Trailer tent or?

[Wolfiefan]

We used to camp a lot with DC1 but haven't been since I fell pg with DC2. In the intervening time I have really hurt my back. We want to return to camping but I am concerned about putting up a tent and sleeping in one.
So options:

1. Airbeam type inflating tent. Solves putting up tent problem. Cheapest option but what would I sleep on?
   
2. Trailer tent. Not enough bedrooms (we would like 3) but cheaper than caravan or similar. Could we cram everything else we need in the car? Could I put it up on my own? How long to put up?
   
3. Folding camper. Expensive. Cramped?
   

What do you think MN?!

[Wolfiefan]

I'm sitting here dreaming of cold Pimms in the evening and bacon sarnies in the morning!
Help me people!

[Mum2Fergus]

Sorry,no help whatsoever but will watch with interest

[thonah]

Caravan?

[BingoWingsBeGone]

We have a VW campervan with an airbeam tent attached. We either sleep in the van (if not using the tent) or on a very thick SIM in the tent.

[Wolfiefan]

I don't want to tow or store a caravan.
I can't really afford a campervan and a car but wouldn't want to drive a campervan everyday.

[Wolfiefan]

Stupid question. Can an airbeam get a puncture?! (If it can we will puncture it I'm sure! How do you fix it?!)

[BingoWingsBeGone]

I think it probably can get a puncture but you get a repair kit like a bicycle

The VW transporter is only a few inches longer than my estate car and really really easy to drive. DH uses it to commute daily and I would be happy to as well

[TheFallenMadonna]

We have a trailer tent. We sleep in one bedroom, DD in the other, and DS sleeps in the cubby hole under DD.

I love it. Wouldn't go away for any length of time without a bed (also have back problems). We also have a mattress that goes over the foam on our bed.

But - I would struggle to put it up myself.

[Wolfiefan]

Thanks. How on earth do you fit an extra mattress in? (We take too much stuff when camping!)

[Hopasholic]

We have a trailer tent. No way could I put it up myself. DH struggles with some parts and he's 6ft4". Extra hands are always required!

Much comfier than a tent though.

[Wolfiefan]

I was hoping I could take the kids on my own. (DS tall but not over 6ft!)

[TheFallenMadonna]

We take stupid amounts of stuff!!

The mattress fits on the top of the folded tent, under the cover.

We have an estate car and use a roof box, with bikes on racks on top of the trailer.

[RaspberryLemonPavlova]

We've gone through the tent, bigger tent, Camplet and are now at folding camper. I love it.

We sleep one end, the boys the other and DD in a tent either in the awning or just outside. Her choice, - she would bivouac in a field if she could.

[chicaguapa]

We have a folding camper too. DC (12 & 9) share one 'room' which they cope with at the moment. I give it one more year then one of them is going to have to go outside. Or maybe we'll give in and use the 3rd bed.

We store loads in it between camps and just pack food & clothes in the car. We do keep it in a caravan storage place though as it was a bit too big on our driveway.

To us it's a great compromise between a tent and a caravan.

[millimat]

Where's a third bed in a folding camper? How is it different to a trailer tent?

[chicaguapa]

The third bed is where the table goes in between the sofas. It makes a bed, similar to in a caravan. We've tried to resist using it as we'd be sleeping on cushions instead of a comfy mattress.

A trailer tent opens out around the trailer and pegs out like a tent, leaving the trailer as the bedroom. A folding camper opens up and doesn't touch the ground around it. It's all off the ground. It's like a caravan in its bottom half (the trailer) and a tent in the top half.

[YoungJoseph]

Although they are often described as easy pitch, a trailer tent is time consuming and I wouldn't recommend doing it by yourself. There are exceptions and that's the Camplet and Trigano Odyssey. However the Camplet, is very pricey, but holds it's value second hand, so you wouldn't necessarily loose too much if you looked after it. What took us the most time with our TT (a Cabanon) was the pegging out, so if you decide to buy a TT check out how many pegs are required. Better to see one being pitched, the YouTube videos don't show the pegging out really. Also a TT has to be level like a caravan before you start...also time consuming.

We have just bought an inflatable tent because the TT took so much time. We don't have back issues but have you tried a SIM, particularly a 10cm one, it's very comfy. If the problem is getting in and out of bed then perhaps a camp bed would suit.

[CMOTDibbler]

We have a Trigano trailer tent, and its quick and easy to put up. You need a step to zip the awning on if you aren't tall, but thats the hardest part.