Mad French Rapido Folding Caravans.

[tich]

As I've had folk asking & looking around my caravan at SGL7 & SGL9 I thought I'd add my tuppenceworth as an alternative.
If camping in a tent isn't your thing anymore then I think these quirky folding caravans could be the next best thing before owning a regular caravan. They made 3 models the Confort, Record & Export. After 1982 models made had torsion springs to aid unfolding of it & were called Confortmatic, Recordmatic & Exportmatic. As I have an Export two people are needed to unfold it as it is quite heavy however the Confort can be done solo. I keep saying I ought to downsize to a Confort so I can set up by myself but I'd miss the extra room of the Export. There is also the rarer 2 berth Confort T which has a separate washroom a model I've considered owning too.

Ok so these aren't as luxurious as proper caravans & they are pretty basic but it has everything in it that I need, plus it can sleep up to 6. Not bad when you consider it folds down to the size of a trailer. It also only weighs 650KG The Confort being much lighter around 500KG so I think they can still be towed by folk who passed their test after 1997 but it would need to be confirmed with the Matic models are a bit heavier.

I know there are other models of folding caravans out there but they just don't seem to be as big as these.

The video below gives you an idea on how these work but if you do buy one I'd get some practise in first setting it up plus you need to get these things level before unfolding or nothing will fit together.

They stopped making these in 1990 but the more extras you can get with it the better, things like floor heater, fridge,awning etc. Be warned though there are plenty of bad ones out there but there is also bargains to be had too if you know where to look. Mine only cost 300 quid & while it was usable as is I have done some work to it so it probably owes me around 500 quid. For that I've got a fully functioning caravan with cooker/ grill, floor heater, awnings of various combinations & a fridge.









Mmmmm very 70's lol.







I run a forum about these as I couldn't find out anything about them from the clubs here in the UK & I have since learned a great deal about them. Spares are pretty scarce though but a lot of repairs can be done by yourself with a bit of ingenuity.

 

[AllanJ]

I just like the thing that such a small caravan has a front door and a back door!

Allan

[tich]

I should have added that bit Alan but it's only my model that has the 2 doors, still the Confort has it's own party trick.



 

[astronymonkey]

Hi tich,

ive got to say I was impressed with yours at sgl9.

Also served as a great beer tent on the sunday night

Cheers

ian

[tich]

I'd rather it called a beer tent than a burger van lol,
Depending on how long I'll be there for next year I may bring & set up a full awning for next years beer fest.
 

[garethmob]

fair play tich i do love your little folding camper!    they were actually what i wanted before i got mine (due to the fact i have the post 1997 licence) and if one came around now for the right price i would snap it up straight away. 

loving the 60s clock on the table!

[tich]

loving the 60s clock on the table!

It's one of those Bush reproduction radios Gaz, looks the part though I keep meaning to bring it with me but always forget lol.

If you could ever find a Confort T for the right price then they are definitely the ones to go for as it can be set up solo.

This is a photo of the one my mate used to own, no 70's décor in these.

[garethmob]

it looks very smart fair play althrough i think i like the 70s decore haha,    

[tich]

Think I might hang a glitter ball from the ceiling

[cotterless45]

I feel flares coming on !

[Beulah]

I've seen trailer tents before and they are great, but never a folding caravan. Very nice. 

[ollypenrice]

Looks good. We see lots of Rapidos in France and, indeed, I saw one for sale recently. We went for a tiny Eriba Puck pop top instead, in the end, but it has a fraction of the space yours has.

Olly

[tich]

They are a very clever design I have to admit just a pity they aren't made any more as with rising fuel prices & the changed towing laws I think these would sell very well nowadays. Yeah the walls are quite thin but I'm sure with today's insulating technologies they could improve them, but I have to say I've never been cold in mine. I've made a few friends in France who own these one guy has got loads of different types from the early 60's/70's all wooden models to the later models although he doesn't own any of the rarer T models yet!

I did think about buying a rough one & putting it in the garden to use as an observatory once but as the back garden is shared access it isn't the most secure so it's put me off having a permanent set up. Pity really as I did have one for spares & sold it on & it would have been ideal but I never had any scopes back then.

[Snookie]

I have the option of the recordamatic, awning, porch and original interior, does this do the 'party trick'? Are they really a good, useable thing in all weather and can it be put up solo?

[tich]

Recordmaticss are really a 2 person set up & unfortunately it's only Conforts that open up. I've been using these for years now although I do prefer the earlier 70's models. Over the years they have been used in all weathers at star parties too with wind rain or on the odd nights when we do have clear skies & the temperatures drop below 0. 

We use this one now & have used it at Kelling Heath a couple of times fingers crossed we'll get to go again this year although I do miss SGL & the South Wales star parties too. Hopefully I'll find some work with more flexible holidays soon.
 

I do run a forum about these bonkers caravans so if you're interested in finding more or anything else you're welcome to join;
http:// https://rapidofoldingcaravan.freeforums.net/

Edited May 29, 2021 by tich

[JamesF]

I must have missed this thread first time around, seven years ago.  These caravans are bonkers, but I don't mean that in a bad way :)

James

[Goldfinger]

On 04/05/2014 at 09:36, tich said:

As I've had folk asking & looking around my caravan at SGL7 & SGL9 I thought I'd add my tuppenceworth as an alternative.
If camping in a tent isn't your thing anymore then I think these quirky folding caravans could be the next best thing before owning a regular caravan. They made 3 models the Confort, Record & Export. After 1982 models made had torsion springs to aid unfolding of it & were called Confortmatic, Recordmatic & Exportmatic. As I have an Export two people are needed to unfold it as it is quite heavy however the Confort can be done solo. I keep saying I ought to downsize to a Confort so I can set up by myself but I'd miss the extra room of the Export. There is also the rarer 2 berth Confort T which has a separate washroom a model I've considered owning too.

Ok so these aren't as luxurious as proper caravans & they are pretty basic but it has everything in it that I need, plus it can sleep up to 6. Not bad when you consider it folds down to the size of a trailer. It also only weighs 650KG The Confort being much lighter around 500KG so I think they can still be towed by folk who passed their test after 1997 but it would need to be confirmed with the Matic models are a bit heavier.

I know there are other models of folding caravans out there but they just don't seem to be as big as these.

The video below gives you an idea on how these work but if you do buy one I'd get some practise in first setting it up plus you need to get these things level before unfolding or nothing will fit together.
 

 

They stopped making these in 1990 but the more extras you can get with it the better, things like floor heater, fridge,awning etc. Be warned though there are plenty of bad ones out there but there is also bargains to be had too if you know where to look. Mine only cost 300 quid & while it was usable as is I have done some work to it so it probably owes me around 500 quid. For that I've got a fully functioning caravan with cooker/ grill, floor heater, awnings of various combinations & a fridge.









Mmmmm very 70's lol.







I run a forum about these as I couldn't find out anything about them from the clubs here in the UK & I have since learned a great deal about them. Spares are pretty scarce though but a lot of repairs can be done by yourself with a bit of ingenuity.

 

 

I spent 10 years as a gold nugget prospector traveling between Arizona and Nevada during the 90's and I NEVER saw anything like that before. That's pretty cool and wish I would have had something like that back then.