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Hi, I have just purchased a mid 1980`s Coleman folding camper (not sure which model it is until I collect it next week) and I was wondering if I would be able to use one of those brackets which you can use for trailer tents to put them on their side to wheel them through narrow gates etc and if so would I have to buy a specific bracket or is there a universal one I could buy and where would I get it from.

Many thanks,

Ian.

I think it would depend on the weight of the FC as to whether you can turn it on it's side at all, tbh. I belive one of the smallest Conway FCs can be turned, but all the rest are just too heavy.

I've got a TT that weighs "just" 375 kg, for example, and it damm near gave my tall Hubby and equally tall mate a hernia each getting the dead weight of the TT up and over. And I think the small FC (the Fiesta???) weighed 750kg.

Hi Val,

Thanks for the reply, going by the description of the FC I think it weighs about 500kg but I think I read somewhere that some of these bracket things are curved so you can roll the FC or TT up on to it but I can`t remember where I read it or whether one of those would be suitable for the coleman. The problem is that I don`t have a driveway and to store it in the garden I would need to get it through the hand gate, otherwise I would have to pay to store it somewhere and the storage compounds around here charge £500 per year or £10 per week which seems quite expensive.

Hi esermalda, thanks for the suggestion.

We did look at that option but the way the fence posts are set out it would be quite a difficult job, also the house is rented from the council and the fence belongs to them so I would have to get permission to make any alterations.

Best wishes,

Ian.

I honestly think it would be very difficult to get a Coleman onto it's side. Although the design of the bars could help you are still going to have to lift a dead weight of around 300 kgs. The width of the unit also has a significant impact - the Conway Challenger (the only FC I'm aware anyone has tried side storage for) weighs less than a Coleman and is quite narrow (as generally are the TTs).

The storage brackets are specific to the unit. I doubt any were ever sold for the Coleman so you'd have to find someone to make them for you, or modify some others.

Sorry to be negative.

Glen

Hi Ian

Saw your thread, just got back from the weekend.  I think your popup is probably a Dakota (was labelled as a Colonial in the US) it was imported into the UK about 1983 onwards & was a good basic camper it was converted in the UK had 12v & 240 electrics as well as gas.

Box size 7' x 7' square 8' high raised, can get a good cheap one now but are very rare due to age, but they do last well if looked after.  Doubt very much if you could get it on its side.

Best wishes 

Terry

Hi Ian,

the only other suggestion that comes to mind is to ask the council if they have storage/garages that you could rent.   The cost of storage seems extortionate really.  Ask the councils permission to widen the gate and use the money you would save on storage to do it.  My FC is a challenger and weighs in at 650kg and I wouldnt want to try to get that one its side

essie

Hi there,

I think you will find that the Colman is very heavy to lift on its side.

hi ive got a coleman missouri

and i would air on the side of coution these are bulky and i wouldnt turn mine on its side one slip and you will have a hard time replacing bits

I wonder if any one has considered that the centre of gravity would be pretty high and therefore it would therfore be very ustable when manouvering or storing - I dont think I would want 500kg falling over onto the ground or worse onto someone.

Getting it down from its side would also require a lot of control too.