Canvas fold out campers and pop-tops, how do they go in the wind?

Hi

Friends have purchased an old pop-top camper called a Jaco Finch. Its the size of a trailer with canvas sides but solid roof. I think its great but they said it does not handle a reasonable breeze and they close it up concerned the canvas might tear. Never used it myself but have been looking for something similar cheap that needs some work. I like the idea of the trailer sized vehicle but still having some build in cupboards kitchen etc and being off the ground.
Most of the coast in SA however is pretty windy and wondered if the fold out tents, which sit lower, might be better.
Does anyone have experience with either or both to comment?

I've got a forward fold camper hard floor camper and had a side fold soft floor before that. Never had any fear of the canvas ripping in the wind. The only real issue is if you park it right in full force of the wind is the flapping and shaking when you're trying to sleep. It's all about set up location..

Depending on how many people you want to accommodate a Jayco Penguin might suit. Similar wind up camper, but without the fold out ends. This makes it far quicker to put up, & less canvas to flap around. Has the benefit over those that fold out at the ends in that you can just stop for a cuppa or whatever without having to muck around folding out the ends, necessary on all end folders just to be useable. Just wind it up & get in.

Saw an old Penguin at Mungeranie on the Birdsville track. Couple had been travelling for many years in it. Was raised higher, & had plenty of extra rivets & silicone, & I recall thinking at the time that if I ever wanted a cheap camper something like that would be great.

Not sure which brand, but I have heard stories of the cable snapping when winding up the top or in high winds. You'll have to do a bit of research on it.

I’ve had two pop up campers, the first was a Starcraft (I think) and the second a Jayco Eagle. We travelled with both pretty extensively and never had any issues with wind.
On one of our last trips we stayed at the Grampians with the Eagle and there was a massive wind storm, tents ripped apart and annexes blown away but we had no problem. It was pretty severe and frightening with lots of trees down. Mt William recorded the maximum wind gusts of 113kph the grand kids still talk about it, one slept right through it but the other was wide awake with us.
I posted up a service manual for the wind up campers here somewhere and a broken wire wouldn’t be that difficult to repair as I’ve tracked how they work and it’s fairly accessible. Even with one broken you can still lift them, just need a pole to hold that corner up.

I've got an 80's Jayco Dove and one of the first trips took it on had a real wild storm . Ended up packing up at 2 in the morning and driving home trees down everywhere but the old Jayco held together alright . .

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Hmm maybe my mates are just over cautious. Although considering the price of new canvas it might make sense ;-)

I was hoping to get something around $1k that I could fit out as I liked. Plenty for sale but all requiring new canvas which was quoted as much as a good ready to go camper!

Regarding cables. I've read this about a few different but similar campers. A few I looked at had been modified to take aluminium poles at each corner once the roof was up.

FWIW: Jonesy Mate!
Same as Rossco owned an earlier 1960’s ‘Dove’ purchased due to solid liked underguts :-)
Nearly shat myself when had to fork out near $3k for canvas to make it Mrs Worthy :-(
Wind high wise on new ‘Southern Cross Canvas’ could never sleep properly with thoughts of needing to upgrade four corner telescopic slip joints near bending :-)
“High Winds” throw a large tarp over and batten down all outreaches for the deflection needed incoming :-)


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