As someone who has benefited from reading the many and varied posts of other Camplet owners over recent months, I felt I ought to contribute a few thoughts of my own.
We (two adults and two teenagers) are just back from 12 nights in France. 3 nights at Lac de Chalain, in the Jura, 4 nights at Le Grand Bornand in the French Alps and 5 in Burgundy, about 25 miles west of Dijon. Glorious weather (25-30 degrees) except for two terrific thunderstorms
So this was our first real use of our Camplet Concorde. (The only other being a one night trial in Yorkshire). Prior to investing in the Camplet we used a Khyam “Quick Erect" Tent and would describe ourselves as fairly experienced campers (even to the point of having had a cycling-camping honeymoon in France some 25 years ago!!
Cutting to the chase scene, here are the main plusses and minuses as we found them :
Overall quality
Roomy and light inside
Very easy to tow and manoeuvre
Great for carrying bikes (and luggage) on rack
Quick to erect main structure
Overall pitch time slower than expected (levelling, pegging, internal poles, fitting skirt etc. all take time)
Everything has to be “just right” before closing the lid (particularly if you use the storage space on the base side of the Camplet as we do).
I should also add that the two teenage lads slept in a separate tent.
I guess the “acid test” question would be with the benefit of two weeks experience are we glad we bought the Camplet? The answer is Yes – but strangely, not totally for the reasons we made our initial purchase. The biggest pre-sale reason for buying was speed of set-up. Yes it’s quick – but we found we were still talking an hour or so (at least!)
The reasons we’re glad we made our purchase are the fact that the Camplet does really ooze quality, it’s a dream to tow (even at speeds of up to 80mph where legal!) and you can get the main structure up quickly.
Hope this helps some of you pondering whether to invest several thousand.
Thanks for posting your honest review of the camplet. Great pictures, by the way!
We saw a camplet (a Concorde) recently on a campsite in Dorset and were really taken with it. Like you, we have camped for many years and we too have a Khyam quick erect (in fact we are now on our second Khyam)
The main things that attracted me to the camplet were the (1). possibility of leaving a good proportion of the camping gear packed in the TT and hence being able to make a quick getaway for weekend jaunts, and (2). the ever increasing difficulty of getting up off the airbed!
We've been looking out for an older camplet, just in case it doesn't really suit us as much as I imagine(fantasize). Interestingly your comment about it not being as quick to erect as described confirms my suspicions, though doesn't actually put me off
So far haven't been succesful in finding an older model and I'm now wondering if we should look at newer models, which are much more expensive than we had planned to spend! Your post has helped to convince me that, if we don't find an older one, we should push the boat out and treat ourselves to the best that we can afford
We are towing ours down to Italy in a few weeks - can't wait!!
We have done a couple of long weekends in ours since we bought it in March, but I am soooo looking forward to a longer stay
Whilst not inexperienced campers in anyway, I think it has taken a few trips away with the Camplet to understand how things have to done to get it to go up smoothly, properly and quickly - each trip we seem to be able to streamline something, or refine the process a bit, or work out what you can and can't do a shortcut with! lol!
It takes us about 45 minutes now from pulling up to sitting down - that is with everything done (cupboards, carpets, beds made etc etc) which we are happy enough with - certainly beats the 3 hours of the old tent!!!
Great pics! We are off to France in Aug in our camplet, we brought ours this year and have used it twice.
I'm not sure at the moment whether to keep it tho, there is nothing wrong with it, its great (its probably me! I keep swapping units!) I think I'm looking for the perfect thing - not sure it exists.
The down side for me is can't fit much in it, and I don't think after swapping from a caravan to this, it will be great for over night stops.
Thank you for the review and great pics - really nice set up.
If like us you really like the Camplet, but have 3 children and are thus worried about fitting everything in, then I would recommend a Combi Camp Venezia with an extra awning (end or side - we have end which is better). Good used units can be had for £2-3000. Everyone fits inside (6 berth with extra awning) and about 1 hour set-up.
Inside the trailer part we place:
2 boogie boards
5 wet suits
rear awning inner tent
table
4 stools
1 chair
barbeque
carpet
bucket and spades
5 sleeping bags
inflatable sleeping mat
windbreak
rear awning poles
washing up bowl
5 bikes and surfboard on the rack (similar but larger to Camplet)
All kitchen stuff and food on the unit attached to the rear of the trailer.
We take our new camplet savanne to France for 4 weeks next Saturday. We've had a week in Devon in it so far & it took us longer to put up than we had hoped but feel that with practice that will change! I was also disappointed with the amount we were able to get inside but we put it up in the garden & packed it carefully & I'm much happier with it. Having the travel cover has also given us much more confidence to load up the luggage rack, so all our chairs, a table & bedding are carried there. Roll on next Saturday!
Have a great time Fiona, 4 weeks in France sounds bliss!!
We have the cover too, but on our last trip put our kayak on top of the trailer, you can't use both, so maybe thats why the car was chockka! Plus step son came with us for that week.
When we go to France will just be the 3 of us, will see how we get on then probably decide what to do. My latest thought is to go back to a nice canvas tent and big trailer, then pocket the money!
nafuk - When we brought the camplet we were also looking at a combi, in the end we decided we liked the 'look' of camplet better, but your right they do seem to hold lots of baggage, also the kitchen looks better.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: 12 days in France with a new Camplet
