First off an introduction. :) My name is Brian. My partner Catriona and myself have an idea of buying a Trailer Tent or Folding camper. We have 2 Huskies and we feel one of these may be an idea solution to a problem we have encountered.
My Partner works the dogs in harness, and will be entering them into rallies in the new season (cold weather being sled dogs). many of the other dog owners use large vans shrewdly converted to house dogs, equipment, and somehwhere to sleep, usually for one overnight stay per rally say. I think there may be a better solution however, but require your guidance.
Currently, we have a VW touareg and few other cars i wont go into (dont worry we're talking small old volkswagens :) ) we were originally looking to sell the touareg and with the cash, buy a Trasporter van and a Passat Estate. However, with the used car market being rubbish, it isnt selling. Add that too finishing a rally covered in mud, with 2 dogs, covered in mud, jumping into a freezing cold van doesnt sound like my idea of fun, i also dont think its majorly practical.
The other morning it struck me a TT may be a better idea after thinking of the FC my parents borrowed off my uncle and aunt years and years ago and how good it was. After a bit of searching, i stumbled across the Camp-Let trailer tent, and this just seems to be an absolute god send. My Partner is 5 foot tall, and usually does the rallies herself. This appears that she'll be able to put it up herself in 10 minutes, and have a space for the dogs to sleep, a place to get changed out of muddy gear and storage for the rig, then a dry elevated bad area to sleep. it looks ideal for what we need, and im really keen. hook it to the touareg, stick the rig on the lid, and we're off.
However, this is where my inexperience comes in....
Whilst watching videos of it being erected stupidly quick, they always put the thing up and say, right, thats it done. isnt it supposed to have a groundsheet down? is that put down afterwards, or does it really not have one? They never seem to put one down
What are these things like for storage. we'd only really need clothes, dog food, and harness etc. most of these items can be transported in the car, im just wondering if the trailer has any storage inside for carrything things that arent required when the trailer isnt in use. ie travelling?
I've read quite a few things about people talking about awnings and additional equipment taking a while to put up, whereas to me the camplet looks to really be just a big awning that would be erected in 10 minutes, and really be big enough from the word go for what we require? am i right?
Being we have dogs, and im not really interested in going abroad for holidays, we'd considered previously about going to say aviemore with the dogs, for their many custom built dog trails, thus giving us and the dogs a good holiday. This i feel could be blended to needing accomodation for rallies by going for a full blown FC for spendin a week or two away at a time with. from what i understand, these arent as easy to fully fit, i would require a seperate awning which may pose problems for my partner for over nighters at rallies, thus it may just end up being more of a a pain?
Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated :)
amusingly, after i posted it, i found a video on their website of one being erected and yeah, it seems pretty much perfect too. initially i'd read about them on here and older versions dont seem quite as neat as the newer ones, is it just a looks thing?
Do all the combi camps have hard floors? and does anyone know how long the additional awning takes to erect?
If you've got muddy dogs, I would think that you would be better off not using a groundsheet but rather a couple of big picnic rugs that you could throw in the washing machine when you get home. But you're right in thinking that the groundsheet (if used) goes down seperately. Not a big job though, so your partner could manage it solo.
If you do need dry flooring for the dogs though I'd look at the CombiCamps. They turn up very regularly on Ebay and this is a good time to buy one, given that the prices go down at this time of year. Pick up an older one in good condition, try it for a few months then if you don't like it you could probably sell it in May at a profit.
Quote: Originally posted by dubster82 on 05/9/2008
......... This i feel could be blended to needing accomodation for rallies by going for a full blown FC for spendin a week or two away at a time with. from what i understand, these arent as easy to fully fit........
Main difference between trailer tent (TT) and folding camper (FC) is with FC there is no pegging to ground.
When folded, FC's are approx 1.25m high, so they tow like they are not there.
The main advantages of FC's like Pennine, Trigano, Dandy Destiny is masses of space when erected. (e.g. fixed double beds at each end.) Main advantage of Dandy is that it has hard sides and the top is made of 2 layers of pvc with insulation in between. Therefore, in my view, it is the only truly 4 season FC.
None of the major manufacturers of FC's make a bad one.
Erection not difficult. Realistic erection time around 15-20 mins.
Given your application, main disadvantage of FC, when compared to 'normal' caravan, would appear to be reduced interior storage space when folded.
a combi camp is great you can get one on ebay between 2 and 4 hundread pounds some are two birth some are four i myselff have a comanche montana which is basically the same but a lot more expensive try a cheaper combi first if you dont like it not a lot of money wasted
I bought a new CombiCamp Venezia in April this year and I have to say it is fab. Camplet is OK but I think they come oput simiolar price if you add all the extras to a Camplet which the CC carries as standard. The awning takes some effort first time out as you have to zip it on, but the tent itslf only takes about 2 minutes and you have a sheleter. The awning once zipped on can be flipped back over the tent when you fold it down into the trailer. The birch veneer floor is really good and the bed layout is clever to provides you a sofa for daytime use. They weigh 375KG braked and are easy to tow. I would thoroughly recommend one but the advice aboutt a groundsheet is good - you don't want to cover all the grass area in the awning maybe just half of it on the kitchen/bedroom side to get the dogs clean!! Good luck an dI hope you get a CC as I doubt you will regret it. I have used ours around 7 or 8 times since we bought it, absolutely love it.
We've just bought a Camplet and love it, they do go up very quickly. Its a bit more than 10 minutes with pegging, but then how long depends how much extra stuff you need to set up! We carry all the bedding, table, larder, and chairs in ours, plus you can strap stuff to the top or get an A frame storage box if you wish. I can put it up easily (5'8" female) with the help of my 12 year old, but I think I would find it a bit difficult without the extra pair of hands, one of these days I'll give it a go!
We didn't seriously look at Combis principally because the dealer is in Oxford while the Camplet dealer is our local camping shop, but they look good, and are highly rated on here.
hi - see my link for owners group re combicamps - but my Venezia comes in at 750kg laden and I'd advise you to get a braked one although the newer ones come with brakes as standard from say about 2006/7 as a lot of cars aren't big enough to safely pull them or more importantly stop them!
Hi Brian. We have the Camplet Concorde and love it, we go dog scootering with our two akitas. Plenty of room, they have one of the bedrooms and we have the other. lol
We pack the camplet with tables, poles, sun canopy, storage cupboard, wind breakers, dog bedding, our bedding, pillows. Under the sink and gas hob, plenty of space for all your kitchen stuff. We do have a roof box on top of camplet for clothes,towels, chairs, brush, rotary dryer, dry food etc. Storage box on the A frame with fridge, water bottle, gas bottle, heater, radio. everything else I can't fit in. lol Push bike and dog scooter on top of car.
All the xharness, body harnesses, lunge leads, dogmatic head collars, everything the furbabies need is also stored away, so theres nothing in the car, they have all the room in the back.
We find with the sun canopy attached, whatever the weather it gives you that shelter to dry dogs off. Its no problem laying the groundsheets. pvc groundsheet down and then a breathable on top inside the awning. We haven't found that it gets muddy from the dogs, though if there caked up, then we hose them down on the campsite. Can get wet at the entrance from paws, but it dries off quick enough. Plenty of room for all of us, as my male is a big boy and can sprawl. lol
Whatever you decide to buy, you'll love it. One of these days, we'll get up to Aviemore, it looks excellent fun.
Best Wishes
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June - Sandringham Est, King's Lynn
July - Clumber Park, Worksop
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Newbie user looking for opinions :)
