Ive never towed before.... Conway Folding Camper!

[cpjitservices]

Hi all.

I've got the chance to buy a Conway folding camper for about £100.. not sure the model I think it is a 5-6 birth thing (its in all round good nick). I've not towed before. I am quite confident I will get the hang of towing it though.

 

 

It might fill in for a while whilst we save up for a camper-an-van.

 

 

Any tips?

[jonathan_dyane]

Don't forget it's on the back

[cpjitservices]

2 minutes ago, jonathan_dyane said:

Don't forget it's on the back

Oh, So it doesnt go on the roof?

 

 

[cpjitservices]

I blame @Ohdearme for letting me buy an Espace with a Towbar!!!!!!!

 

[Surface Rust]

Can't really lose at that price. Much more comfy than a tent, easier than a caravan to tow.

I bought this thing during lockdown and it's been brilliant. Sleeps four of us in dry comfort even in the worst weather, so much better than a tent. Folds up to a 2m*1.5m trailer and weighs about 400kg so can be towed with anything.

Just got back from France with it and it saved a fortune in 'gite' costs.

 

[bezzabsa]

just remember to take it off and push it into the space  LOL

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[cpjitservices]

2 minutes ago, Surface Rust said:

Can't really lose at that price. Much more comfy than a tent, easier than a caravan to tow.

I bought this thing during lockdown and it's been brilliant. Sleeps four of us in dry comfort even in the worst weather, so much better than a tent. Folds up to a 2m*1.5m trailer and weighs about 400kg so can be towed with anything.

Just got back from France with it and it saved a fortune in 'gite' costs.

 

That looks pretty good! there is 5 of us so the Conway we have been offered would be plenty big enough its got the full front awning with it. The ting is massive when its unfolded.

[EyesWeldedShut]

A sage once told me the trick of reversing a trailer:

Just remember to make the bottom of the steering wheel go in the same direction as you want the trailer to go.
Once it starts turning 'straighten up' the steering to continue the gentle* turn you now find yourself in.
Simples.

If it all comes on top - it's so light you can just nip out, unhook it and reverse by hand  

7 minutes ago, jonathan_dyane said:

Don't forget it's on the back

+1 - watched somebody jackknife a horse trailer into the rear quarter of a v.nice Mercedes ML - forgot it was there and looking in the wrong mirror.

 

p.s. avoid lane 3 on motorway 

[sheffcortinacentre]

1 minute ago, Surface Rust said:

Can't really lose at that price. Much more comfy than a tent, easier than a caravan to tow.

I bought this thing during lockdown and it's been brilliant. Sleeps four of us in dry comfort even in the worst weather, so much better than a tent. Folds up to a 2m*1.5m trailer and weighs about 400kg so can be towed with anything.

Just got back from France with it and it saved a fortune in 'gite' costs.

 

Had one for a few years brilliant, replaced with an 80's esteril folding caravan again brilliant seconds to put up as roof/ends on gas struts.

[cpjitservices]

Thanks all of you so far.. Its a bit daunting but as said above... its light enough to maneuver if difficulty is encountered. I doubt it will be. i think im a good driver? 🤔

[Floatylight]

Can't go wrong at that money, we've got a Pennine Folding Camper (Pennine bought Conway) and its great and far less stressful to tow than a caravan as you don't get blown about by the trucks. Reversing is fine although with trailers i always find the bigger they are the easier they are to reverse.

[EyesWeldedShut]

7 minutes ago, cpjitservices said:

Thanks all of you so far.. Its a bit daunting but as said above... its light enough to maneuver if difficulty is encountered. I doubt it will be. i think im a good driver? 🤔

Pound to a piece of sh*t that you spend the first hour sweating your nuts off, constantly checking the mirror 'is it still there?' 'Can anybody still see it?'
Next hour, you relax, start to get in the zone
Then?

[Floatylight]

P.s have a look at some of @dollywobbler's exploits in theirs on that ther youtubes.

 

[somewhatfoolish]

7 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Pound to a piece of sh*t that you spend the first hour sweating your nuts off, constantly checking the mirror 'is it still there?' 'Can anybody still see it?'
Next hour, you relax, start to get in the zone
Then?

Stress levels are very high if it's not visible in the mirrors, towing one of those tiny tin trailers that are always sitting in the entrance of Halfords was the worst experience I've had; if it's too small to see attach a set of deeleybobbers or a cane with a flag on so it's visible in the rear view mirror. Towing huge boats, caravans, etc are a cinch in comparison because I can see them. Reversing something you can't see is a complete fuck-on too, 99% of the time it'll be unhitched and manhandled where it needs to go if the location is flat enough to do this.

[Surface Rust]

Only thing I'd add is to check and probably replace the tyres if it's been sat a while. Stop after a few miles and check the hub temps to make sure the bearings are ok too.

[EyesWeldedShut]

2 minutes ago, Surface Rust said:

Stop after a few miles and check the hub temps to make sure the bearings are ok too.

Most of the cars around here get that treatment too

[auntiemaryscanary]

My dad bought a Conway (Corniche?) in the early '80s brand new. They are massive. If I remember rightly they can go up in 3 stages. 1 just the fold out sleeping part, 2 a bit of (well good sized) extension, 3, the whole thing.

It had a kitchen* clipped onto the back. It even had sleeping compartments under the fold out bit which was ideal for us kids.

Give it a whirl I reckon. Can't go much wrong for a £100.

Edit: was definitely Corniche. Images nicked off internet 

The end bit - under the the sloping cover - holds the cooker, sink, storage etc. Drop the legs, unclip, connect gas and go. Sure my old man had the kettle on whilst putting the tent up.

Edit Edit: was £3k new in 1982. Old man may* not have told my mum he'd bought it on the never never...

Edited August 30, 2024 by auntiemaryscanary

[somewhatfoolish]

21 minutes ago, Surface Rust said:

Only thing I'd add is to check and probably replace the tyres if it's been sat a while. Stop after a few miles and check the hub temps to make sure the bearings are ok too.

Very much that, I've had several instances of "they look fine" only to have them start shedding lumps of sidewall or bulging like a fatty in leggings after an hour on the road.

[Jazoli]

1 hour ago, Surface Rust said:

Can't really lose at that price. Much more comfy than a tent, easier than a caravan to tow.

I bought this thing during lockdown and it's been brilliant. Sleeps four of us in dry comfort even in the worst weather, so much better than a tent. Folds up to a 2m*1.5m trailer and weighs about 400kg so can be towed with anything.

Just got back from France with it and it saved a fortune in 'gite' costs.

 

I used to have a Rapido back in the late 90’s, did Glastonbury in it several times and went to a lot of BTCC meetings, only sold it because I lost my extra parking, brilliant things.

[Rustybullethole]

Trailers. The perfect excuse to run a non anpr plate to avoid prosecution. Used to get the kids to wright them up for the caravan on bits of cardboard and have covered many 1000's of miles with back to front letters/plate fallen off/the wrong plate/completely eligible. Only been pulled once and not really a proper tug. Traffic car pulled along side me whilst fuelling up the transit 'you need a plate on that caravan' Yes I replied. 'the same as whats on your van' he added and drove off. As did I. 

Bob who gave me the caravan said i might as well keep that plate on it as he'd scrapped the car years ago. 

Sorry thats shit advice. 

As others have said the smaller they are the quicker it goes wrong whilst backing up. Practice makes perfect, back it up making little turns either way. You'll soon clock whats what. 

Learn how to rewire the lights to. And remember to unplug the fuckers before you drive off. Oh and plug them in rather than drag them up the road for many miles. They don't like that. 

Pros learn the sound of jockey wheel hitting tarmac and react before its bent to fuck. True pros tighten the bastard properly. 

[cpjitservices]

10 hours ago, auntiemaryscanary said:

My dad bought a Conway (Corniche?) in the early '80s brand new. They are massive. If I remember rightly they can go up in 3 stages. 1 just the fold out sleeping part, 2 a bit of (well good sized) extension, 3, the whole thing.

It had a kitchen* clipped onto the back. It even had sleeping compartments under the fold out bit which was ideal for us kids.

Give it a whirl I reckon. Can't go much wrong for a £100.

Edit: was definitely Corniche. Images nicked off internet 

The end bit - under the the sloping cover - holds the cooker, sink, storage etc. Drop the legs, unclip, connect gas and go. Sure my old man had the kettle on whilst putting the tent up.

Edit Edit: was £3k new in 1982. Old man may* not have told my mum he'd bought it on the never never...

I think this is the one it is.. im going to have a look at it today... its actually in my yard at my business unit. The chap who owns it has been storing it at my yard for at least 2 years - ive said it needs gone really and he has said I can have it. It was up for months with its proper awning etc out. It looks to be all complete.

 

Ill go grab the thing tomorrow but it looks like your photos when its erected.

[Mally]

9 hours ago, Rustybullethole said:

 

As others have said the smaller they are the quicker it goes wrong whilst backing up. Practice makes perfect, back it up making little turns either way. You'll soon clock whats what. 

Learn how to rewire the lights to. And remember to unplug the fuckers before you drive off. Oh and plug them in rather than drag them up the road for many miles. They don't like that. 

Pros learn the sound of jockey wheel hitting tarmac and react before its bent to fuck. True pros tighten the bastard properly. 

This is all the advice you need.  You will soon forget its on the back.

Can be a faff to erect at first. Have a practise before so half the site is not laughing at you.

Edit, mark all the pole joints with coloured tape, they may be sprung together, but often fall apart.

[Matty]

19 minutes ago, cpjitservices said:

im going to have a look at tit today...

Lucky boy

[cpjitservices]

1 minute ago, Matty said:

Lucky boy

If only.....

[cpjitservices]

3 minutes ago, Mally said:

This is all the advice you need.  You will soon forget its on the back.

Can be a faff to erect at first. Have a practise before so half the site is not laughing at you.

Yep, I can fit the trailer in my front garden with much faff.... will practice from there. Its probs gonna need some work on the internals anyway.

[dollywobbler]

They are a twat to reverse. A car trailer is much easier. We tend to get close then just unhitch and push. Going forwards, barely know it's there. Having the brakes adjusted properly makes all the difference.

[cpjitservices]

Just now, dollywobbler said:

They are a twat to reverse. A car trailer is much easier. We tend to get close then just unhitch and push. Going forwards, barely know it's there. Having the brakes adjusted properly makes all the difference.

Thanks mate I had guessed this would be the case. Not too much trouble to be honest if it needs man handling into a space.

[castros_bro]

If you can't see it when towing the put a cane with smoll flag in the middle of the back to see in rearview mirror, also helps when going backwards.

[catsinthewelder]

Ask @Talbot how much fun he had at Shitefest.

[cpjitservices]

It’s one of these: