First bit of an intro - I used to have a caravan a few years ago but sold it due to issues with damp etc... carvan'ed with my parents when I was a child and really enjoyed it..
Now I have a young family, 6 and 3yrs and we do go camping a few times a year.. but fancy an upgrade.
I have the option of getting a caravan but then comes the extra costs of ownership, servicing, storage, insurance etc etc..
I was thinking about a used "starter" folding camper, my garage is 2020cm wide so may at a push get one in there which will reduce my costs v a caravan.
We are really liking the idea of a 6 berth / one with cassette toilet, So far I have found Conway and Racket ones which have on-board loo's.
Im looking for a point in the right direction / advice on the models I want to look for and the estimated prices etc.. (plus any other general hints and tips.)
I don't want to spend over £4k for our first, but looking at prices, they seem to be all over the place really with early 2000 models pulling strong money and mid to late 2000's for not much more.
I would like to create a shortlist of models and then refine my searches if your able to help?
If you Google; "Folding Camper Ultimate Guide" that will get you started on some of the key options, however, for now, your main ones are; The Trigano Randger 575TC, Pennine Sovereign, Conway Crusader and Pennine Pathfinder.
The first two models work on the same principle. They both have a toilet cubicle which opens out to form an en suite facility with the front bed. The Sovereign is the more basic of these, as it has a toilet, only, in the cubicle, whereas the Randger also has a drop down wash basin. Hot water, on both models, was an option, but most tend to have it installed.
The Crusader and Pathfinder both have fixed toilet / wash room facilities, and heating / hot water as standard.
The only other mainstream model to feature a 'proper' toilet cubicle is the current Pennine Fiesta, but that is way over your current budget, and is only a 4 berth model.
You say your garage is 2020cm wide. Bearing in mind this is 66 feet, I'm guessing that means your garage is 202cm wide, in which case, none of these models will fit. The smallest is the Sovereign, at 207cm wide, then the Randger, at 210cm, with both the Crusader and Pathfinder being 212cm wide. If you mean that your garage is 220cm wide, then you will get them in, but it will be a little tight.
There is, actually, one other option worth looking at, which is the Dandy Destiny High Side, which did feature a toilet compartment, but only only in the post 2004 models, through to when production ceased in 2008. The Destiny, though, is also a bit wide, at 205cm.
With the criteria you have given us, that is the extent of the short list, really.
The Sovereign was only produced from 2001 to 2003, and will be well within your budget. The Destinys, being later models, can be found within budget, but there aren't that many around, full stop. The Crusaders and Pathfinders are, also, within budget, and £4K will get you, probably, up to about a 2004 model, but prices vary so much, that anything is possible.
Hopefully that helps, but you know where we are when the inevitable next round of queries arise.
------------- The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
Thank you for your reply, very informative and points me towards a couple of options to focus on and see what's on the market.
In regards to the garage, (yep it was a typo) the roller door between the brick work pillars measures in at 220cm wide, the garage is then wider once inside wall to wall width.
Before I start on the next round of queries, what's the general life span of the canvas ? (more so thinking on 10 year old ones)
When I say 6 berth, really all we need is space for 4 people sleeping, but I would like to keep the beds made up rather than a living area having to be converted.
That's good, then. At 220cm, it will be tight, but they will all go in, with a little care.
The life span of the canvas is, comfortably 40 to 50 years, easily, provided it is well looked after. I'm just restoring a 1964 model, from the States, and the canvas is like brand new (apart from the colour scheme, which no self respecting manufacturer would use in this day and age).
I always feel that any folding camper is always at its best when used by the number of berths less two. In other words; 4 berth models are ideal for 2 people, 6 berths perfect for 4, etc. As long as the kids are good with sharing a bed pod, then you wont need to mess around with the dinette, which, in turn, will seat and allow 4 to dine in comfort, with no messing around.
Post last edited on 29/02/2016 13:00:41
------------- The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
I am selling a 2005 pennine Pullman, brown and cream canvas and awning and matching seats and matresses and curtains all new from pennine in 2011, selling for £4,000 or near offer, it has been garage stored when not in use and has a powertouch evolution motor mover fitted
We chose the Pullman precisely because it didn't have a 'toilet' facility ... just didn't fancy living with a toilet in the same room we sleep, live and cook in ...
However, that's just a personal fad!
Our 2006 model is also for sale!
Just to avoid confusion, in case you want to search for it online, it's actually the Conway Clubman you want.
The Conway Cardinal Clubman was the earlier model, which didn't have a toilet. The Conway Clubman was, effectively, a hard top version of the Conway Crusader.
------------- The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
Our first FC was a Sterling, no onboard loo but with a full awning and extension. we made the extension into the bathroom, it has a curtain and as the loo was only for nighttime the setup worked perfectly for us.
i dont know if you have looked into the folding caravans (not trailer tents), they look like a normal caravan when erected. i own a 1994 esterel top volume 34, bought last year for £2600 and was like new & with all the extras, a nice bargain, she pops up in less than 5 minutes. she 209cm widest, she looks like a long trainer when closed, i use my awning for toilet and extra sleeping space, inside the caravan sleeps 3 (double bed and single bed), might be worth having a look :) some esterels do inside loo's too.
Hi we have a pennine sterling and its fantastic. No on-board loo but we have a porch awning and the porta loo goes in there overnight. During the day it tucks away in a corner and we use the loos on site which works fine. If you were happy with this set up it would give you more choice.
As your children are little and not so bothered about privacy you could even put the porta loo inside the camper on a night, it would fit in the doorway.
You will want the kids in a sleeping pod together, otherwise you have to convert the living area which means you have to go to bed when they do!
We paid £2k for ours and got everything thrown in, it had been well looked after and is in near perfect condition.
Our kids are now 15 and 17 and still enjoy camping with us so hopefully you have got many happy years ahead!
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: Looking for options... Folding Camper
