You will find there are many inexpensive tts around for bargain money, especially if you look second hand.
New, the cheapest TTs you are likely to get are either Raclets, starting at £2.5k, or Sunncamps, starting at around £2k.
Some poeple swear by Sunncamps, many others just swear at them. They are essentially cheap knock-offs of Cabanons (or old Conways).
I would suggest that a good second hand Raclet Flores or Jasmin (the luxury model) or Trigano Oceane/Chantilly would be the way forward. You could get one in very decent nearly-new nick for about £2k, and it will last you decades.
We had a Cabanon Neptune which is the big brother to the Stratos and I've got to disagree with the comments on the setup taking ages - we usually had the thing up in 20 minutes as there are only 3 poles (2 on the Stratos as you don't get the side extension). The total time depends on the gear you've got with you - same as with any TT or tent.
The awning area is enormous and if you can get the sun canopy then this is a big bonus as it's deep enough to keep a table and chairs dry despite being open.
OP - I've still got all the photos from when I sold mine so if you want me to send them to you for an idea of how stuff fits etc then let me know.
------------- "Log off, that cookies s**t makes me nervous!"
I agree - the awning on a Neptune does go up reasonably fast - but the cabin is still a pain.
I would compromise and get a Raclet Safari. That way, you get the huge hooped awning and SIG, but the better cabin and also Ten Cate canvas. Best of both worlds!
Or, get a Trigano Spaceo, which is a Raclet Safari with a trad shaped awning but a SIG and the Raclet armaclic aluminium pole system which makes it faster than the Safari (and hence the Neptune) to put up.
If time is your real concern and cash is not so much of a problem have you considered a folding camper? They cost more, but you get more back when it is time to sell, they set up real quick because all the electric/fridge/lighting/heating etc is built in and they are still reasonably small and light to tow (nothing like as small as a stratos but it depends on your priorities). Just an alternative idea..
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Oh, that's funny, I was just about to say that of course any TT went up faster (including awning) than a folding camper!
I guess it depends what you mean by fast. FCs get the cabin up in double quick time, and they tend to be really luxurious which is great. But I've owned loads of both, and I've never had a TT on which the awning was anything but a massive P in the A!
There are only two of us, and a folding camper will take up too much room on the drive. To be honest, Its more ease of set up rather than time. We currently store our gear in the spare bedroom, and hurling a Wolf Lake 5 up and down the stairs, in & out of the boot is a chore to say the least. I really loved the look of the Stratos straight away, as I had previously considered a Biscaya 370, and they look similar. The stratos trailer would fit down the drive fairly neatly, and store the vast majority of our gear so it would be hook on, and off we go. If it takes a little longer to set up, I can live with that, its more the whole loading/unloading that I find a bind. Looking on ebay I reckon I can pick one up for under 2 grand so I think I can stretch to that, plus I might get £500 for my Wolf. It cannot take longer than the Wolf to set up though. It hasn't got 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 guy lines for a start!
Thanks for all the help and opinions - much appreciated
Again, for ease of setup, you still want a Trigano, Jamet, Trnascamper, Raclet, Erde etc.
The point is, with Conway, Cabanon and Sunncamps, the way you fold out the cabin is that you fold out the frame with the tent canvas on it (which is heavy as hell), then you raise the centre ridge pole, for which you really need two people, and you need to be as tall as the centre ridge to be able to do it, and all this time you are holding up heavy canvas, and then you need to fold out the bed boards and level them up, and then you need to unfold the canvas around the edge, and then you need to clip on the inner bedrooms and roof liner, and then and only then can you get on with pegging out the tent.
With Raclets and Triganos etc., what you do is unfold the two bedboards. The act of doing this pulls the canvas and frame into position, using the bedboards as a cantilever for the weight of the canvas and frame. You raise the centre ridge remotely via a slidey rod 1'6" lower than the centre ridge, then you pull the canvas down and peg. No endless clipping and unclipping of bedrooms, and no having to be a 6'6" wrestler to be able to get the damn thing up.
Also, you will find a lot of the Raclet trailers are slightly shorter than Cabanon trailers and no wider, because at least some of them have the kitchen on the inside, where one person can easily lift and manoevre it, as opposed to the outside, which again needs two people to lift it, and you can't leave it behind if you only want to go for a weekend.
Good luck with your choice! Make sure you check out more than one make to compare and contrast the interiors!
Might be worth a search on youtube or similar to watch a video or 2 of the different makes being put up and/or down! There is a manufacturer out there whose tt has a hard top which turns into a hard floor and drags the canvas and frame out of the trailer when it is unfolded. I watched somebody open one once - up in a jiffy - quick and easy, but looked a bit less spacious that a stratos, and a bit less modern looking but probably easier to put up and an easier to set up kitchen too!
------------- Why am i doing this instead of camping??!!
Hi
WE bought a stratos last year had would recommend them. I did study a video clip, and used brilliant instructions posted on this site in the review section prior to setting it up. I felt like I was studying for an exam, but they were so useful.Only after a few goes we had it down to fine art.The awning is very big and spacious. We bought ours second hand, but it had only been used twice. The only problem I have is I am trying to improve the mattress of the bed, as I have a bad back: I have the usual foam, I have added memory foam topper, and am even thinking of adding self inflating mat beneath that.....I am like the princess and the pea! They are lovely tents though.
Hi WE bought a stratos last year had would recommend them. I did study a video clip, and used brilliant instructions posted on this site in the review section prior to setting it up. I felt like I was studying for an exam, but they were so useful.Only after a few goes we had it down to fine art.The awning is very big and spacious. We bought ours second hand, but it had only been used twice. The only problem I have is I am trying to improve the mattress of the bed, as I have a bad back: I have the usual foam, I have added memory foam topper, and am even thinking of adding self inflating mat beneath that.....I am like the princess and the pea! They are lovely tents though.
Thankyou for all the comments and suggestions.... How long does it take you to erect?
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Topic: Cabanon Stratos
