Welcome. to the fold. Conway. Countryman. If you re looking for a lightweight van Conway s latest camper, with new acrylic walls, could be for you

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Live-in test Four-berth folding camper Conway Countryman Price... 8995 Berths... 4 Overall length... 4m Width...1.84m Overall height... 1.30m MiRO... 580kg MTPLM... 750kg User payload.

Photography: Phil Russell The cost of upgrading to a heavier towcar or having the correct driving licence entitlement to pull a larger van can put people off caravanning.

The Conway Countryman weighs just 750kg, so can be towed by virtually any car, saving the inconvenience and cost of buying a bigger vehicle.

1 Live-in test Four-berth folding camper Conway Countryman Price Berths... 4 Overall length... 4m Width m Overall height m MiRO kg MTPLM kg User payload...170kg Terms explained on page 99 Welcome to the fold If you re looking for a lightweight van Conway s latest camper, with new acrylic walls, could be for you Words: stacie pardoe. Photography: Phil Russell The cost of upgrading to a heavier towcar or having the correct driving licence entitlement to pull a larger van can put people off caravanning. Folding campers offer an alternative. They re light and cheap to tow, so are an increasingly attractive choice for first-time buyers. The Conway Countryman weighs just 750kg, so can be towed by virtually any car, saving the inconvenience and cost of buying a bigger vehicle. Its size also makes towing and reversing less daunting for potential caravanners who have yet to hone their towing skills. And, because it can be stored in a garage you save money on offseason storage fees. The Pennine Group, the market leader in folding campers, has been The Deeleys were impressed that a TV point had been included. Lounge seats are easy to assemble and comfy and the beds can be screened off 50 DECEMBER making vans since 1977 and the 2010 Conway Platinum range is one of the brand s biggest developments yet. This year the company has replaced its usual cotton canvas on the van with acrylic material supplied by leading awning company Isabella. The acrylic sheds water more easily and is more resistant to shrinkage and mildew than cotton canvas. Other improvements include a fixed kitchen so there is less assembly of furnishings than in other folding vans. Reader testers Trish and John Deeley took Conway s new twin fixed-bed Countryman to Kingsbury Water Park Caravan Club Site in Warwickshire to see if a folding camper offers a real alternative. A new set up As Trish and John get to grips with the Countryman they quickly realise that the phrase setting up takes on a new significance. Usually getting the steadies down is one of their first jobs when reaching site, but the first task today is erecting the van. John unclips the waterproof cover and Trish gives him a hand to roll it off. It s a good idea that it rolls into itself and stows away at the front of the van, says Trish. You don t have to worry about finding a place to store it. The next step is opening out the cover. With the cover off, everything is exposed, says John. Ideally, there would be no rain. There is a waterproof sheet over it all, Trish adds, so it wouldn t be a tragedy if it were drizzling. John gets on with lifting out the beds. They are on gas struts, which makes it simple, he says. And there is a support arm so someone else can help, says Trish. They are impressed as the frame opens and the legs at either end touch the ground without a struggle. That s brilliant. You just need to give it a slight push and the gas struts do all the hard work, says John. All we need to do is set the adjustable leg poles to make sure its level and pin them down. With the bed frames done Trish and John pop inside for the finishing touches. It s very similar to an awning construction, Trish points out as she helps John get the poles into place. All that s needed is to tension the poles and fit the fabric and curtains. Once the sidewalls and curtains have been fitted, they can be left on over the season so setting up a second time is quicker.

The bed areas are supported by adjustable legs that drop down when the sides are unfolded This month s testers Trish and John Deeley Trish and John have 29 years touring

Since then their trips have taken them to France, Spain, Andorra, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Holland and Germany.

Their current caravan is a 2009 Swift Charisma 540 which they tow with a 2002 Toyota Landcruiser Colorado.

It is pinned rather than hinged and must be lifted up and removed. Trying to open the lid in the usual way would bend the pins. wouldn t work as well with a darker colour.

As she waits for it to boil she pokes around the kitchen. I am really surprised with the space in here, she says. It is bigger and better than many conventional vans.

The only part you have to fit is the shelf unit, which takes seconds. Once the van is up John and Trish get a full overview of the interior.

2 The bed areas are supported by adjustable legs that drop down when the sides are unfolded This month s testers Trish and John Deeley Trish and John have 29 years touring experience. They started out when their first child was two. After a weekend break to learn the ropes there was no looking back. Since then their trips have taken them to France, Spain, Andorra, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Future plans include revisiting Venice, touring more of Scandinavia and northern Scotland. Their current caravan is a 2009 Swift Charisma 540 which they tow with a 2002 Toyota Landcruiser Colorado. Promise Practical Caravan s Enthusiast Teams have been picked for their experience and passion for caravans and caravanning. The gas locker lid causes concern. It is pinned rather than hinged and must be lifted up and removed. Trying to open the lid in the usual way would bend the pins. wouldn t work as well with a darker colour. Also, they are machine washable so they can be cleaned easily enough. First impressions The mention of chocolate biscuits prompts Trish to switch on the kettle. As she waits for it to boil she pokes around the kitchen. I am really surprised with the space in here, she says. It is bigger and better than many conventional vans. The two cupboards are huge with plenty of room to store groceries and plates. I also love the fact that it is all a solid fixture so you don t have to build any of it. The only part you have to fit is the shelf unit, which takes seconds. Once the van is up John and Trish get a full overview of the interior. It doesn t feel claustrophobic in here at all. In fact it feels very spacious, Trish says. It s airy because of the white fabric and the width, John notes. The colour worries Trish: I am not too sure how practical the white curtains and fabric would be. There would be no eating choccie biscuits in bed, says John. Trish goes on: The fabric does make it feel bright. I suppose it Space to make tea TOP LEFT Kitchen has a grill and four-burner hob but no oven LEFT Storage is good but the fridge (above) seems small DECEMBER

Live-in test Four-berth folding camper Putting up the Conway is fairly simple.

She also loved the large area of worktop space and the cupboard storage below. There is a hob and grill but no oven, and the large window provides plenty of natural light side, I love the big window.

I wasn t expecting a TV point, he says, and having a chest on either side of the lounge is great. We both have a space to rest cups or books.

There is plenty of room for four to sit around it. I love that there are slots in the seat bases to slide the table legs into. That s great attention to detail.

You would forever be moving it around, she says. quite dark.

That is a compromise with this type of van. Still, it would be easy enough to run an extension lead to the worktop. The fridge is quite small, says Trish, as she pops the milk away.

I could cope without the oven as we mostly use the barbecue anyway. Also, there is good aisle space so you can move around each other easily.

3 Live-in test Four-berth folding camper Putting up the Conway is fairly simple. John reckons that once you have the hang of it setting up could be done in 10 minutes Trish was impressed that the kitchen is fixed so no building is involved. She also loved the large area of worktop space and the cupboard storage below. There is a hob and grill but no oven, and the large window provides plenty of natural light side, I love the big window. It lets lots of light in during the day. Bad As he carries on setting up the lounge John spots a TV aerial point near the end chest, an ideal stand for their flat-screen TV. That s a nice touch. I wasn t expecting a TV point, he says, and having a chest on either side of the lounge is great. We both have a space to rest cups or books. You could easily place a lamp here to compensate for the shortage of mains lights. Trish erects the dining table to try it for size. It s a sturdy full-size table, she says. There is plenty of room for four to sit around it. I love that there are slots in the seat bases to slide the table legs into. That s great attention to detail. Putting the table away is not so easy because there is no dedicated storage place for it. You would have to leave it propped up in the kitchen or resting on a bed, which isn t ideal. You would forever be moving it around, she says. quite dark. The white Fitting it all in DIY lounge The table is a good size for four people to use but storing it is difficult John points out that there is only one power point and it is set quite low. That is a compromise with this type of van. Still, it would be easy enough to run an extension lead to the worktop. The fridge is quite small, says Trish, as she pops the milk away. But you could get a couple of days essentials in there and you could always use a cool box in the awning. The hob and grill are adequate for cooking. I could cope without the oven as we mostly use the barbecue anyway. Also, there is good aisle space so you can move around each other easily. There is even room for fitting a flip-up extension at the end of the worktop, she says. You can never have too much worktop in my opinion. The only downside I can see in the kitchen is that there is only one light the only one in the entire van in fact. This may make it a bit gloomy in the evening. On the plus Good The kitchen is excellent. There is good storage While waiting for his tea John gets to grips with the sofa back rests. The lounge has two parallel sofas with back rests that slot into place. This is a very clever and easy construction, he says as he slides the back rests into the fitted brackets. Once you ve popped the brackets into place you slide on the back board and position the cushions. They are really sturdy and comfy, confirms Trish, joining John in the lounge to relax. John realises there s another advantage: They can also be left fitted because they don t get in the way of the beds at night. Only one light makes it and work space and it is mostly fabric brightens up the interior but a solid structure, so there is no with little ones it wouldn t stay clean additional asssembly. The canvas for very long. The lack of a quality is good. The weight and washroom could be a major price should attract first-timers. inconvenience for some. 52 DECEMBER The thought of storage prompts Trish to scan the remaining space in the Conway. With the two of us it wouldn t be a struggle. There are shelves and drawers in each of the

The Deeleys find the double beds feel large and sturdy chests and space under each seat. The lack of a wardrobe may be an issue for some but if desperate you could hang items from the poles, she says.

We always use ours and I think with a van of this size it would be a bonus. Also the bed skirts are a fantastic idea.

Sleeping soundly The Countryman s layout has fixed double beds flanking the lounge. These are the areas that most resemble tents so Trish and John are keen to see how well they work.

4 The Deeleys find the double beds feel large and sturdy chests and space under each seat. The lack of a wardrobe may be an issue for some but if desperate you could hang items from the poles, she says. We would also use the second bed to dump our bags if we didn t have the grandkids with us. The optional awning would make a real difference, says John. We always use ours and I think with a van of this size it would be a bonus. Also the bed skirts are a fantastic idea. With these added plus the awning the whole outside of the van becomes a huge storage area. There would be no problem finding room to leave the bikes and barbecue, adds John. Sleeping soundly The Countryman s layout has fixed double beds flanking the lounge. These are the areas that most resemble tents so Trish and John are keen to see how well they work. These are great-sized doubles, he says. Neither of us is especially tall. Nonetheless the length and headroom are really good. I m impressed by how sturdy they are, she says. I was expecting them to be a bit wobbly but they re not at all. They are handy for reading in bed, he comments. What a shame they are not higher because they would bang against your head if you were sleeping at that end. Also, it is a shame there aren t pockets at either end to give the option of where to sleep, adds Trish. And the lack of lights may be a pain if you want to read at night. You could hang a lightweight lantern off the poles overhead. Slots in the seat base allow the table to be pushed underneath. RIGHT Sofas have an adjacent chest An inner tent surrounds the beds for extra wind protection, while a screen and curtains provide privacy. They zip themselves in to test its cosiness. It is like being in a cocoon, says Trish. Once you are zipped in, it is very warm and surprisingly quiet. We probably wouldn t use the privacy screen if it were just the two of us on holiday, but they would work well when the little ones are with us. Talk of the grandkids brings a smile to their faces. They would love this van, she says, especially the bed. They could use it in the day to sit and play games and at night it would become their den. I could see it being great fun for them. John liked the fabric pockets on the end walls of the fixed beds. We say Stacie says Young families and couples taking up touring should not rule out the Countryman as their starter van. Its generous kitchen, comfy lounge and twin fixed beds rival what s on offer in many standard budget vans and at a much lower price and weight. Something s missing? The Countryman s lack of washroom is a compromise that is made in most folding campers. I would expect most people considering one of these to have upgraded from a tent so it wouldn t be an issue, says John. For us, we would manage because we mostly stay on sites with facilities anyway. Yes, we would manage, notes Trish. It does restrict which sites you can stay on unless you are happy to use a Porta Potti. We would probably use one if the grandkids were staying. There is plenty of room to leave it in the aisle for night runs or even in the awning, says Trish. DECEMBER

Live-in test Four-berth folding camper Compact and clever Trish and John share their final thoughts as they close the Countryman up. Overall, I am very impressed with how well it works, says Trish.

The construction is excellent and the van is much easier than I thought to put up and down, adds John. I reckon you could get it up and ready in 10 minutes after a few attempts at it.

We never felt cold and you do feel as though you are in a standard caravan, rather than a tent, which may be another concern for some. John comments, It is a very versatile van.

Perhaps we are too spoilt after all these years caravanning to go back to something more basic, says Trish. However, this would be great fun if we were starting out again with children.

CONway Countryman The Pennine Group, Chester Street, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 0SD Tel 01254 355 704 Web www. thepenninegroup.co.uk Dealers 22 (nationwide) 1.90m 2.

5 Live-in test Four-berth folding camper Compact and clever Trish and John share their final thoughts as they close the Countryman up. Overall, I am very impressed with how well it works, says Trish. Looking at it from the outside you would think it would be tiny inside but it isn t. They have worked the space out really well. The construction is excellent and the van is much easier than I thought to put up and down, adds John. I reckon you could get it up and ready in 10 minutes after a few attempts at it. Some people may worry that because the van has canvas walls it will be cold inside but the fan heater works really well. We never felt cold and you do feel as though you are in a standard caravan, rather than a tent, which may be another concern for some. John comments, It is a very versatile van. Being able to shut off the bed areas means there is huge play potential for young children. And I can see it working just as well with teenagers. Perhaps we are too spoilt after all these years caravanning to go back to something more basic, says Trish. However, this would be great fun if we were starting out again with children. It has masses of appeal for young families and for couples who are upgrading from canvas and want an affordable first van. CONway Countryman The Pennine Group, Chester Street, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 0SD Tel Web www. thepenninegroup.co.uk Dealers 22 (nationwide) 1.90m 2.05m VITAL STATS Price 8995 Berths 4 MiRO 580kg MTPLM 750kg User payload 170kg Awning size 435x250cm 1.30m (height when stowed) caravanguard INSURANCE QUOTE 157 * 2.80m 1.84m illustrations: Alan eldridge Standard equipment Construction IXL fibreglass frame. Al-Ko chassis. Aluminium sidewalls. External equipment Button-assisted handbrake. External TV point. Alloy wheels. Rear LED lights. Heating Truma blown-air heater. Lounge Drop-in carpets. TV point. Double bed 1.22m x 2.07m Kitchen Dometic 60-litre fridge. Four-burner gas hob. Separate grill. Washroom N/A Security N/A Warranty One-year standard. Three-year extended ( 199). options Isabella awning 435cm x 250cm ( 1150).. Bedskirts ( 299 each). 4.28m Double bed 1.22m x 2.07m Gas locker lid sits on pins rather than hinges and lifts up and out to open *for insurance quotes Terms and conditions see page DECEMBER

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