Caravan/tent thingies ?

[turbotommy]

Does anyone know the correct name of those semi-caravan semi-tent thingies ? They look like trailers, but they pop up to be similar to caravans, though presumably less robust/warm.

Better still, does anyone have any experience or recommendations with these things? They look quite compact when being towed, and might attract less opprobium than a 'van while slowing down traffic on busy roads.

I've done a bit of camping, but now have two sprogs, so would prefer a bit more space than our tents...but i'm not sure if i'm ready to go all the way over to 'the dark side' yet ;-)

[thandi]

trailer tent?

[Gizmo]

trailer tent?

thats the name!

Main Advantages and Disadvantages
Trailer Tent Vs Folding Camper


The canvas on a folding camper cabin section finishes at, and are secured to the base of the bed /sleeping quarters. This is an advantage for overnight stops as no pegging is required. The cooker unit is integral to the cabin section, which is fine for an overnight stop. However if the unit is pitched for a few days with the awning erected, the cooker unit has to remain in the cabin and cannot be transferred to the awning. A disadvantage in hot weather! The cooker is also situated close to the beds.

A trailer tent has a cabin that goes down to the ground that will require pegging. Though this can be a bit of a chore,
pegging gives you more stability in rough weather. The fact that the canvas goes down to the ground gives you the advantage of a lot of walled storage space under the bed sections whilst touring.

The advantage of a trailer tent when towing and storing is its size and weight. Typically a folding camper will be up to double in weight and up to 50 % bigger than a trailer tent in overall size. Towing is harder and there will be an increase in fuel consumption along with the need for more storage space. The main advantage of the trailer tent is its compact size, lightweight and its ability to be stored on its side at home.

[ship]

na, not trailer tent , i think you mean a folding camper, try checking out pennine and conway and trigano, wer,e thinking about getting 1, sort of cross between a trailer tent and a caravan, ya can get em wiv a bog and a oven and even blown air heating! unfortunately for us our storage space is 210cm wide and the camper(folding variety) we wanted is 212cm wide, but still weighing up the options and should have one soon, let us know how you get on m8 and what you think, if you want to check em out try a search for a folding campers.

ship(soon 2 be a folding camper)

[Maverick]

To get a good idea I suggest you check out www.thepenninegroup.co.uk
I currently have a Conway folding camper with awning (the kitchen is in the trialer part).

I have in the past had a nevada trailer tent (kitchen seperate), a frame tent, and a lowly two man dome tent. Compared to the rest the Conway is luxury, and alot easier to put up.

[dazzo23]

Used to have a caravan now I've got one of them folding camper thingies, no heating or bog in mine though, used it for the first time last weekend and, apart from the normal putting the awning up squabble with mrs dazzo23 all went well. Not as heavy or high as a caravan so doesn't need the stabilizer and doesn't hold back the car as much, tows fine at 80mph (bought it in Birmingham and towed it to Swansea with my Vectra)
Mine's a pennine sterling se.

Another forum

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/...asp?ForumID=10

[jotto]

I have just got a penine folding camper cause i was fed up with putting the tent up for 1 night. Love the layout 2 double bed rooms, cooker fridge and sink plus a seating area come 3rd double bed loads of room and it only takes about 15 mins to set it up(without the awning)

[marky]

I went camping last year its great as a kid but as an adult forget it.
im on my 2nd caravan & i love it, roll onto pitch plug in mains get water kettles on, people are still getting there tents out of there car at this point.
life has never been easier

[Maverick]

I was wondering just how long it would be before a caravan owner jumped in here.
My trailer is very stable in fact I recovered from a high speed blow out with only a damaged mud guard on the trailer. It has two fixed double beds that do not have to be converted into seated during the day. Within 20 minutes I'm set up in any field as I use 12v not 220v, and am not limited by the length of cable. There is enough space for two adults and six full size dogs to move about in (without the need to all go in either the clockwise or anticlockwise direction). It fits in my back garden where no caravan could go. It doesn't sink so deep in wet fields.
But most of all I like it.

Each to his own, mine's a Conway.

[kitesurf_phil]

We had a Conway Cruiser. I loved it. We got it brand new and it fitted in our garage.

We nowhave a caravan (station managers orders) that we have to keep in, "Secure Storage." (Just read the disclaimers on those places). Somobody got into the, "Secure Storage," and tried to break into ours and four other caravans. Ours sustained £250 damage.
I'm just gald that the Conway went to a good home. The couple that bought it even sent us pics of their first trip out in it!!

[turbotommy]

Thanx for the useful replies, it's easy to find them on the web (duh, why didn't i just google ?) but there's nothing like the advice of those that have direct experience with them, and the pix are really useful for novices like myself.

I'm in scotland, so it can be pretty wet and windy. I know that many would suggest a 'van, but they're a pretty big investment if you're not sure about them (or may have muttered a curse or two while behind a mini metro or fiesta towing a van up a hill). And if you have to pay to put them in secure storage i can see that it gets expensive quickly.

Since much of my camping has been 'backcountry' in a 2 man pup tent, i think that either a 'folding trailer' or 'trailer tent' is going to be much more roomy than i'm used to... We have a 4 person dome, but i rather doubt my old trangia stove is going to make dinner for 4, at least not in under 2 hours. So a kitchen is essential.

Sounds like many of you have good things to say about colway, so i may check these out.

Does anyone know if there are companies that rent these out ? It would solve peoples storage problems, though summer availability would be poor.

[surfin]

Togetherness ..

I went camping last year its great as a kid but as an adult forget it.
im on my 2nd caravan & i love it, roll onto pitch plug in mains get water kettles on, people are still getting there tents out of there car at this point.
life has never been easier

I think your caravan should join my caravan and go to Spain next month - they could have a ball together



Surfin

[marky]

I wish i could but MONEY is short

[Guest]

These seem to be the mutts nuts however not sure if you can get them in the UK

They are the Track TVan. Made for towing behind 4x4s and have good quality suspension for going into the back woods.

Cheers

[ship]

Well, we got one, a Pennine Pullman 535 se, and it,s fantastic, 3 ring hob, grill, fridge, sink, running water, wardrobe, 6 berth and then the awning, easy to put up (cept the awning) and easy to tow. Got it on Fri. and went away for a couple of nights in it and the ship,s couldn,t be happier with it

ship