Trailer Tent/Folding Camper

[RosscoPCole]

My family loves our tent, but we would like something more luxurious. We don't have room for a full size caravan, so I have been looking at folding campers/trailer tents. We need a minimum of 4 berths and have seen some with a bathroom. as with most people we would like the best available for the smallest outlay.

Does anyone on PH have one and what do we need to look out for?

[oldcynic]

We used a trailer tent for about 8 years and absolutely loved it, but it was big and took an age to put up. We peaked as a family of 7 and it gave us plenty of space, but with oldest child long gone and 2 teenagers following in the next couple of years I'd probably try a folding camper - less space but much simpler.

At the moment we've got a substantial twin axle caravan which is lovely but the overheads are getting me down - storage, insurance, maintenance and the effort of towing it all add up.

As for what to look for, it depends on what you want to use it for. Self-supporting sections and minimal pegging make for a much quicker assembly on site but also a bigger trailer and often more expensive with smaller accomodation. We had the opposite extreme - a basic cabin with two king sized beds unfolding and a small section in between, on to which we built a substantial frame tent - hence the time taken to assemble. Kitchen was heavy (attached to back of trailer) but useful, however it required the tent to be built in order to put it anywhere.

Beds off the floor are lovely - much nicer than anything we'd found in a regular tent, but check the dimensions & headroom etc. Some manufacturers seem to assume that campers have become midgets.

[cailean]

Also thinking of these but confused on varying prices, layouts, new vs used, double decker sleeping compartments? Does not look like many 'dealers' around...

[cailean]

This may help
http://www.blueskyholdings.co.uk/Folding_Camper_Gu...

[russ_a]

We had a 2011 Pennine Quartz 6. Two double beds, washroom, cooker and sink and a large awning.

I loved it Mrs hated the campsite bathrooms (some were horrid) so it was sold and I now spend more per year on holidays than the camper cost me it total!

Edited by russ_a on Monday 14th March 21:05

[speedyman]

Now on our second folding camper. We had a conway crusier when our kids were young, towed it to the south of france three times. Sold when the kids grew up. Now have a conway countryman. Has hot water, heater cooker fridge etc. I personally would always go for the folding camper over a trailer tent. You dont have to put an awning up, so they take less time to put up. Stored in our garage.

[RosscoPCole]

Thanks for all the advice. We would be looking at a folding Camper. Ideally a Pennine Pathfinder as it is big enough to live in if the weather is bad, yet folds up so it fits on our driveway.

Does anyone recommend anywhere to look apart from the obvious bay of the e?

[speedyman]

Try these places
https://pennineoutdoorleisure.co.uk
http://www.camping-intl.com
https://www.tonywildcamping.co.uk

[russ_a]

We bought ours from an advert on the caravan club website. Lots for sale usually on ukcamping too.

[Rosscow]

I'd love one of the new Holtkamper Kytes - but they are mega money!

http://www.holtkamper.com/Products/Kyte.html

http://www.blackcountrycaravans.co.uk/trailer-tent...

[oldcynic]

Rosscow said:

I'd love one of the new Holtkamper Kytes - but they are mega money!

http://www.holtkamper.com/Products/Kyte.html

http://www.blackcountrycaravans.co.uk/trailer-tent...

Why did you have to show me those?! Now I'm going to have to sneak up to the midlands and find out what all the fuss is about - although I can't imagine buying a new one at those prices.

[Rosscow]

oldcynic said:

Rosscow said:

I'd love one of the new Holtkamper Kytes - but they are mega money!

http://www.holtkamper.com/Products/Kyte.html

http://www.blackcountrycaravans.co.uk/trailer-tent...

Why did you have to show me those?! Now I'm going to have to sneak up to the midlands and find out what all the fuss is about - although I can't imagine buying a new one at those prices.

I know! They're lovely.

I'm like you, we have a lovely twin axle caravan that we really enjoy. But at heart, I'd much rather be under canvas. These look great, but at £17k+ I think they're just too much money.

[Pwig]

I have a Pennine Pathfinder, it's really good, picked it up for a couple of grand on the folding camper sales part of facebook.

Toilet, two double beds, cooker, hot and cold water etc etc

[BristolAl]

We're looking at moving from a Hymer Motorhome to one of these www.opuscamper.co.uk

[cailean]

BristolAl said:

We're looking at moving from a Hymer Motorhome to one of these www.opuscamper.co.uk

Saw it at NEC show,was smaller than I expected, and costly.

[RosscoPCole]

cailean said:

BristolAl said:

We're looking at moving from a Hymer Motorhome to one of these www.opuscamper.co.uk

Saw it at NEC show,was smaller than I expected, and costly.

They certainly look cool, but I haven't seen a used one for sale and are too expensive new. It looks like we will be buying a Pennine Pathfinder or a Conway Crusader. Also after 2009 they were made of an acrylic material instead of canvas so are more waterproof and warmer inside.

[EL11SEG]

RosscoPCole said:

They certainly look cool, but I haven't seen a used one for sale and are too expensive new. It looks like we will be buying a Pennine Pathfinder or a Conway Crusader. Also after 2009 they were made of an acrylic material instead of canvas so are more waterproof and warmer inside.

We have one just along the road from me. I can only dream about owning it tho.

http://caravans.autotrader.co.uk/used-caravans/oth...

Edit to add, I've just seen this one also!

http://caravans.autotrader.co.uk/used-caravans/oth...

Edited by EL11SEG on Tuesday 5th April 15:19