Okay - so where should we go to see more folding campers - went along for our first trip to the NEC and there was an appache circle of folding campers from Pennine and that was all.....nothing wronge with what they have but I would have loveeed more.
We have a 1989 Conway Challenger and been out bank holidays and over nights, living on the norfolk/suffolk border gives us plently of lovely sites for short stays - we intend going to France next year and if all goes well update so just wanted to see what is about....
------------- From all involved with the long drive
Many years ago there used to be an exhibition in the centre of Birmingham (Bingley Hall?) that specialised in trailer tents and folders - don't know if it still goes on - was February time.
I was REALLY disappointed with the NEC this year on two counts..
Lack of folding campers - have Dandy disappeared/gone bust? There was a token appearance from Combicamp but all in all, no where near as good as last year.
Secondly, only one hall of caravans/accessories?
What's with all the motorhomes??? Those halls were practically empty on Sunday!
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
Quote: Originally posted by Alongdrive on 22/10/2008
Okay - so where should we go to see more folding campers - went along for our first trip to the NEC and there was an appache circle of folding campers from Pennine and that was all.....nothing wronge with what they have but I would have loveeed more.
There are more folding campers on show at Caseys Outdoor Leisure near Chester than at the NEC.
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
They had Pennine/Conway, Trigano, Camplet, Combi Camp, - apart from Riva who aren't making any at the moment I can't think of any other makes. Pennine seem to have a monopoly on proper FCs now - even Trigano didn't have any proper FCs on show, only trailer tents and their answer to a Combi. Do they still make the Ranger?
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
I wish there was an exhibtion solely for tents, trailer-tents and folding campers - things normal people might be able to afford, rather than the endless rows of hideously expensive motor homes that no-one seemed to be looking at. We looked at camplet, combi, trigano and pennine/conway and spent the rest of the time looking round the small stalls.
I was hoping there would be tents and camping gear available but was disappointed just a few general gadget stalls but nothing new. I'm hoping the Boat Caravan & Outdoor show will be better but I expect it will be more of the same loads of huge Caravans Expensive boats and not much else. Anyone been to this show before? Is it worth going for a Tent gear or will I be wasting time and money?
Trev
------------- It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent. ~Dave Barry
The February "Boat" show does have more tent camping stuff on show - tents and equipment - but still huge numbers of motorhomes and a lot of caravans. The boats make it a bit more interesting, and there are usually a few things for the kids to do, so a better family day out.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
------------- It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent. ~Dave Barry
Read with interest all the above and can only agree with most.
However it has to be borne in mind the horrific cost of exhibiting at the NEC. (we are there this week at interbuild)
We all want good value at the least, better still bargains, and with this in mind, if all manufacturers attended the cost would only be passed on,to guess who?
Us!
------------- I started out with nothing and I've still got most of it left - Seasick Steve 2008
www.boatandcaravan.co.uk/ Looks good but as Terry said the expense of the NEC is huge. We like going to local shops and browsing round .camping international is in my favourites on cold dark night like this we sit down and browse their stock without even leaving home Last night we went to Camperlands as well
------------- "What would men be without women? Scarce, sir...mighty scarce."
— Mark Twain My mates Free ads site For Kent Sussex and Essex free ads and classifieds. campsites included when people post them