway doesn't even have an A frame! The Conway has obviously been well looked after, and my bargain hunting instincts say to keep it and see if we actually like camping. It does have rather 70's style inner tents and curtains though!The sunncamp is nicer colours, is larger and newer looking, but is obviously more expensive. Any tips either way would be appreciated, along with comments about the Sunncamp canvas - it it still okay?
Sorry for the long post, but thank you in advance.
For a while Conways were made with Ten Cate canvas, commonly regarded as the best in the world. There was also another period that they used Cabanon canvas,, which isn`t far short on quality. SunnCamps don`t use either of these, so if your older TT did, there will be a distinct difference assuming the Crown was well looked after. But that doesn`t mean the SunnCamp canvas is of poor quality. (Would like to see it after 27 years of use though......)
I have to say I`m a sucker for old TT`s...my first one was a 1970`s Walker (with Ten Cate canvas!) in tasteful lime green, orange and yellow. Only stopped using it seven years ago when the trailer body started to show it`s age. A friend now uses it for local trips. I would partially base your decision on a close look at the trailer of both your TTs for wear and tear. Doesn`t matter about it not having an A-frame, btw...many Conways didn`t, or don`t. Also, I`d spend a weekend in each of them. There`s more to trailer tents than just size...layout of doors, size of undertents, size of beds etc etc are all factors.
Having said all that, you`re heading into peak price season for reselling a tt and I bet you`d get a really good price for a six year old SunnCamp, but probably only get your money back on the Crown.
Back to the fridge box. Some old Conways had a pair of support struts that slide out the front of the trailer, on each side of the draw bar. These form a support for a fridge box. If you had them, you might be able to transfer the fridge box across, if you wanted to keep it.
Val, many thanks for the reply - I think that trying both out is an excellent idea.
The canvas on the Conway has a C.G.I. label on it, so I assume that's Cabanon. It's 27 years old, and looks excellent (except for the fading, of course). The canvas is a very fetching Orange and Brown, and it's growing on me!
There are no support struts on the front of the frame, but the trailer is in good condition, and it has new suspension, wheels and tyres, so we may, after a trial run, keep the Conway.
Mike, this might give you a laugh. I don`t think it is a 1980 catalogue, no, as it doesn`t contain the Crown which definately WAS produced in 1980, but the pictures are a giggle.
And yes, C.G.I. is definately Cabanon canvas. Great find!
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Topic: Sunncamp vs Conway?
