Newly discovered

Just thought I would say hello.

I found this forum whilst searching for Dandy campers. I'm into astronomy and go away quite a bit for weekend star parties. The trouble is that they tend to be when the nights are long which also means cold and having been in hospital earlier this year with my chest I've been banned from camping on the ground in a normal tent.

The wife says there isn't room to store a caravan and it wouldn't be worth the cost of storage as it is only for me and my astronomy (cheek!)

Anyway I started looking at trailer tents/ folding campers and spotted a Dandy which looked ideal due to the insulation and the ability to pack it away after a soggy weekend in October without worrying about it rotting away before I got chance to air it out.

I'll trawl through your site looking for tips and hints on what to look for when buying one whilst I save up. It seems, as the rest of the family refuse to camp, that my budget will be pretty limited so will need to stretch it as far as possible.

I look forward to learning more and I'm sure I'll be full of questions when my search skills show their limitations!

Cheers

Paul

A dandy sounds ideal for what your looking for and you can pick them
Up reasonably cheap if you are good at a bit of DIY.

We will try and help you find what your looking for.

Thanks Shaun - yes not too bad at DIY.

Looking round I see there are 2 main flavours - one that I would call a trailer tent with the door at the rear of the trailer and the othe more a folding camper where the door is at the side so you get a wider trailer with facilities more akin to a caravan.

I've seen winterised mentioned. Is that when they have 2 layers with insulation or are they all like that and it refers to insulated floor/hearing or something else? (Obviously camping from early March and Late October that's something I'm rather interested in)

Other than that is there a general set of specifications for each model Or are they so customised that you wouldn't be able to get a good idea from just model/year?

Last one for now... Does the pic "canvas pretty much last forever unless you poke holes in it or does it deteriorate with time and regular flexing?

Cheers

Paul

Heating not hearing - damn tiny iphone touch keyboard

Haitch wrote:Thanks Shaun - yes not too bad at DIY.

Looking round I see there are 2 main flavours - one that I would call a trailer tent with the door at the rear of the trailer and the othe more a folding camper where the door is at the side so you get a wider trailer with facilities more akin to a caravan.

I've seen winterised mentioned. Is that when they have 2 layers with insulation or are they all like that and it refers to insulated floor/hearing or something else? (Obviously camping from early March and Late October that's something I'm rather interested in)

Other than that is there a general set of specifications for each model Or are they so customised that you wouldn't be able to get a good idea from just model/year?

Last one for now... Does the pic "canvas pretty much last forever unless you poke holes in it or does it deteriorate with time and regular flexing?

Cheers

Paul

Ok well the way the dandy was built depends on the size of the unit. A small dandy has the door at the end but a larger dandy is at the side like you say to make more room. the general layout and specification is very different.

It would appear that a Dandy was pretty much built to order, extra windows, insulation, heating all varies on different ones I have seen.

The PVC walls of a dandy are very robust, the only time they will be damaged is by accident, a sharp point or large amount of pressure causing the PVC to rip. All of the dandys come with an insulated roof, this is where 2 layers of PVC enclose an insulation layer to reduce condensation, this method has also been used on some walls if requested to have the same effect. My old smaller Dandy has insulated walls, my newer one doesnt.

As for heating, some have underfloor gas heaters, some later models have propex heating, some have have none at all. I personally use a thermostat controlled heater however I always camp with an electric hook up.

I am yet to see 2 Dandys that are completely identical and that is the beauty of them.

That explains why I was finding it so difficult to compare the ones I had seen. I'm currently upto around £350 saved towards it so will have to see what comes along at my price bracket as I save until I reach a price point/quality/style of Dandy combo that suits me.

Cheers

Paul

Hi Haitch and welcome. Sounds like a dandy would be ideal. If its only you a smaller rear entry tye wuld be best aas its easier to erect singlehanded.

A 4 4/5 or 5 in brown would do and that would be from the 70s up until about 1987.

In 1987 they changed to light blue & white and had names. 4 became dart, 4/5 became delta, 5 became discovery or designer depending on whether it had a settee or table on the left.

They were all similar in layout with 2 fold out double beds, one converting to settee, but differed in the bench or seat on the left of the door.

4 Dart trailer width 4 feet, small bench 11 inch wide bench on left.
4/5 Delta trailer width 4ft 10 in larger bench 18 inch wide on left, makes bed for small child.
5 Discovery trailer width 5ft 10in 24in wide bed.bench converting to settee on left. Also has extra kitchen cupboard on left.
5 Designer trailer width 5ft 10in 24in wide table and two seats converting to bed left
The side entry will be too big for you single handed.

Internal storage is in the kitchen cupboards and the bench/seat on the left of the door. There is room on the floor for more storage when folded. This will be 1foot high but should take a porta potti, water containers, step. Sleeping bag can lay over the stuff on the floor. Pillows can go in the bench/seat storage.

All have a 2 ring plus grille cooker, sink and cold water pump. No fridge or hot water. There is room on the right of the kitchen for a small chest fridge which can be 3 way (gas, 240v electric for hook up and 12v when travelling).
There is room for a porta potti inside at night, put it outside during the day or in a toilet tent.

You will probably end up with no electric hook up so I suggest you buy one with the under floor heater which uses gas and no electric at all. The modern Propex heaters need 12v power from a battery as well as gas. The underfloor heaters were fitted as an option up until about 1997 ish.

You can tell if the walls are insulated as they will usually be white inside whereas the PVC may be two colours outside.

Good luck

Right I think I've got enough info to start trawling classifieds & eBay and not buy the wrong thing.

I've just rotted my funds iPad I think I've broken through the £500 barrier so maybe take a look at whether that can get me anything.

One other question - can the pvc be repaired in a permanent and neat way if the U.S. A small rip or tear?

How on earth did the phone turn there is into the U.S.?

Omg totted not rotted and up and not iPad >:-(

Ian at Riva Leisure sells PVC patch kits in various colours. I have a feeling PVC repairs could put some buyers off.

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Thanks for that Navver. What sort of adhesive would you use on it?

Probably worth ringing Ian at Riva as it may come with the patch.

I did get some PVC repair patches and glue from Millets to repair a PVC thing of mine (no not a doll). It was made for repairing airbeds.

It will need to be specifically made for PVC.

Thanks - hopefully I'll get one that isn't in need of it but it's good to know. I've got an old heavy cotton canvas frame tent and it's a bugger to stick anything to. They say to use copydex but it doesn't make for the neatest of repairs and doesn't last brilliantly either.

Hello

Blast I can't find either thing I'm looking for:
Cazz and Wayne used their Dandy(s) for stargazing. I was hoping for a picture of them doing so at Utopia Paradise in Norfolk but can't find anything.
Adhesive for cut PVC. Both Ian Smith (Riva sales) and Mick Withers [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] will sell you PVC for patches.
Small cuts especially on the inside of the insulated roof can be dealt with by using Tenacious Tape [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Cuts on the PVC proper are rare and you should be looking at a large discount or just go look at another Dandy.
Ian Smith and Riva is well known but Mick at UndercoverCI  does some lovely covers. Phoenix's and an extra depth one for Mike's 6. PVC can be heat welded or there is a specialist adhesive. H-H something or other. I can't find the name at the moment but it can easily be found if needed. (Mick Withers sells it) So just like Mr Kennedy we will miss that bridge when we come to it. (you have to be of a certain age to get that last comment.

If forced to choose between a Dandy with the extra insulation on the walls or one with the under floor heater I'd take the heater every time.