Absolutely exhausted and so confused! My main priority is wanting to be able to take kids away on my own at moment just use trailer and put awning up when husband arrives usually with lots of swearing! Really wanted to love Camplet but just didn't. Think I'm getting over the fact that it is quite bit smaller, but storage seems real issue. I know you can put stuff on the bed for travelling but not sure enough for all our stuff. Could use the luggage holder on top but would like to use that for bike holder. Also saw the Trigano Olympe and absolutely loved that but think too big for driveway if we need to open it out to dry, also kitchen seems really heavy. Did manage to move it few feet with daughter but not sure about the initial lifting off trailer. Jamet is apparently too heavy to open out on my own. So not sure I know the Camplet is the sensible option but for that price I want to love it. So will carry on thinking.
Did you take a look at the Raclet Allegra? Understand it is only a two berth in main awning but could have kiddies on air bed next to you on floor area... just an idea and then when hubby arrives put up awning and kiddies can sleep there or in pods... Is there any Combi camps that can fit the bill? Think with the Allegra you can have gas assisted struts.... happy hunting...
You have to findwhat is right for you What about Raclet Tamaris ...... or maybe a Pennine FC like a Fiesta maybe .... just another idea... Good luck
We have a Allegra. To be honest the massive fibreglass lid is quite heavy when you flip it over. You might find a Pennine/Conway lighter to set up. Thinking side ways, you copuld get a trailer and one of those Karsten inflatable tents - by the time you buy a big one and a couple of bedroom pods it might come to Camplet sort of money anyway.
Here is their UK dealer http://campingdirect.co.uk/index.php?
Alanoption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=5&Itemid=8
We have a Pennine Fiesta - so easy to set up - I can do it easily by myself and the awning is simple as long as you've got someone to hold the frame steady while you get the canvas on - OH tends to be working and usually comes along later. Loads of storage inside and on top. plenty of room in camper and awning for the three of us (12 yr old DS - so maybe 4 if he brings a mate) for a week - we are thinking of getting an extension made or an annex for our 2 wk summer hols just to give us a bit more space. Dead easy to tow - I can do it easily with my 1.4 MG - you could have called at Caseys at Chester while you were up here to have a look. We have looked at all sorts to see if we can lighten the load or give us more space but anything easier (if the camplet is!) means we'd compromise on space so we reckon we can't get better until OH changes his job.
OK, so you need a tent to love, which is easy to put up with limited strength and help, but it doesn't matter if the awning takes a bit of time.
It sounds as if you are into prime folding camper territory here. No hideously heavy kitchens to lug about, plenty of space to spread out. No doubt you have seen the Trigano offerings at Camperlands, the Pennine and Conway versions are the same but a bit classier and a bit pricier.
If budget is an issue, consider the Raclet Globetrotter? It's NOT for everybody, but it is cheap and bombproof. The canvas is Ten Cate, the trailer and fold out mechanism is identical to a conventional TT, but its a folding camper with associated easy kitchen, fridge etc. etc. If you are looking for the slick finish of Pennines etc., look elsewhere, but they've made a really good budget option without sacrificing the important quality bits.
For a TT with easy-lift kitchen, your only options are Combi-Camp (fixed kitchen, good but ridiculously overpriced), Camp-Let (....) and Raclet (who make all of their tents with big and small kitchens. Big are identical to Cabanon, Sunncamp, Jamet etc., small have 2-burner + grill, sink, 4 drawers but can be lifted by one adult easily and wheel into place).
See the Raclet Sale thread for details of a Raclet Sale in hertfordshire coming up where you could get a Raclet for 50% of rrp.
As Raclet Charlie has said a Raclet Globetrotter or Quickstop may be an idea. As with all the others look what is best for you. I have always liked the look of the Pennine Fiesta seems easy to use.
Let us know what you choose.
We have a Pennine Fiesta too. So easy to tow and putting it up is easy. 8 minutes and no pegging out. once up lots of space inside. Fine to use for a few nights without the awning. As the second sofa is made from one of the beds you have quite a useful floor area and a lot of storage. Put up the awning and you gain the almost the same floor area of the Camplets awning extra.
You have a built in fridge, cooker and sink. Two big kitchen cupboards a cutlery draw. In most later ones a shelf unit. Plus another cupboard and two draws for storage near the door. On top of that you have the big chest under the sofa. And a foot locker. The gas box will store two 7 kg gas canisters plus odds and sods pegs mallets etc.
You have electric sockets to use 240V or 12V powered by a EHU or on board leisure battery.
When folded you can use just about all of the floor area for storage.
All in all everything is there ready to roll except clothes and bedding.
We've also been looking at the camp-let, jamet & trigano 'easy-up' trailer tents.
I have to say I agree with you on the camplets Julieos - I can't seem to love them either.
We are more likely to go for a jamet or even more likely a trigano - not sure which at the moment, but if it's any help, we've been told that the kitchens on the Olympe and the Odyssee are optional and you could therefore go for one of those and benefit from the easy opening without the hassle of having to move the kitchen. Obviously you'd need to carry separate cooking equipment, but this is exactly what we're thinking of doing as we have all loads of cooking kit already
Apparently the option without kitchen also knocks about £650 off the trigano prices! You could get a fab camping cooker for far far less & store it under the bed when in transit.
By the way, did you find it useful going to camperlands? And did they have the jamet on show? I have e-mailed them but they don't seem to give a straight reply!
Quote: Originally posted by andyrbruce on 10/5/2009
We have a Pennine Fiesta too. So easy to tow and putting it up is easy. 8 minutes and no pegging out. once up lots of space inside. Fine to use for a few nights without the awning. As the second sofa is made from one of the beds you have quite a useful floor area and a lot of storage. Put up the awning and you gain the almost the same floor area of the Camplets awning extra.
You have a built in fridge, cooker and sink. Two big kitchen cupboards a cutlery draw. In most later ones a shelf unit. Plus another cupboard and two draws for storage near the door. On top of that you have the big chest under the sofa. And a foot locker. The gas box will store two 7 kg gas canisters plus odds and sods pegs mallets etc.
You have electric sockets to use 240V or 12V powered by a EHU or on board leisure battery.
When folded you can use just about all of the floor area for storage.
All in all everything is there ready to roll except clothes and bedding.
i know. They are fab. We so very nearly bought one. Then we measured the width of the bed. Nope.
Alan
We went to Camperlands last week specifically to see the Trigano Olympe, & it was stunning, everything we want from a trailer tent, we just have to find the money to buy it now. lol
We went from 2 different tents, to a Trigano Cheverney trailer tent which was excellent both in value and quality, my only problem with it was the dreaded awning, I like you meet my hubby on site after he finishes work & there was a lot of swearing going on with him because he was more or less struggling on his own to put up the awning, (I have back problems so was hardly any use to him at all). We then went to on to buy a caravan, thinking that would be easier, which it is to a certain extent until you want to add an awning, we had the caravan for 2 yrs then sold it on coz hubby hated it, not because of towing it, coz I do all the towing anyway, it was lack of space especially first thing in the morning or last thing at night when all the beds were down.
We are now back to a tent again, a Vango Aspen which is brilliant but I can't erect that on my own either, We had decided when funds permit to buy a Camplet, we love the idea of a pram hood system because I could erect that myself and with the awning being integrated into it even easier, but now we've seen the Trigano Olympe the Camplet isn't a patch on it and we have fallen in love with it, we know that the Trigano is excellent quality so we are going to stick with what we know.
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I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it
Does it have to be a trailer tent for just you and the kids? A little trailer and a six berth tunnel tent would come in at modest hundreds rather than thousands of pounds and you could handle it solo, no problem.
We have a Camplet, and I do love it. It's lovely and compact, and it takes a huge amount of stuff: saying that, we don't usually pack our clothes and bedding inside it.
However, there's NO WAY I'd be able to put it up on my own - once it's open, no problem, but the lid really is heavy. Ours is a Concorde, if that helps.
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Topic: Been to camperlands...
What about Raclet Tamaris ...... or maybe a Pennine FC like a Fiesta maybe .... just another idea... Good luck 
