We are looking at buying our first (secondhand) TT or Folding Camper. I am going to look at 1991 Conway Challenger this weekend. Does anyone have/had one? Would appreciate any pros and cons - easy to tow, size (compared to over TTs and Folding Campers), easy to unfold etc.?
What should I look out/ask for when the owner is showing me around?
Thanks for your help - so many of you have already been sooo helpful
Well the challenger is the "baby" of the conway range. Check all the poles are there! Check the canvas for wear and tear mould mildew etc. If its not big enough on its own and you need an awning make sure it comes with one as they are expensive to come by later. Some are so well loved they are like new and others can be a heap of junk after 15 years it really depends on how they have been looked after. If the unit itself looks ok you need to look at tyres running gear etc. I don't think they had electric in 1991 but could be wrong. You can buy a tent EHU for about £70 which will give you three sockets. If you are starting from scratch try and get them to throw in extras like water bottles.
------------- Good friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget.
They rare very small to be used without an awning. How many of you are there? It can also be a bit of a struggle folding the beds over, try and stretch to a Cruiser, much easier to unfold.
We had a '91 Challenger and I loved it. We had the awning which we lived in and just cooked and slept in the main part.
The only problem I found with living in it was that the cooker/sink was too low for me - I'm about 5' 6". The newer ones have an extra drawer or something between the cupboards and the cooker and sink which raise it up about another 6" which makes all the difference, so we unhinged ours, put in removable sides (for dismantling) and I put a curtain across the gap and kept tins etc. in there.
There were 12v electric sockets but we used a hook-up.
Also, as Rizzo says, the beds aren't easy to fold over and really take two of you, and we never really worked out which of the front awning poles went in first, although we had the instruction book!
It was easy enough to tow - because it's quite small it's no wider than the average car - so, if the car can get through the gap, so can the trailer. Also we kept it in the front garden and it's small enough not to obscure your view.
I have a 94 model, bought secondhand .I would suggest you try to see it erected so that you can check all canvas etc.also have a lie down on the beds. find mine a bit hard. check the cover that goes down on the gas rings. mine were a bit singed as the last folks had put the top down when the rings were still hot.
it is best put up with 2 people especially if you have an awning. first started camping with mine when my son was 9.had to take a small ladder so that I could reach to attach the poles.currently wondering if I will be able to manage it on my own as my son is now 18 and no longer wants to go away with mum.think I will manage the main tent on my own but not the awning.
Just wanted to thank you all for your help re. purchasing our first folding camper. We bought a second hand Conway Challenger 1991 last weekend for under £500 with a loo/tent, awning, water containers, step etc.
We are chuffed to bits - it's in very good condition, apart from 1 bent pole. It does however, come with it's original manual so I'm hoping Conway might be able to help us out with a replacement.
We are desperate to try it out - when do you think it is warm enough to take our 18 month old?
The earliest I go camping under canvas is at Easter. It can be very cold at night however I put one sleeping bag inside another to make sure I have a comfortable night. Better to be too warm as there is nothing worse than being cold.
We bought a '92 Challenger last year. V good condition (well looked after). Had loads of weekends away and short breaks, plus two weeks during the school summer holidays. On weekend breaks we tend to just use the cabin with a gazebo, as this only takes 20 minutes to set up. The first time with the awning we managed to entertain our neighbours. Neither of us are very tall and were struggling - we had to send the kids off to the play area as a few swear words were starting to escape - eventually someone suggested attaching the awning before the cabin was fully erected - much easier!
I 'm sure you'll have endless fun with it, we sure do!
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Topic: Do you rate Conway Challenger?
