New folding camper owner - tips and advice please!
Discussion
Hiya,
At the weekend I picked up the upgrade to a superb family tent we've used for the last few years - a 2008 Conway Continental folding camper, in absolutely superb condition and with quite a few improvements made by the previous owners.
Spent the night on Saturday in it with my daughter, and was warm and comfortable. Excellent.
Now, starting to actually think through how to get the most out of it...
Clubs - worth joining one? Seems the two big ones are £50ish a year, but seem to offer decent discounts/restricted sites/insurance/etc.
Insurance - really don't want any hassle, any recommendations?
Lighting - would like some lighting for both in the Camper, and the awning. Have 240v via EHU, plus 2A USB. Any recommendations?
Kit - we live on the South Coast, so are in easy reach of loads of decent places to spend a weekend. We'd like to be able to 'hook up and go' on a Friday evening after work, so I'm thinking about things like cutlery/cooking utensils/bedding/etc. Again, any recommendations/storage ideas/etc.?
Here's a quick couple of pics (from the seller):
At the weekend I picked up the upgrade to a superb family tent we've used for the last few years - a 2008 Conway Continental folding camper, in absolutely superb condition and with quite a few improvements made by the previous owners.
Spent the night on Saturday in it with my daughter, and was warm and comfortable. Excellent.
Now, starting to actually think through how to get the most out of it...
Clubs - worth joining one? Seems the two big ones are £50ish a year, but seem to offer decent discounts/restricted sites/insurance/etc.
Insurance - really don't want any hassle, any recommendations?
Lighting - would like some lighting for both in the Camper, and the awning. Have 240v via EHU, plus 2A USB. Any recommendations?
Kit - we live on the South Coast, so are in easy reach of loads of decent places to spend a weekend. We'd like to be able to 'hook up and go' on a Friday evening after work, so I'm thinking about things like cutlery/cooking utensils/bedding/etc. Again, any recommendations/storage ideas/etc.?
Here's a quick couple of pics (from the seller):
I'll be keeping an eye on this thread Sway with great interest, I've just done exactly the same thing although the Pennine Sterling I bought was dropped off for me by the previous owners, it was backed straight into the garage and not seen the light of day since November. I haven't even set it up yet or tested the tow bar I've had fitted 
They have thankfully offered to go to a local(ish) site with me at Easter to show me the ropes but other than that I will be completely clueless. Hopefully I'll be confident afterwards as I have already booked sites in France for the Summer Holiday in it.
All the comments I have read on the Awning make it sound really easy and straightforward to put up
They have thankfully offered to go to a local(ish) site with me at Easter to show me the ropes but other than that I will be completely clueless. Hopefully I'll be confident afterwards as I have already booked sites in France for the Summer Holiday in it.
All the comments I have read on the Awning make it sound really easy and straightforward to put up
Awesome!
Setup is a doddle - we drove from Chichester to Leicester first thing Saturday morning to pick it up. I'd never towed anything before...
Quick hop to Nottingham to see some mates (including two PHers), then eventually left for our campsite just outside Derby. Narrow roads were 'interesting', but ultimately gave me quite a bit of confidence.
Arrived in the dark, just my 12yo daughter and I. We were setup in under 15 minutes.
The awnings do seem a git - we were given two main tips - firstly, take all the windows/doors out, makes it lighter and easier. Secondly, the 'roof' poles are hooked into the main camper - better to hook them on and let them hang down rather than try to build it all up and get it shifted/hooked into place.
Funnily enough, we're looking to do France this summer in it - other half is recovering from the second (and last) of a couple of major ops that have dominated the last couple of years - we all need a proper break...
Setup is a doddle - we drove from Chichester to Leicester first thing Saturday morning to pick it up. I'd never towed anything before...
Quick hop to Nottingham to see some mates (including two PHers), then eventually left for our campsite just outside Derby. Narrow roads were 'interesting', but ultimately gave me quite a bit of confidence.
Arrived in the dark, just my 12yo daughter and I. We were setup in under 15 minutes.
The awnings do seem a git - we were given two main tips - firstly, take all the windows/doors out, makes it lighter and easier. Secondly, the 'roof' poles are hooked into the main camper - better to hook them on and let them hang down rather than try to build it all up and get it shifted/hooked into place.
Funnily enough, we're looking to do France this summer in it - other half is recovering from the second (and last) of a couple of major ops that have dominated the last couple of years - we all need a proper break...
I loved our pennine pathfinder.
Few tips. Buy an oil radiator you can leave on overnight. Then use a fan heater in the day.
Buy a full set of cutlery, plates, pans, glasses etc so you can leave them in the van.
For your first night away book something just a few miles from home. That way if anything goes wrong you can quickly nip home, either to get something, or spend the night!
Awnings are a b
h. If they’re aren’t colour code your poles, that helps. Get a breathable ground sheet as that will keep the site owners happy.
If I think of anything else i’ll Let you know.
Few tips. Buy an oil radiator you can leave on overnight. Then use a fan heater in the day.
Buy a full set of cutlery, plates, pans, glasses etc so you can leave them in the van.
For your first night away book something just a few miles from home. That way if anything goes wrong you can quickly nip home, either to get something, or spend the night!
Awnings are a b
h. If they’re aren’t colour code your poles, that helps. Get a breathable ground sheet as that will keep the site owners happy. If I think of anything else i’ll Let you know.
Thanks chaps, I am looking forward to getting ours out at Easter now for a test run!
An oil Radiator sounds like an excellent idea, I have a small one already so I'll definitely add that to the inventory. Other than that I have no idea what equipment we have, its all packed away inside apart from the memory foam mattresses and curtains that are in the spare room to stop them getting damp.
We have loads of stuff from Tent Camping last year so hopefully I won't be too short when we finally arrive at our Test Campsite so that I don't have to drive home for something stupidly obvious that I will no doubt have forgotten
An oil Radiator sounds like an excellent idea, I have a small one already so I'll definitely add that to the inventory. Other than that I have no idea what equipment we have, its all packed away inside apart from the memory foam mattresses and curtains that are in the spare room to stop them getting damp.
We have loads of stuff from Tent Camping last year so hopefully I won't be too short when we finally arrive at our Test Campsite so that I don't have to drive home for something stupidly obvious that I will no doubt have forgotten
We used an oil rad overnight on Saturday, nice and comfy despite 3C temps outside...
Since the weekend, my better half has dyed the bed pods dark navy blue to help reduce the light levels in the mornings, and I've refitted them and the mattresses before stowing it all away.
We're thinking decent plastic crockery to be left in there so it doesn't rattle or smash in transit.
Also found what appear to be some pretty cool led lights (on Amazon, under 'awning lights' - look a little like a flourescent tube), have messaged the seller to see if they come with a transformer as well as a 12v cigarette lighter plug.
All very enjoyable getting everything prepped. Lots of our camping gear is getting reused, but there's a fair amount we don't need anymore, and some things where we can now get 'good' rather than 'light and compact'.
Since the weekend, my better half has dyed the bed pods dark navy blue to help reduce the light levels in the mornings, and I've refitted them and the mattresses before stowing it all away.
We're thinking decent plastic crockery to be left in there so it doesn't rattle or smash in transit.
Also found what appear to be some pretty cool led lights (on Amazon, under 'awning lights' - look a little like a flourescent tube), have messaged the seller to see if they come with a transformer as well as a 12v cigarette lighter plug.
All very enjoyable getting everything prepped. Lots of our camping gear is getting reused, but there's a fair amount we don't need anymore, and some things where we can now get 'good' rather than 'light and compact'.
we've had a penine Fiesta for past 10 years, started when we had a 9month old and 2yo, still go away with them 10 and 12yo.
Best thing is all the stuff stays in it - bedding, plates, kettle, BBQ, and the fridge!
We had an oil rad, but I got a kitchen plinth heater and installed it in under the settee in the storage box.
Goes in the garage and have a decking "shelf" above it so still have plenty storage.
Get yourself some bits of wood, old deckboards I've found good. (2 x 3ft, 2 x 2ft, 2 x1ft), very useful for levelling, and under the jockey wheel on soft grass.
I've even made seats from them when we've forgotten the chairs!
Levelling, get side to side level first by placing the above mentioned wood under the lowest side's wheel. Then level front to back with the jockey wheel. Only then put down the corner steadies.
Best thing is all the stuff stays in it - bedding, plates, kettle, BBQ, and the fridge!
We had an oil rad, but I got a kitchen plinth heater and installed it in under the settee in the storage box.
Goes in the garage and have a decking "shelf" above it so still have plenty storage.
Get yourself some bits of wood, old deckboards I've found good. (2 x 3ft, 2 x 2ft, 2 x1ft), very useful for levelling, and under the jockey wheel on soft grass.
I've even made seats from them when we've forgotten the chairs!
Levelling, get side to side level first by placing the above mentioned wood under the lowest side's wheel. Then level front to back with the jockey wheel. Only then put down the corner steadies.
We have a Pennine Pathfinder and love it. The only thing we don't keep in it is clothes and food. So it is ready to hitch up and go. Take a few extension leads for phones, tablets, etc as there are only a few plug sockets in the unit. The awning can be a bh to put up, but after a few times it's quite easy. As has been said before, get a good breathable groundsheet for the awning. Rock pegs and a good claw hammer are essential. An extra table is useful too. We use it in the awning when the kids are asleep to.put the TV on and an extra electric cool box that we can use in the car then move to the awning for beer and wine. When loading it before going put all the heavy stuff like BBQs as close to the axle as possible to help with the handling. It makes a difference. Also check what toilet chemicals the campsite will allow. More and more only like the 'green' stuff.
As has been said make your first trip very local incase you forget anything. The site shop will charge a fortune. Use YouTube videos to help with set up. Finally the UK Campsite website has a trailer tent section in their forums and has been very useful for help and advice.
h to put up, but after a few times it's quite easy. As has been said before, get a good breathable groundsheet for the awning. Rock pegs and a good claw hammer are essential. An extra table is useful too. We use it in the awning when the kids are asleep to.put the TV on and an extra electric cool box that we can use in the car then move to the awning for beer and wine. When loading it before going put all the heavy stuff like BBQs as close to the axle as possible to help with the handling. It makes a difference. Also check what toilet chemicals the campsite will allow. More and more only like the 'green' stuff.As has been said make your first trip very local incase you forget anything. The site shop will charge a fortune. Use YouTube videos to help with set up. Finally the UK Campsite website has a trailer tent section in their forums and has been very useful for help and advice.
Edited by RosscoPCole on Thursday 15th March 18:39
Excellent advice, it sounds like I have most stuff already, if the weather was better this weekend I might have opened it up on the drive had a route around the cupboards to see what equipment is actually in there.
Hopefully once we are in the swing of things it should be straightforward. I can feel a trip to somewhere close being organized for the Easter weekend to suss all this out then hopefully we can have it set up ready to go when we fancy a trip away straight after work on a Friday night
Hopefully once we are in the swing of things it should be straightforward. I can feel a trip to somewhere close being organized for the Easter weekend to suss all this out then hopefully we can have it set up ready to go when we fancy a trip away straight after work on a Friday night
) as well as a claw hammer to extract them.
They are great bits of kit, we've had our 1998 Conway Cruiser for about 6 years now. I've added a few bits such as usb sockets, led light strips attached to the frame you can't see them when the bed pods and roof liner are up, some external leds to light up the awning, a zig CF8 unit to charge the battery and provide 12v power as well as a few other bits.
It's a bit similar to what these chap did;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an7LdpzaXzs
We keep ours in a 20 foot storage container locally as we live in an apartment block, it fits in with room to squeeze by there's enough to semi erect it to work inside as well.
It's a bit similar to what these chap did;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an7LdpzaXzs
We keep ours in a 20 foot storage container locally as we live in an apartment block, it fits in with room to squeeze by there's enough to semi erect it to work inside as well.
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