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Subject Topic: Winterising a folding camper Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonJoanne4
03/10/2014 at 2:26pm
 Location: South Derbyshire
 Outfit: Pennine Pathfinder 2006 View Joanne4's Profile View Profile   Reply to Joanne4 Reply   Quote Joanne4 Quote  
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Looking for any hints and tips as to what to do for the winter to protect our pathfinder.

We have a winter cover for it, and currently everything has been removed from it so we can give it a good clean.

We also need to remove the current cabin canvas as we have a new canvas to put on it and are selling the original. Would we be better off leaving the canvas off until spring?

My house is covered it items from the camper and although I have found places for seating, curtains, bedrooms and linings I haven't really got the space for the mattresses, they are currently sat on the landing. If its better to keep them off then that's where they'll stay even if they are in the way.

Any other tips would be much appreciated as want to protect it as much as possible.


Personblueexpo97
03/10/2014 at 2:40pm
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Never took anything out of our Pathfinder, and strangely enough, never had a problem.

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XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.


PersonBlue Sky Pennine
03/10/2014 at 2:42pm
 Location: Redditch
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Have a look at the Folding Camper Winter Storage Guide That should answer most of your questions. If you have a decent Winter cover, you should be pretty much Ok. The general rule is that it's nice to take the stuff out and store it, if you can, but not essential. If the mattresses are in the way, then, by all means, put them back in the camper. They should be fine.

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The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..


Persondoit
13/10/2014 at 6:17pm
 Location: None Entered
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I used to put some footballs under the transit cover to allow air to move around and to spot water collecting in pools on top of cover. And drain the hot water system and take out all foodstuffs. But that was it - left all furnishings inside and never had a problem. FYI I stored my fc outside in the elements, not in a nice dry garage

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Why am i doing this instead of camping??!!


Personitsshagger
18/10/2014 at 4:43pm
 Location: Rochester Kent
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Stored in a container for winter and added 3 salt bins .

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shaggersherwood


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PersonKate L
18/10/2014 at 8:02pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: pennine patherfinder 2006 View Kate L's Profile View Profile   Reply to Kate L Reply   Quote Kate L Quote  
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Just cleared our pathfinder from all food stuff etc, left mattresses and liners in, as last year. Use an up turned hanging basket to stop puddling on transit cover and just have to put winter cover on. However with current warm weather, could we get a sneaky half term away?


Personwingnut12
18/10/2014 at 8:30pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Pennine Pathfinder 2006 View wingnut12's Profile View Profile   Reply to wingnut12 Reply   Quote wingnut12 Quote  
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You may find this over the top but I will not be upset when she is opened up next year.
I cover the full length of a pathfinder under the transport cover with 5mm ext ply so the rain can't puddle,and to make air flow between the winter cover and the transport cover I have 8 2lt pop bottles attached together in a line down the centre to make an apex like a small pitched roof, was going to use 4" osma drain until I saw the price of it.
I take out the curtains, bedding, liner etc (careful when washing they shrink in a tumble drier) but leave the mattress's in but when attaching the mattress to the bed floor leave a bit of slack in the 3 straps this will allow air flow between the two when folded up.
Ensure the fridge door is ajar.
Lean the camper on its feet so that the rear is the lowest point
Apply tape to the top of the front locker door and also the battery door as the seals are s::t
I also jack up over the axle and remove both wheels but don't jack anywhere else as I find it flexs the chassis
All of the above is lead by fear of the damp but seems to work as it has had 2 winters to its name outside since I have owned it
Pennine Pathfinder 2006.


PersonJoanne4
18/10/2014 at 10:43pm
 Location: South Derbyshire
 Outfit: Pennine Pathfinder 2006 View Joanne4's Profile View Profile   Reply to Joanne4 Reply   Quote Joanne4 Quote  
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I am so worried about the damp but hope we've done as much as we can to prevent it, probably more so after replacing the canvas!

I have cleaned the inside and emptied it of everything but the mattresses as I just don't have room to store them. There is a football under the transit cover to help with air flow and prevent puddling, then there is the winter cover over the top. This winter cover looks a bit grubby in places and a little green which worries me, but that's how it came to us. Do I need to put something between the transit cover and the winter cover too?

The camper is leaning towards the back to help water flow off as well. I'm not worried about the tyres as one needs replacing anyway as it is cracked, a job for the spring! Not sure what else I can do, a friend has suggested they may have some indoor warehouse space available to store it in for the winter months, but at this stage that may or may not happen!


Personwingnut12
19/10/2014 at 12:27am
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Pennine Pathfinder 2006 View wingnut12's Profile View Profile   Reply to wingnut12 Reply   Quote wingnut12 Quote  
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As described above I do separate the two covers but it still goes a little green due to the fact that the sun only hits the spot for about 2 hours a day
Also Replace both tyres at the same time

If you have the time I would keep opening the unit up at least once a month over winter (on a dry day)to give you the confidence that you have done all that is possible, this is how I have learned


PersonJOHN BYRNE
19/10/2014 at 7:56am
 Location: Hertfordshire
 Outfit: Esterelle Caramatic T39 View JOHN BYRNE's Profile View Profile   Reply to JOHN BYRNE Reply   Quote JOHN BYRNE Quote  
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As I have stated on previous posts
I leave every thing inside the camper, I place 2 old sleeping bags on top of the canvas and then a layer of bubble wrap, I then lay 3 old feather pillow in line down down the centre to form an apex,
I open it up to check once a month if possible.
I find the pillows form a soft apex and does not distort the transit cover.
This is the 5th year I have used this method and have had no problems with puddling or damp.
John


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PersonJoanne4
19/10/2014 at 8:10am
 Location: South Derbyshire
 Outfit: Pennine Pathfinder 2006 View Joanne4's Profile View Profile   Reply to Joanne4 Reply   Quote Joanne4 Quote  
Joined: 23/9/2013

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Yes we had planned on opening up once a month To air it and check everything is ok. Fingers crossed all will be fine.


Personlissabuff
21/10/2014 at 9:04pm
 Location: super somerset
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i have, since embarking on the FC trail always covered the folded bed boards with a cotton sheet x2 then pulled over the transport cover,covered that with cotton sheets to avoid condensation as i then cover them with a heavy duty tarpaulin, the unit is then slid under our car port style camper cover, roof only ,open all sides, we have done this since our first PULLMAN FC in 2001, and thankfully we have had no problems,also have always left all the bits on board ,

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That's not a dog....... That's a Schnauzer


Personchris329a
24/10/2014 at 1:51pm
 Location: Hampshire
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I strip my Fiesta on a hot summers day and put everything in the loft. I have lots of cardboard boxes there which aren't damp so I know it's fine. I put a thick tarp over the top and take the stress off the wheels to avoid flaf spots. Personally I wouldn't recommend putting a moisture trap insids something not sealed as it'll only draw in the ambient air moisture.


Personfrederico
28/10/2014 at 10:09pm
 Location: Blyth Northumberland
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I had a Conway Crusader. I took out the mattresses and put them in the loft. I put a small plastic dinghy and an airbed under the transit cover to avoid puddles. A waterproof tarpaulin on top of the transit cover and right down the sides of the camper. Then a proper camper cover to hold it all down. Camper was always in good condition in the Spring. See Photo


Personfrederico
28/10/2014 at 10:11pm
 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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Forgot to say. Took wheels off and put 'winter wheels' on see my previous picture.


PersonKelper
02/11/2014 at 9:19am
 Location: Northern Ireland
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Used to store the matresses under beds in house .... stored roof box under the wintercover to provide a pitched 'roof' and avoid any puddling.



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