Hoping to go and look at some Pennine and Conway folding campers next week. We've seen the YouTube videos about putting them up, but how easy are they to pack down? We have a Vango Diablo 6 man tent, and have never managed to get it back into its original case (neither of us is very technical!). How long does it take to get a Folding camper ready for the road? Thanks
If you just use the cabin it's very quick to put up! 20 to 30 minutes at the most and that includes the water and waste; no pegging out required. Equally, packing down is simple and quick. The time only increases when you do the awning, but I always feel it is worth it! The campers are so much better than tents. It really is the best of both worlds. You are off the ground, warmer and cleaner yet it feels like a tent. All the luxuries of a caravan but a canvas top.
As for being ready for the road, the folding camper is always ready! You can pack most things inside that you take. I just find it's mainly food and clothes that I need to put in the car. No more car tetris! You will love it! 😀😀😀
If you've seen the videos on setting up, then packing away is just as simple, but in reverse, obviously. It, maybe, takes me a couple of minutes longer to pack away, as I like to make sure the curtains are stowed properly, to avoid creasing etc.
From parking up to kettle on (or beer fridge open) s around 15 - 20 minutes tops for me, including water, hookup, curtains etc, but I do tend to find that the 6 berth models like mine are a little quicker to set up than the 4 berth ones, as you don't have the front kitchen section to set up. Of course, if you go Pathfinder / Crusader, then you will be closer to Ashy55's time, due to setting up the washroom. The awning is, probably, around another hour, but, for me, it's still a lot quicker than my old tents (even with awning) as I'm not spending another hour or two setting up kitchen, cupboards, tables & chairs etc and blowing up mattresses, settees etc.
I would definitely agree that mine is always ready. I store pretty much everything in there, ready to go. The only things I have to take with me are clothes, toiletries and food. I also tend to keep the TV and folding chairs in the house, as I sometimes use them outside the camper. The toilet and toilet tent tend to stay in the loft most of the time, as I only use them occasionally. Of course, if you went for any of the current models (apart from the Countryman) the toilet is in the camper, anyway.
No issues with 'getting it back in its original case'. It all folds up very neatly. Just a case of making sure the canvas is folded out of the way of the poles as they close up.
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Hi
I have a Pennine Apollo 4 berth (though 4 is a bit cramped! - If there are 3 or 4 of you you definitely need the awning or a 6 berth!). Single handed, the time from parking to first cuppa is around 45 minutes for the unit including fitting and pegging out the skirt. The awning (again single handed) is around another hour to 90 mins.
I try to over-winter stuff in the loft or shed. When I started out 3 years ago I put a 'checklist' together for everything I needed. This year I thought i could do without it. Hmmmm! I managed to forget loads of things. A check list is worth it or boxes so well organised you just put them all in!
Folding down is easier than putting up - just take it easy and ensure the poles are all 'telescoped in' and in the right position. Watch them as you fold it up.
The only pain is if you had to decamp with a wet tent. You need to have a big enough drive or garden to open it up as soon as possible to dry off - no hanging it over the landing bannisters.
But they're great! I love it!
Quote: Originally posted by Brianalfred on 12/10/2015
Hi
I have a Pennine Apollo 4 berth (though 4 is a bit cramped! - If there are 3 or 4 of you you definitely need the awning or a 6 berth!). Single handed, the time from parking to first cuppa is around 45 minutes for the unit including fitting and pegging out the skirt. The awning (again single handed) is around another hour to 90 mins.
Really? I would agree with the awning, certainly, but how on earth do you manage to make the main set up 45 minutes? I've set many Apollos up, and would really struggle to make it last more than 20 minutes, with bed skirts and everything (except awning, obviously).
------------- The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
Awning time seems a bit on the high side, too.
To put up my awning on the Pullman ... single handedly, takes me 30 mins, tops. That's without the zip in panels (our usual way of using it. So add 20 mins if putting them in all the way round.
Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 12/10/2015
Awning time seems a bit on the high side, too.
To put up my awning on the Pullman ... single handedly, takes me 30 mins, tops. That's without the zip in panels (our usual way of using it. So add 20 mins if putting them in all the way round.
Mine is exactly the same, but I do know some people struggle with them, and they can take a little longer, so an hour to 90 minutes is not massively out, but I can, certainly, on my own, get the entire unit and awning up within an hour, so a total, potential set up time of up to two and a quarter hours, quoted above, does seem quite excessive, to be honest.
------------- The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
I found this quite useful for putting up an awning. Some of it is specific to Isabella but most of it applies to an FC awning Link to putting up an Isabella awning
As for taking FCs down, the main unit is easy and quick and taking down the awning is a lot quicker than putting it up.
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No issues with 'getting it back in its original case'. It all folds up very neatly. Just a case of making sure the canvas is folded out of the way of the poles as they close up.
Can you tell me about this? My canvas is getting very marked and I'm sure it's by the poles. Don't know how to fold it to stop this?
I think we all have different ways of doing things, We are on our third Pennine and have always used the awning on all of them,What we have never done is remove the awning panels,We find it much easier to put awning up almost identical to the way that Isabella show it done on Youtube. If we want to open the awning up as in a hot day we fold the panels back to the centre, but take them out never.
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Topic: Packing away a folding camper
