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Subject Topic: How old is too old? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personhappyhev
28/1/2011 at 2:24pm
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Does anyone know how long well looked after folding campers will last? Do soft tops generally last longer than hard tops? I've seen a conway Jayco pop up camper in my price range (£750). It was made in mid 80's and has no mold or damp, however I would want it to last at least another 4/5 years. The question is should I go for it or hold out for a 90's conway cruiser or pullman.


Personmike.wilkinson
28/1/2011 at 2:29pm
 Location: north east lincs
 Outfit: Dandy 6 View mike.wilkinson's Profile View Profile   Reply to mike.wilkinson Reply   Quote mike.wilkinson Quote  
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Can only answer as far as dandy campers are concerned but i would always rate condition over age,

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they said it couldnt be done so i left it and went camping

a bad days camping is better than a good day at work


Personwongers
28/1/2011 at 3:29pm
 Location: devon
 Outfit: fc plus 2 many tents View wongers's Profile View Profile   Reply to wongers Reply   Quote wongers Quote  
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time setup is more of a factor than age with the canvas.as to the hardtop camper again it depends on if it was stored inside or out as they will crack due to uv but this would be easy to spot.as for hanging on for a 90's unit you still have the problem of how much has the unit been used. 

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tony
that was a lovely summer


PersonFidgad
28/1/2011 at 4:04pm
 Location: Vale of Llangollen Wrexham
 Outfit: Abbey. Domino 2 plus Vintage Mo-tent View Fidgad's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fidgad Reply   Quote Fidgad Quote  
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An older 'top-of-range' is probably better than a younger 'budget' unit but this depends, as has been suggested, on how well it has been looked after and how used it is.   My 1984 Creighton Binns is stil mint and totally waterproof.

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Mavericks don't get to lead the herd - not that they want to!


PersonJan P
28/1/2011 at 6:51pm
 Location: Herefordshire
 Outfit: pennine pathfinder 2003 View Jan P's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jan P Reply   Quote Jan P Quote  
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If the canvas is sound it should be ok.

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Good friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget.


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Personhappyhev
29/1/2011 at 10:02am
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Thanks everyone for all the replies.


Personglynnis51
29/1/2011 at 10:03am
 Location: west midlands
 Outfit: Pennine Folding Camper & Comanche View glynnis51's Profile View Profile   Reply to glynnis51 Reply   Quote glynnis51 Quote  
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Go and have a look at it, only you can decide if its what you want. As they say age is only a number. I have a 1990/91 Pennine Pullman and although the canvas is a little faded, it is in pretty good condition.

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Enjoy life whilst you can, it doesn't last for ever!!!!!!


Personfrederico
29/1/2011 at 8:07pm
 Location: Blyth Northumberland
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant Monarch two berth View frederico's Profile View Profile   Reply to frederico Reply   Quote frederico Quote  
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Have you been to see it? Have you checked it for damp, walls and floor, or been told it has no damp? Have you seen it put up and down? If it has been well looked after it might be ok. I bought a 1998 Crusader for £1200 last August and had to replace the side walls. DIY.
Fred.


Personhappyhev
29/1/2011 at 9:02pm
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Hi Fredico, I think we might pass on the hard top as I am a bit worried that the winding mechanism might fail. I am now considering an early 90's Pennine Sterling, but haven't been to see it yet. Is it easy to spot damp. What are the tell tale signs?


Personfrederico
29/1/2011 at 9:36pm
 Location: Blyth Northumberland
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant Monarch two berth View frederico's Profile View Profile   Reply to frederico Reply   Quote frederico Quote  
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The walls of mine are made of aluminium outer skin, 18mm plywood and 3mm vinyl coated inner boards. Other campers and caravans have different walls. Tap on the outside and the aluminium should not feel loose. Feel the inside walls, they should be hard. Any softness means damp rot. Check bottoms of the walls, in particular inside seat boxes and cupboards. Tap them, it should sound like knocking on wood. Different sound top to bottom is bad. Check for any damage under the wheel arches. Feel the floor underneath at the edges for rot.
I hope I have not put you off as well looked after ones are probably ok. I bought mine cheap and refurbished it.
Some before and after pictures below.
Good lock,
Fred


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PersonJan P
30/1/2011 at 8:18am
 Location: Herefordshire
 Outfit: pennine pathfinder 2003 View Jan P's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jan P Reply   Quote Jan P Quote  
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Press the walls and door on the inside, they will feel spongy.

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Good friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget.


Personwongers
30/1/2011 at 10:51am
 Location: devon
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not looking to cofuse but my fc has thin ply covered with alloy on the outside then a timber batten frame then thin ply on the inside so the iner walls feel soft anyway!

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tony
that was a lovely summer


Personfrederico
30/1/2011 at 12:23pm
 Location: Blyth Northumberland
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant Monarch two berth View frederico's Profile View Profile   Reply to frederico Reply   Quote frederico Quote  
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Thin ply might give a bit but should not feel soft. Plywood is not 'soft'
Fred


Personwongers
30/1/2011 at 4:10pm
 Location: devon
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maybe soft is the wrong word springy maybe better.the point is not all have solid 18mm ply sides so you can have movment when pressed.

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tony
that was a lovely summer


Steve McV
03/2/2011 at 2:38pm
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Mine Dandy was built 1995 & is still going strong.  It depends on how they have been looked after.  Indoor storage adds years to the lifespan.  The chassis often rots before the fabric.  Check for damp & mildew damage (not fatal, but messy & impossible to get completely rid of).

Steve.



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Steve.



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