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We have recently bought a Conway Carmargue (as if you didn't know ;) lol ) Now when we were still looking we went to look at a Canterbury and the chap showed us how to put it up. He put the structure up and then put the cover over it. Is this normal? As I have seen some on Youtube wear they erect it with the cover on.

So which is normal? Does it depend which TT you have?

You mean the cabin canvas? Normally it would stay on and be folded up in with the frame but it can be removed for storage or drying indoors. My cabin canvas is currently up in the attic, for example, because I don't leave it on my outdoor-stored TT over the winter. It's only held on by a few cotton ties.

If you mean the awning canvas then it really depends on what model and what you prefer to do. An awning that is permenantly fixed to the cabin canvas has to stay that way, obviously, but in a model like the Camargue you have the option of either folding it with the awning canvas still attached to the cabin, or removing it and zipping it back on when you re-erect the TT. I've tried this both ways over the years and have come to the conclusion that it's actually easier and quicker to unzip the two awning sections while striking the TT...the seperate pieces of canvas are much easier to handle and it's far less effort to put up and strike the cabin.

If you do decide to leave the awning zipped onto the cabin canvas then there's a knock of folding it that will reduce the chances of the canvas getting nipped in the frame hinges and damaged. Will type it out for you later if you want. (School run calls....)

Meant the cabin canvas Valk. Glad it can be done with it all on, I was a bit worried about the beds if it was raining

As for the awning I think we will do the take it off option. Though I know who to come to if we decide to do it the other way :)

We hang our tent up in the loft, so it great to know we can still do that,

Thanks for your help, you are a star Valk.

Quote: Originally posted by tigerfeet2006 on 08/6/2010

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Meant the cabin canvas Valk. Glad it can be done with it all on, I was a bit worried about the beds if it was raining

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One of the big pluses of the way a Conway folds down is that the bed boards fold in first, then the cabin awning and frame fold down onto the reverse of the upper bed board. This keeps the wet canvas seperate from the mattresses. Other TTs can fold up canvas and mattresses together, which involves fiddling around with sheets of plastic.

Incidentally....once you've folded out the bed boards, hang the undertents at that point (Unless it's raining) before dropping the top canvas. Saves a lot of wear and tear on your back! Also when folding the cabin canvas up onto the roof of the cabin (when packing) make sure it's well into the cebtre and away from the front and back poles, at least six inches, otherwise it will catch in the frame hinges as the frame is folded.

You are a star Valk  

Thank you for the advice.