About 2/3 years ago I bought a Conway countryman folding camper, I didn't really know what I should have been looking at structurally and was more focused on checking the canvas.
I recently put my 2004 camper up for sale, I initially paid 2500 on ebay for it, a little more that I wanted to pay but the canvas was in quite good condition.
I accepted an offer of 1500 after not being able to sell it last year, the guy that came down to take it was all over it, he obviously knew what he was doing, he told me that it was rotten basically scrap value he was pushing the sides in to show me where the bed bases should be seated when folded, he was showing me how it is splayed out and said it was quite dangerous to tow in this condition. I ended up letting him have it for £500, he told me he had never stripped one down before but would cost a grand or two to get it back to a good state by a repairer, I decided to cut my losses as I was fed up with looking at it, I think I believed him but just wanted to know others opinions.
The person that originally sold it to me is the villain here as the guy that bought it told me that had not happened overnight and was more than likely in that condition when I bought it, did the seller know this ?, who knows, I think he did as he also told me it had no holes or tears and I found a patched hole and a zipper was frayed, he also sold it as a 2006 model but another interested buyer ask me to check the plate and it turned out to be a 2004 model.
Just a word of warning to anyone buying a second hand camper, go over it with a fine tooth comb and keep and eye out for rot and also check in forums like this on advise at what to look for.
The guy that bought it from me actually braced it with a ratchet strap to secure it on the trip home, whether that was for show or not I don't know.
Anyway, I have a nice brand new ground tent that is like a 3 bed semi detached and I am looking forward to our first trip out in it.
He braced it up, I looked at cost to have sides replaced and its over £1000... there was a clear 1-2" gap where the main frame should be upright, this cant normal ? or is it to be expected for its age
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 28/3/2017
Funny how he said it was quite dangerous to tow in that condition then happily towed it away.
to be fair he didn't say it was unsafe to tow, more that it could break up, I could see the screws that go through the skin were away from the supports they were supposed to be screwed into
Are we saying coppers don't 'rump' people as well.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
I recently got rained out...about 2 days ago, camper was put away wet and also the seller omitted to tell me that there was a patched hole on the side where the canvas meets the bed..this patch came away and as a result the space between the canvas and pvc back is filled with water of which I managed to get the majority out..however it has still been put away wet and have no where to open it...I read on here that if I undo the cotton tapes ties I can remove the cabin portion and dry it out, however I noticed that the canvas on the underside of one of the bed cabins is screwed to the underside of the bed Base. .is that correct or another repair/alteration I have not been told of.
The above was posted by the OP on 23 August 2015...... on 28 Aug 2015 another post:
I managed to get the tent up and in the sun today..it was really wet after all but I'm going to air it anyway as it may be damp. No visible signs of mildew or anything nasty. I'm not sure I packed it away correctly though..anyone have this model that can explain what goes where with regards to the cushions and table and shelf etc...many thanks.
The OP put it up for sale last year, it didn't sell (possibly because of the condition and price asked)? Recently he 'just wanted to get rid of it' and sold for far less than asked for. It sounds as though the FC deteriorated since he bought it.
The OP states in his recent post that the buyer said "this wouldn't have happened overnight" they were correct.
Sadly a lesson learn't, dreaded damp is a cancer that destroys FC's, caravan's and motorhome, how many posts do about damp appear on UKCampsite?
Quote: Originally posted by silvertopsandra on 29/3/2017I recently got rained out...about 2 days ago, camper was put away wet and also the seller omitted to tell me that there was a patched hole on the side where the canvas meets the bed..this patch came away and as a result the space between the canvas and pvc back is filled with water of which I managed to get the majority out..however it has still been put away wet and have no where to open it...I read on here that if I undo the cotton tapes ties I can remove the cabin portion and dry it out, however I noticed that the canvas on the underside of one of the bed cabins is screwed to the underside of the bed Base. .is that correct or another repair/alteration I have not been told of.
The above was posted by the OP on 23 August 2015...... on 28 Aug 2015 another post:
I managed to get the tent up and in the sun today..it was really wet after all but I'm going to air it anyway as it may be damp. No visible signs of mildew or anything nasty. I'm not sure I packed it away correctly though..anyone have this model that can explain what goes where with regards to the cushions and table and shelf etc...many thanks.
The OP put it up for sale last year, it didn't sell (possibly because of the condition and price asked)? Recently he 'just wanted to get rid of it' and sold for far less than asked for. It sounds as though the FC deteriorated since he bought it.
The OP states in his recent post that the buyer said "this wouldn't have happened overnight" they were correct.
Sadly a lesson learn't, dreaded damp is a cancer that destroys FC's, caravan's and motorhome, how many posts do about damp appear on UKCampsite?
Ok..so scrap value ? i know it was going to be over a thousand to have this repaired ?..i suppose i could have sold it seperate and then maybe sold the chasis as a trailer ?
Some years ago we looked at a FC which was up for £1500, the canvas was in poor condition, the wardrobe mirror broken, damp had damaged the end wall and rusted the poles and joints. The bed ends were delaminating and very mouldy..........to name but a few noticeable defects!
We walked away because it was too much of a project, the seller did finally sell to someone for £200 just to get shot of it.
You sound a decent bloke loadyo, I'm sorry that your dream didn't work out with the FC but I'm sure you will enjoy your new tent, happy times ahead. Enjoy!
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Topic: Did i get rumped ?
