Anyone got a folding camper?

[ItsSpittingEverybodyIn]

We have just bought a folding camper, I'm so excited to get using it, but we are totally new to the whole thing and I am hoping someone can give us some tips on everything!
There are 5 of us, me, dh and three young kids (7 and under) we bought the Pennine Sterling 2010 model, so it has electric, heater, lights, cold water pumped sink, gas hobs and grill, plenty of storage but no toilet. So I am going to buy a chemical loo, no idea which one so ideas for that would be helpful, also how difficult are the awnings to put up?
We have never towed anything before so bit nervous about that.
Do they rain in at all? I'm told they don't and I'm hoping that's the case, as guaranteed as soon as camping is allowed it will be wet.
Really hoping people will be along to give some pointers!

No idea why it's in 30 days!

No folding camper (we have a trailer tent) but we've just bought a portable loo and decided on the Thetford portapotti 565 - there was a great deal on Amazon. We're now looking at toilet tents, and have bought a rechargeable shower

Thank you I shall look the Thetford up, and also the rechargeable shower, that sounds good!

I got this shower, though I wanted the Collapz

They are such a good idea I'm going to put one on the list, essential with little kids. Do you stand in something while you shower so that you can tip the water away?

I haven't got anything yet - my initial use will be rinsing myself off after lake swimming, and I'll just stand on the grass (I bought a 12l water carrier with a wide cap so I can take water with me and drop the shower pump straight in). But I was thinking about one of the wide, shallow, flexitrugs which would be useful for all sorts of things as well as showering in. And with your little kids they can sit in it like a paddling pool

What is the difference between a folding camper and a trailer tent? I'm not sure what we have. It doesn't have a shower or loo but it does have heating, light and running water.

For a shower I use a solar shower. Essentially a bag of water that you hang from a tree.

I think its a bit of a blurry line between the two, but Camperlands says a folding camper has cupboards and doesn't need pegging, wheras a trailer tent generally just has lockers, and needs pegging out.

Ah. You can use ours on a hard surface if you don't want to use the awning. I've always referred to it as the trailer tent tough.

When we went and looked at them last year we were told that folding campers are literally the bottom half of a caravan, as if it's been sliced in half and the top part is made of canvas, not to be confused with a folding caravan though, they have a solid roof (and possibly sides) it's very confusing lol.

Hi. We used to have the penine pullman. Is yours canvas?. So, the awnings are bastards, particularly if you are married to Mr I was in the Scouts and so everything has to be perfect, like I am. We used to get the unit up in about twenty mins but the awning took an hour. Canvas is really heavy! Generally, when we wanted to pack up it would be raining. Ggrrrrrrrr. We had a thetford loo with a flush type thing. The tank is heavy when water is in it so small trolley with luggage straps recommended to wheel to brown waste disposal. We had it in the awning with a shower curtain from the awning poles round it - only use for night time wee. We used to leave the cooker at home and cook using a camping stove on a unit in the awning. That way no smells inside and more surface room.

They are great fun. I got to the stage where putting up and down was hard work and our youngest son ( the tallest) wasn't coming with us any more to help so we've gone over to caravans. Towing is no probs. Stick velcro on the back and then to the number plate then easy to detach number plate.

Always ensure you do light checks before setting off towing and brake checks.

Have fun!

Yay! I’ve got one too! In fact I had a 1998 Sterling and we just moved to a Pathfinder. The older one was still great, it’s just that we decided we wanted some of the newer features so while we were at it we changed to a bigger model - but the Sterling accommodated us and our three teenagers very well!
Assume you’ve got water and waste carriers etc?After years of camping in tents without EHU we enjoyed the luxury of an electric kettle and toaster.
The awning can be a pain in the arse but generally the anticipation of having to do it is worse than the reality. However, I never put the awning up on the day of arrival, we just rough it in the cabin until the next morning when we’re all energised and happy!
One of my favourite things, once the awning is up, is to unzip the side of the folding camper that’s in the awning to make one beautiful big space, it’s a real bonus that you don’t get with a caravan.
Please don’t worry about the towing, you will barely notice it on the back, really straightforward (apart from reversing - try not to have to reverse!)
Hope you have a great time with yours, we’ve loved ours - and hoping for our first trip in the new one in a few weeks!

Hi there. We have a Conway Cruiser 1997. I've adapted a smaller porch awning by sewing on a zip. It's much easier to put up and pack away but doesn't give the massive space you get with the original awning. UK Campsite website has a really good forum for folding camper information: www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_forum_topics.asp?ForumID=10