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Going back to basics, we are in the middle of "trading down" and getting a Dandy folding camper, dead basic compared to our caravan, but just want rid of the hassle off owning a caravan. Our reasons, the hassle off late weekend getaways, dragging the caravan 50 miles on a Friday night, its in private storage at the moment with 2 more expensive vans than ours and they have both been targets of very expensive attempted break ins, could do with out that worry. I don't know if we are just unlucky but it is a constant battle just to keep it going, eg the hot water has justed stopped working, developed a wiring fault, took 4 hours to trace to a loose connector and the removal of several panels. And finally the ever rising fuel cost's, the cost of fuel is not a major part of this decision, but it does have an influence. We did buy a cheap Dandy to see if we liked it, used it for 2 days and decided we would like to go down the Dandy route, £1500 will buy you a cracker, peanuts money in caravan terms. But we keep looking at Freedom caravans, claimed to be towed behind Polo's and 1200cc Suzuki's etc. We did look at one years ago, thought the build quality was iffy to say the least, have they improved?  Can you tow them comfortably with a small car? We know to trade down to a Freedom might seem a bit daft to some of you, but 95% of the time we use as a quick w/end getaway, and to be blunt we enjoy the social aspect of caravaning rather than caravaning itself if you see what we mean. So when you've all stopped laughing anyone any comments, anyone own and run a Freedom, or even a Dandy? We are going to trade down just not fully committed as to what to!!!!!!!

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5232-2978-1/1?AID=9479574&PID=1428744&mpre=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FREEDOM-MICROLITE-CARAVAN-2004_W0QQitemZ170226243005QQihZ007QQcategoryZ32633QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thinking of haveing a look at this one.

We are away in a tent this weekend, so right back to basic's!!!!!!!!!

We have just 'traded up' to a lightweight caravan from a Conway folding camper. We tow with a 1.2 Micra which towed the f/c easily. We have bought a 2nd hand 'Fleurette' pop top caravan which at 750kg fully laden can be towed with our Micra. the unladen weight is 580kg., these weights are not much more than the f/c & within the 800kg towing limit of our Micra.

We had the f/c for a year & decided that it took far too long to erect & pack away & we were constantly twitchy abou the weather & the dreaded rain!

We're both 'senior citizens' albeit active ones & we will be so pleased to leave all the putting up & taking down behind us - the poptop will be plenty!

I've not seen a Freedom caravan (and I can't see the link as e-Bay is blocked at work!!), but I can't imagine they are roomy?? 

My parents have had 3 Dandies - 2 6's and a 4 - and only went to a caravan as they decided the Dandy was getting to be too hard (Dad had a disc removed and 4 vertebrae fused 38 years ago and has to be a bit careful now he's not a spring chicken anymore (!!) and mum has arthritic knees) - they loved the 6s.  They said there wasn't enough room in the 4, even for the two of them (and having had a 4-bert folding camper in the past myself, I agree!).

I would think a Dandy (6) would give you more space.  And unlike canvas, you don't have to worry about folding it wet (but then - you know that!). 

(BTW - I don't think you are 'mad' at all ... we've got the caravan as a compromise!  i persuaded hubby to try camping and we got a Pennine Pathfinder - I LOVED it.  He loved the social bit of camping, loved being in a field, didn't like the canvas!  So we got the caravan, and I spend a lot of time in the awning!!)

I've had two Freedoms whilst waiting to get my kamper and they are a brilliant little van for little money.

Things to look out for especially on the older poptop models was the roof/wall lining falling off/drooping sagging as the foam backing deteriates over time.

I never had one of the newer models so cannot comment but seen a few on sites and they look OK.

Other than that they are a cheap and cheerful towed mine with a Golf diesel no probs.

Kev 

Quote: Originally posted by Tom,n,Gill on 06/6/2008

Going back to basics, we are in the middle of "trading down" and getting a Dandy folding camper, dead basic

---

compared to our caravan, but just want rid of the hassle
off owning a caravan. Our reasons, the hassle off late
weekend getaways, dragging the caravan 50 miles on a
Friday night, its in private storage at the moment with
2 more expensive vans than ours and they have both been
targets of very expensive attempted break ins, could do
with out that worry. I don't know if we are just unlucky
but it is a constant battle just to keep it going, eg
the hot water has justed stopped working, developed a
wiring fault, took 4 hours to trace to a loose connector
and the removal of several panels. And finally the ever
rising fuel cost's, the cost of fuel is not a major part
of this decision, but it does have an influence. We did
buy a cheap Dandy to see if we liked it, used it for 2
days and decided we would like to go down the Dandy
route, £1500 will buy you a cracker, peanuts money in
caravan terms. But we keep looking at Freedom caravans,
claimed to be towed behind Polo's and 1200cc Suzuki's
etc. We did look at one years ago, thought the build
quality was iffy to say the least, have they improved?
Can you tow them comfortably with a small car? We know
to trade down to a Freedom might seem a bit daft to some
of you, but 95% of the time we use as a quick w/end
getaway, and to be blunt we enjoy the social aspect of
caravaning rather than caravaning itself if you see what
we mean. So when you've all stopped laughing anyone any
comments, anyone own and run a Freedom, or even a Dandy?
We are going to trade down just not fully committed as

to what
to!!!!!!!

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5232-2978-1/1?AI
D=9479574&PID=1428744&mpre=http://rover.ebay.com/rover/
1/710-5232-2978-1/1?AID=9479574&PID=1428744&mpre=http://cgi
.ebay.co.uk/FREEDOM
-MICROLITE-CARAVAN-2004_W0QQitemZ170226243005QQihZ007QQca
tegoryZ32633QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thinking of haveing a look at this one.

We
are away in a tent this weekend, so right back to
basic's!!!!!!!!!

The Freedom shown on ebay looks good, I would always go and see anything on ebay, photos can make things look better than they really are.  Make sure you are happy with the seller, if he has no previous track record/feedback.  The small pop up roof caravans are a good way to go.  Eribas are very expensive, but spending say £3,000 or so on a well cared for Puck model could be a wise investment.  I found some owners of Eriba and Rapido type caravans stored their caravans in their garage, thus some are in amazing condition. 

John