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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Trailer tents - anyone have one or able to advise?

38 replies

saintlyjimjams · 21/08/2012 14:25

I'm always trying to think of ways to take our family (3 kids including one who is severely autistic) camping. We had a trailer tent when I was younger but I can't remember all that much about it.

Can they be put up by one person (sort of a necessity for us). And are they super quick? (Another necessity - sort of).

I have been looking at HolkKampers and dreaming (need lottery win for that!).

Any suggestions/tips/advice very welcomed.

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Pixel · 21/08/2012 17:30

My mum and stepdad had a trailer tent but they sold it because it was such a faff to put up and pack away, however I once saw a link on here to a video of a brilliant one that a man was putting up by himself and it looked really easy. Perhaps someone else can remember where/what it was?! I've seen folding caravans at camping exhibitions that look fabulous but yet again very expensive.
What is the main reason why you don't want to use a tent? Is it the time taken to put up while ds1 is busy escaping or whatever? Because we manage to camp with ds but he does have to stay in the car while we put the tent up otherwise we lose him.

Original poster
saintlyjimjams · 21/08/2012 17:53

Oh that's useful to know.

Yeah the time - ds1 does a runner and won't help!

Also 5 of us plus dog - I thought it might be an easier way to transport everything!

But I also have a thread about hiking which might be more realistic!

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Original poster
saintlyjimjams · 21/08/2012 17:54

We have a bell tent btw - easy to put up but difficult to transport and a bit cramped for all of us!

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CillaSlack · 21/08/2012 18:03

We had a trailer tent and it took 2 of us quite a while to put up so I think just one person would struggle. Ds has ASD and it was difficult keeping him entertained while we spent the time doing it. We had it for a few years but got fed up with the length of time it all took so have recently upgraded to a folding camper which takes about 20 minutes but they are a lot more expensive.

Original poster
saintlyjimjams · 21/08/2012 18:22

It's sounding a bit like you pays your money you takes your choice Sad

I sort of need a pull long kitchen and storage trailer Grin

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YellowDinosaur · 22/08/2012 09:27

What you need then is a chuck wagon - check out this thread and the pictures that oldtrout put on her profile (if they're still there) www.mumsnet.com/Talk/camping/1496688-I-neeeeeeeed-one-of-these

Frog253 · 22/08/2012 12:51

Well we've bought a Cabanon Stratos from ebay, we'll be putting it up this w/e so might report back. I'm not expecting it to be super easy but hopefully easier than our current tent. I contacted Camperlands (after I bought the Stratos, idiot that I am) and they recommended a 2011 Trigano one as easier to put up and better quality (there's a Youtube clip of 1 / 2 people doing it). The really easy one is supposed to be a Camplet but if you look at reviews not everybody finds it ever so easy and even second hand it is v. expensive. Having said that we may well have bought one if the price had been right.

Do you know why you want a tt? If it is all about getting set up super fast then I don't think that they're for you unless you buy a Camplet. There are easy to put up tents that might be worth checking out first such as the bell tents and a Coleman instant. We thought at one point that two smaller tents might be better for us, we are a family of 5. It would depend on your DC ages and needs really.

Finally, if you are a short-arse like me and you find 3D stuff makes your brain ache then I don't think that anything out there is going to be as quick as the people doing the demos.

MummyPigsFatTummy · 22/08/2012 14:22

If speed and ease of erection (snurk) is more important than it being a trailer tent, Decathlon Family pop ups might be worth looking at (one example here: www.decathlon.co.uk/seconds-family-42-xl-id_8171231.html). They go up in a matter of a couple of minutes and, once you have practiced, are quick and easy to put away again too - don't wait until your trip away to practise this though - that way madness lies.

Otherwise, I would second bell tents. We have a 5m bell tent and I can put it up on my own if I have to (although it is nice to have some help). The 4m was really easy but with 3 kids, I think you might need the extra space.

Original poster
saintlyjimjams · 22/08/2012 16:15

We have a bell tent, but while I love it for two of us it's just too crowded for 5 and there's nowhere to sit when kids are asleep etc.

I have thought about Quechua tents - am tempted by base seconds plus pods although slightly concerned about ds1 escaping.

And yes was impressed by a video I saw of a trigano. Looked a 2 person job for parts so we would need to keep ds1 near us (never easy!)

Have also realised if we camp I need a way to charge his talker every night.

A disadvantage of trailer tents is that ds1 will cope better with basic campsites than ones with neatly defined marked out areas (that he will ignore).

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Original poster
saintlyjimjams · 22/08/2012 16:16

Thanks for the ideas btw I will follow them all up when kids are asleep!

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FourArms · 23/08/2012 09:09

I'd bet most campsites would charge something for you if you asked even if you didn't have EHU.

EHU would mean defined pitches usually, going without could avoid this.

lisad123 · 23/08/2012 09:12

We had a folding camper (which is a slightly different trailer tent) and you can do it alone but me and dh could set up main area in 20 mins, enough to shove children and dog in and continue with awning anyways Grin

Sunshinenow · 23/08/2012 09:16

Ooo. My favourite topic.

Try combicamp. Expensive new but cheaper for an o,d one. You can occasionally get family sized ones.

Or next try Complet trailers....

www.combi-camp.com/en/

www.camp-let.com/

RedBlanket · 23/08/2012 09:22

We've got a Trigano, bought from Camperlands. It's easy enough to do by yourself. The main cabin takes about 15 mins to get up, it's the awning and inner lining which is the time consuming part. We can be 2 hours without any distractions. And packing away takes even longer.
But ours is a bit old and all the poles are seperate. I believe the new Trigano has hydraulic poles and the awning in integrated.
Camperlands in Manchester is well worth a visit If you are close.

whatthewhatthebleep · 23/08/2012 09:28

I'm a single parent with 1 DC and we have camped lots....I have often wondered about a trailer type tent so I'm watching this thread for advice and idea's....

I thought they were quite quick to fold out and set up the basic unit...maybe it's not as easy as it looks???
The extra awning bits are probably more difficult though...just take more time I thought...but not too difficult for 1 person??

We had a caravan that I towed myself and set up awning on etc...managed that fine once I knew what I was doing (ass from elbow!!) Grin

RedBlanket · 23/08/2012 09:36

The main unit is the easy bit, 15 mins tops.
The awning and all the stuff is the time consuming bit. I think we probably have more than an average amount of stuff though.

whatthewhatthebleep · 23/08/2012 09:58

Just had a look at the camp-let video...it looks great....sooooo simple....instant shelter and the kettle on in 10/15mins....

but looks like all the provision's, clothing, bedding etc would be carried in the car???...couldn't see if there was packing space within the trailer...before taking it down...do you think there is space to store things when travelling???...so the car isn't piled up and stuffed full!!!

I'd want to keep a smaller car and not have to invest in a bigger car just to have room for all the stuff iykwim....

Frog253 · 23/08/2012 19:39

Google Camplet and look at images...there is a box with luggage and bikes on top...

Original poster
saintlyjimjams · 23/08/2012 20:22

Hmm, I think all our camping trips would have to be short.... So I'm now not sure that a trailer tent would be best for us. Would be interested in hearing how well you all get on with specific models though.

DH and I are going away overnight in the bell tent soon. I wonder whether I would be better looking at a way to extend that in some way. I love the look of something like a quechua base seconds but that might be a bit odd tacked onto a bell tent. Perhaps we just need a tarp?

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Mum2Fergus · 23/08/2012 21:11

Oooh, just spent half hour on the Camplet site Grin potential purchase coming on!!

RedBlanket · 23/08/2012 22:29

We looked at the campLet, loved how easy it is to put up, but quite a bit more £££ than our Trigano.
In ours there is storage space within cabin for a lot of stuff but the car is still full of crap

whatthewhatthebleep · 24/08/2012 00:49

I might have to watch ebay to see if I could find a TT...that would be the way I could manage to buy one....skint single parent here so lots of dreams going on here lol!!!

Original poster
saintlyjimjams · 24/08/2012 11:26

Ah my other thread (on the opposite - hiking tents) has jus revealed to me that I really do need electric hook up for ds1's talker. So now back to trailer tents.

Aaaaaaagh!

I still love the look of the Holtkamper Grin

What I really need is a campervan I guess. (We have hired them before).

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Original poster
saintlyjimjams · 24/08/2012 11:32

Although could I charge the talker on electric hook up anyway? Or will it blow up? Need to ask Liberator I guess.....

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TheFallenMadonna · 24/08/2012 11:37

We have a trailer tent, but it would be all wrong for you. A bit cumbersome to put up, although fab when it is. We have always had an electric hook up though, even when we had a tiny dome tent that just fitted the two of us!