we are both into our 70th year & have hopefully sold our motor home we have camped ,caravanned, trailer tented ,& motor homed all our lives & I have always wanted a "folding camper" as I much much prefer being under canvas ,but we do need to be off the floor, & some of the comforts of a caravan such as fridge cooker ect
the problem is I feel a bit apprehensive as to whether putting up a folder at our age would be to much trouble. If there are any oldie folding camper users out there please come forward with your experiences
I am in my late 60's so not far behind you and we have a Pathfinder folding camper which I usually end up putting up on my own. (don't ask why) Anyway its not too bad so long as you are reasonably active, take your time and are familiar with what you are doing.
Realistically to get the cabin up and shipshape takes me about 45 mins - thats everything from unhitching to cup of tea. The awning time depends on what you have. We have a porch awning and the full Pathfinder one. The porch takes about another 30 mins whereas the big one takes ages.
I had a motor mover fitted as the camper was far too heavy to push into its storage location on my drive and it makes manouvering on site a doddle.
Post last edited on 01/09/2013 08:52:19
------------- Phil
Blood, Sweat and Beers.
The more I learn the more I know, the more I know the more I forget, the more I forget the less I know
Booked so far:
June: Charity Farm
July: Gullivers MK
August: Tregurrian, Cornwall
Sept: New Forest
We are in our early 50's now (just middle aged) and have had an fc - Pennine Fiesta, then Pullman - for 7 years. We are not the slimmest or fittest of folk with sedentary jobs and we manage OK - we do sometimes feel it a bit the next day but I think that's all the bending and stretching that we are not used to in real life.
The main issues are (1)manoeuvring into position as they are pretty heavy (but as a former caravanner I don't think you would have any trouble with that) and (2)the awning, which again is heavy but is a lot easier to manhandle if you take the panels out. (Zip on first, throw over top of camper, build frame, pull awing down then attach panels and peg out). You could get round this by getting one of the porch awnings adapted to fit, for short breaks.
It really depends on your level of fitness tbh. If you have trouble with your joints or back then you will struggle, but my Dad is 78 and is much fitter than we are, he still does all his own DIY and runs an allotment and I'm sure he would have no trouble with it.
We are in our mid 60's and have a Pathfinder with a motor mover for sale at the moment. Unfortunately I have had a heart attack and some other problems and have been told to start taking things easy, so the FC has to go.
I am pig sick because, as you say, under canvas is real camping and to do so in a unit where you have all the comforts of a van is just sublime.
thanks for the replies folks & keep em coming. Swaggy your info is most helpful as I had been led to believe putting up the cabin for an overnighter took only 15min
Lobey, I have read many of your posts with interest over the years and I am sorry to hear you are not to well. I hope things get better for you soon.
we found that we preferred being able to leave the base unit on site & have the car to sight see , & caravanning was to much worry regards constant damp ingress problems & both caravans & motorhomes have the disadvantage of having a considerable amount of equity depreciating at a considerable rate over the years
We bought a folding camper (Conway Challenger) for our first venture into the camping world,we were both in our mid sixties. It was brand new & we were chuffed with our purchase, bought all the gear we needed to equip it & off we went. This was in 2007, the year that summers turned dreadful. After 2 trips away with disastrous weather we packed away for the first winter after both admitting that we hadn't enjoyed the experience very much. It took us around 3-4 hours both to set up & take down. This was everything done, awning up, inner linings in place, unpacking the other stuff from the car etc, etc & getting everything ready to use & the reverse when packing up, also we have never, ever, taken so much notice of the weather forecasts, packing away in the rain is a nightmare. The following season we decided to have another go, but after one trip away, again in awful weather we decided to bite the bullet & sell it.
In fact, we did sell, but in part exchange for a pop-top caravan, a Fleurette Tamaris 31T, a 1999 model, we have now moved on to a newer model, Trigano Silver 31TDL. This proved to be a revelation, easy to tow, only 2 minutes to pop-up the roof, & kettle on within 30 mins. Solid walls, hot water, heating, a grill & hob, fridge, & joy of joys, a toilet compartment with a washbasin.
We have not looked back & are only sorry we did not find the pop tops sooner.
This is our personal experience but I'm sure that there are plenty of folding camper owners who love their F/C's. This will show you what's available, we p/x'd our camper there & bought our latest van there too. We are both in our early 70's now the pop top is perfect! Pictures in my gallery.
Post last edited on 01/09/2013 12:43:46
------------- Harvey 15.8.1995 - 18.11.2010. Run free, sweet boy x
I'm over 70 ... frequently do the pitching and Striking alone ... Really find it no problem ... and I pack a lot of extra stuff in (boats/second fridge/bike on the rear) .... and reckon I can have the main cabin up and working in half an hour .... with help, that reduces.
The awning .... and sorting out all the extra contents, takes longer .... can be up to an hour and a half if we are doing a two week stay and get absolutely everything 'out'.
The new carbon fibre pole kit for the awning is a lot easier and quicker than the older alloy version (and more efficient).
I suppose I should add that age doesn't actually have a lot to do with it ... personal fitness, flexibility, joint conditions etc are the real arbiters ... I'm certain there are plenty of forty somethings who would be incapable of putting up a folder, and likewise, plenty of eighty year olds wo wouldn't have any problem.
So ... it depends on how you feel about it, and how fit you feel ... might be an idea to go along to an FC trader and ask whether you can have a 'go' after they have done a demo ... then you'd know before you bought.
Hubby early 70's me late 60's and have just bought a Penine Countryman deluxe (ie with toilet!). We loved tent camping but due to hubby's health, it was getting harder for him. We think our folding camper is the best of both worlds - sort of tent camping but with the advantages of not having to bend so much!! Our first trial was quite tiring, obviously because we were learning, but on the second trip it was much easier and the awning went up quite quickly - quicker next time! The other consideration for us, was that it had to be stored in the garage. Oh, and by the way, we also had a motor mover fitted - fantastic! Can't wait to use it again later this year and planning trips to France and Spain next year. Go for it!
The walls are not canvas but thick insulated PVC which is cool in summer and warm in winter, does not have to be dried so can be packed away wet and left till you next use it.
The side and end walls are solid with a proper caravan door and windows. Fully loaded it is 500kg so easy to tow and push round. I can erect it on my own. We onl have a sun canopy, which is also PVC and can be left up in high winds. Not having an awning makes it all so much easier. I struggle putting pegs in. We have a skirt under one bed where we store everything outside including the porta potti.
Yes its a come down from the caravan but is comfy to sit in and very comfy to sleep in. We have a bed each.
We got this as we could not afford a caravan when I retire next year.
I'm mid 50's and my Hubby is late 50's and last year we bought an old Conway Cardinal. The first time out we both wondered what the h*ll we'd done!! But after a couple of days recovering and discussing what we could have done differently we decided to carry on and oh boy am I glad we did!!!
We have changed the awning for a lightweight one that Hubby can put up easily on his own and I think the last time it took us about 2 and a half hours to be completely set up.
I find climbing on the beds when I make them the hardest thing, as I'm not the smallest of people! but if I need to I just lay there until I want to continue!!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: should we buy a folder!!!
