Rapido Export folding caravan- any thoughts/opinions?

[marmiteandhoney]

We've just been offered first refusal of a 1990s folding 'van, along with its awning. I don't really know anything about them. We're tent campers, and love our tent, but would love to be able to extend our camping season, and wonder if this might make it possible.

Anything we need to know/keep in mind/ask the owners?

Hi, I have been after one of these for ages! They are brilliant. Especially if it is the older type such as the confort or export. The export was the biggest they did.They do have problems with damp sometimes but hey they are old now! Go for it and if you don't let me know where it is for sale!
Ellen

We bought it, and are off on holiday in it tomorrow! Wish us luck getting it up and down!

We had the ex-owners round to help us get it up, then had it up outside our house for a week or so, pottering around, sorting out stuff to go in the cupboards etc, and slept in it one night (yes, on our drive, outside our house, all six of us).

Then some friends came past and got all excited and it turns out they've got a rapido (not as posh a one as us though ), so they came round to help us get it down. Ripped dh's clerical shirt when one of the walls slipped from my grasp (honest, guv!), and now just have to remember how it all goes.

No idea what to do with the awning. Am hoping that there'll be a friendly caravanner at the campsite who'll take pity on us and show us what to do!

It is such a clever piece of kit, though. And in really good nick- we're lucky buggers.

Well, it was hell to put up (two hours and two thumbs sacrificed to the cause), but the biggest doddle ever to put down.

We were in Cornwall on a high, unsheltered campsite in gales. It took quite a battering (we had one night when we both slept with one eye open in case it decided to collapse around us), but stood up to it really well.

Didn't bother with the awning due to the atrocious weather!

Was fab to be warm. Couldn't believe how much warmer it was than a tent. And nice to have indoor space to eat/cook when the weather is foul.

We'll be giving it another go in July, and will see if we can do better putting it up this time!