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After a brief look into a local trailer tent for sale we've realised that the only way that I will get my other half camping on a regular basis is providing a toilet in the unit!  I am not comfortable townig a caravan so I stumbled upon FC's (as you seem to call them here!).

So it's the Pennine Pathfinder......or as I recently discovered, the Conway Crusader as it's the same unit....well in and around the 2004-2008 age anyway.

There are a couple of Conway's I am looking at presently.......and I find myself here wanting to ask for any tips, advise and things to look out for. All is very welcome to a complete novice

We have recently bought our first Folding Camper (see my gallery) and it is a 2007 Pennine Pathfinder.

We have in the past had TTs, Tents, Campervans and Caravans so we have been around the field a few times.

I must say, we are impressed with the Pathfinder but it is a big beast of a thing to stow away. Fortunately we have the space but I imagine that others would struggle.

We found ours on the Preloved Website. As to what to look for, well we had to see it erected and have time, on our own, to thoroughly inspect it before we decided to buy. As it happens, it was even better than the seller described, with many extras thrown in.

We have been away just the once this year but we are looking forward to a long 2011 season.

There is something very nice and cosy about sleeping under fluttering canvas, yet wiith the FC you still have all the luxury of a tin tent and more, you have permenant beds as well.  

Don't discount the slightly older ones either.  there is very little difference between a 1999 pathfinder and a 2009!   We bought our first last Easter and it is a 2003 and has done us well.  Though the older crusaders go up slightly differently they too are pretty much the same once up.  It is only in the last year or two as alternatives to canvas have come in that you see more drastic changes.  We like the toilet in the middle of the night and during the rain but use sites' ones all other times!

Ps depending on the size of your garage , if you have one, you may still be able to store your unit in there, just! lol.   We get our pathfinder into the garage and it is only a standard 80-90s build.    If your garage is build to actually take a car, unlike some modern ones, it should fit the unit.

PS I found mine on ebay but it was living about a mile down the road from us, we saw it up and you could tell that it was the pride and joy of the previous owner so all was ok.

areas to check,

the canvas of course- if the roof linings are up take a quick peek under checking for any signs of mold/mildew

if poss get it connected to the water barrels and run the water through

the electrics- do they work

check the bedboards for damp/warping

we had a couple to tiny holes on the plastic window that are hard to see

you could try flushing the toilet.  Ours was not working when we bought and we were aware of this.  Lack of use had led to the motor seizing but it is actually really easy to fix and cheap too, as long asyou buy an own brand motor not thetford.

check that it has the toilet cassette-that the plug sockets work-

must be much more but lots of little things are easy to sort.

see what comes with them too like end skirts which are useful storage areas-full awning-light weight poles if poss.

I have to be honest and say we aren't in love with the Green of the pre 2007 pathfinders, and at £7K ish the price is a little high for a first time purchase when we aren't yet convinced in the amoutn of use.

Hence looking at the 2004/5 blue and beige crusaders. 

Andcow - nice list of points to look for thanks.  There is one local to us, and another very well loved one a bit further away that I am considering.

We used to have a brown and beige Raclette TT and so we knew that the colour would suit us when we first saw our 2007 Pathfinder. I don't think I would have been very keen on any of the other colour combinations that are around but that is just my personal preference.

We were also slightly concerned about our ability to swing the beds up and over, us both being in our 60's and me somewhat disabled, but no problems there. With the gas struts on the beds, it is virtually a one finger job!. Well not quite but getting on that way.

For us, the main advantage of an FC is the space and the permenantly made up beds.
Once the initial work of setting it up is completed, there is very little else to do,

In our last unit, a small caravan, to turn it from a bedroom into a lounge took time and effort and then to go from a lounge into a dining area was more effort.
In the FC you move the table, end of story.

Hi I am enquiring as to how often do people have their folding campers serviced I have a 2003 fiesta which I had serviced in december 2009 have used it for 14 days all told this summer would you still have it serviced.

We bought our pop top caravan new in 2007. We had it serviced in Spring 2008. We did not use it in 2009 so it wasn't serviced.
It was used once in 2010 and again was serviced in the Spring.
We have just sold it.

We have now bought a 2007 folding camper but from what I have found wrong with it, it has clearly never been serviced and so I will have it serviced next Spring.

I will then have it serviced every year that I know I will be using it.

To me it makes no difference how many or how few times I will be using it. If it is to be used at all, then it will be serviced.

You should also consider the Conway Cardinal. We have just bought a 2002 model, comes with integral loo, hot and cold water and full oven. 2002 and hardly used, i think it may well serve your pupose  too. Also has the advantage of a full size solid door.

Another advantage of these is that the roof is solid and all the canvas is fairly modular and would be fairly easy to replace or repair individual panels, instead of having to remove the whole canvas.

Andy.