we are selling our caravan at the moment due to high running costs & storage costs. we are looking at either a conway countryman or all the way back to basics and buying a new vango inspire 600 airbeam just wanted some advice on what to do ?
I know I might be expected to say this as i own a camping shop selling inflatable tents but I'm getting shot of my little folding camper because I didn't use it last year. I got myself a nice trailer and used the Vango Eclipse all last summer. I had more room and a faster set up. Don't get me wrong, I liked my Trigano Randger (like a countryman) but in the end I just found it a bit of a faff compared the the Vango.
------------- Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.
Haven't owned either, but looking to get an inflatable weekend tent soon. But I have seen both at camping shows.
Only my opinion, I think that folding campers interiors look very cold and harsh to me but then I wouldn't have a caravan either as I don't wish to tow, whereas the inflatable tents we saw were lovely soft and warm looking. we have a large 3 bags cabanon so we know an inflatable will fit in our car ok.
good luck with your decision, it will be the right one for you
Go half way and buy a trailer tent, best of both worlds then, still under canvass, but much more comfy.
------------- Nick
2017
April - New Forest(9)
May - Dorset (9)
August - Camping Le Pin Parasol, Vendee (18)
October - East Mersea (8)
and five nights in the one man tent!
If I didn't have a love of Bell tents and had space to store one I would opt for a combi camp trailer tent. Whilst a folding camper offers all the comforts of a caravan they also limit space because these are fixed in place whereas a combi camp you choose where to put your kitchen unit, table & chairs.
I reckon it's a bit of a process of elimination: what do you like and dislike about a) camping and b) caravanning, and how would you be looking to transport a tent.
Did you like your caravan, but just dislike the associated storage/servicing/insurance costs? Did you like the way that everything is already there and in situ, or do you enjoy setting up a tent?
A folding camper really still needs servicing and - especially if you're paying a lot for it - it might be worth insuring. Less outlay than with a van, sure, but still maybe something to consider.
Towing costs of a FC will be significantly less than a van (in terms of fuel used) but you'll still be restricted to how fast you can drive etc.
If you go down the Airbeam route, do you have room enough in your vehicle to comfortably carry the tent and associated camping gubbins, or would you be looking at getting a trailer as well?
Then, there's purchase price. That old chestnut! Would you be getting the Countryman at a bargain price, or paying full whack? Are you comfortable with the outlay, or would it add to the stress?
Both the tent and the FC will have drying-out issues, do you have room to pitch them both? The Countryman cabin would be a doddle if you have room to put it up, but the awning needs thinking about.
Lastly, do you camp all year round or in summer only? Neither is really ideal for out of season camping, IMHO, compared to a caravan. Will this bother you, at all?
The reason I ask is, I've just noticed the Inspire 600 is not a million miles away, design-wise, from the Palena DLX 600 (I know the pitching style is totally different, but layout and tent fabric looks to be the same).
Why not get the Palena - which is on offer at the moment - to see if you like living in it and if the space/fabric etc works for you, then decide whether to splash out on the Inspire (to get the benefits of an inflatable version) or go straight for the Countryman? That way, you'd not take too much of a financial gamble (am pretty sure the Palena would sell well enough, without too much loss on original outlay)but could base your decision (which is an expensive one, either way) on first-hand experience.
Pitching a tent is one thing, living in it and liking it is quite another matter and equally - if not more than - important.
You may find going back to a tent after a caravan a bit to far ?
Air beds are no match for proper beds
We have had 3 folding campers our latest a pennine pathfinder and they are far better when set up than a tent or a caravan.
The problem is they are larger to keep and still have the problem of wet pack ups.
It's horses for courses really !!! Depends on what you really want / need out of your unit.
Not sure on the airbeams as I have only seen a couple on sites but one of them had a puncture and every morning one of the poles had deflated,this alone would put me off and I would get a traditional tent if I went down the tent route.
I have to say I think punctures/leaks are very rare and easily fixed with Tear-Aid and possibly a thing of the past anyway as things have moved on since the first tents.
------------- Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.
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Topic: airbeam or folding camper
