I have just discovered this site - fantastic! I hope to be able to contribute myself once I get more experienced!
I would be incredibly grateful for your thoughts/recommendations on a trailer tent/folding camper based on the following info:
- Budget: £2000 (2500 at a push)
- Users: Currently 2 adults and a toddler... more little ones a distinct possibility
- Car (from towing): 2.0 Golf or Nissan Primera
- Expected use: Very regular UK spring/summer weekends; annual trip to Europe possible
- Wish list: Easy to erect; good size awning; kitchen unit; as new as possible within the budget; not too big for towing/winter storage; as many extras as poss within the budget. I would (being a bit of a wuss) love a toilet but prepared to make do with a bucket!
- Question: Are we better to go private sale/ebay or a dealer?
We are pretty experienced campers but not with anything like a trailer tent or folding camper. We went to a sales place today and were bamboozled to say the least. Initial thoughts were that trailer tents and folding campers are much more similar than we thought. Also they seemed huge for a pretty normal car to tow.
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this. Thanks in advance for any tips!
I have just discovered this site - fantastic! I hope to be able to contribute myself once I get more experienced!
I would be incredibly grateful for your thoughts/recommendations on a trailer tent/folding camper based on the following info:
- Budget: £2000 (2500 at a push)
- Users: Currently 2 adults and a toddler... more little ones a distinct possibility
- Car (from towing): 2.0 Golf or Nissan Primera
- Expected use: Very regular UK spring/summer weekends; annual trip to Europe possible
- Wish list: Easy to erect; good size awning; kitchen unit; as new as possible within the budget; not too big for towing/winter storage; as many extras as poss within the budget. I would (being a bit of a wuss) love a toilet but prepared to make do with a bucket!
- Question: Are we better to go private sale/ebay or a dealer?
We are pretty experienced campers but not with anything like a trailer tent or folding camper. We went to a sales place today and were bamboozled to say the least. Initial thoughts were that trailer tents and folding campers are much more similar than we thought. Also they seemed huge for a pretty normal car to tow.
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this. Thanks in advance for any tips!
Cyee
Post last edited on 31/05/2009 14:34:53
Hiya Cyee,
I am no expert (as people on here will testify!!) but have recently been through exactly the process you are going through - trying to decide whether a trailer tent or folding camper is the thing to get, and what would be suitable for 2 adults and a child..
I had a look at a few trailer tents, but rules them out because I wanted something that had a bit of a permanent seating area that would be readily available and not just loaded up in the car, so then started looking at folding campers.
In the end I got (from Ebay) an old Pennine Pullman. It only cost £700 (its over 20yrs old) and I am putting it into TVS next week to get new inner tents, mattresses and a service, but even with all that getting done it will still have cost me just over £1000. For a budget of £2-2.5k you could get a really good one.
As for whether to go to a dealer, you do have the back up of having an established dealer to deal with if there are any problems etc, but you usually pay more for that too. It was the first time I have bought anything other than kids t shirts/toys from Ebay but would now willingly do it again.
For the toilets by the way, many awnings have a set up where you can zip in a small annexe that will house a Porta Potti - much comfier to use than a bucket, and ideal for a toddler too.
Things I realised I needed to ask sellers on Ebay, if you decded to go down that route -
When was it last used and serviced?
* Are all inner tents and zips working and intact? *Does it have mattresses? *Do you know how big the awning is and if it has curtains? *Are there skirts for the camper? *Does it have brakes? *Can it be locked when down?
*Does it have a working battery and cables so it can be charged from the car?
Not all of the above are mentioned in the advert so dont be afraid to ask a load of questions and also go and arrange a time to view.
We were in the same boat as you this time last week, we are parents, with one toddler, trying to decide what to do.. We bought a Trailer tent (Cabanon Atlantis) off Ebay, for less than your budget, with absolutely everything included in fantastic condition, picked it up Friday, and went straight to the camp site with only pillows and sleeping bags.
Have had such a brilliant weekend, but, would say, tt kitchens can be quite heavy, and the awning, will need two, with a step up ladder to fit the top. Hubby could only just reach and he is six foot.
But, great fun, and as the person above says, ask every question you can think about it. Have they got instructions is quite useful, as we did struggle a little bit, but go for it, and enjoy,
On here already looking for our next camp site!! This weekends campsite review to come.
I'd go for a folding camper so you don't have to move the kitchen unit out to the awning and in fact if it is just an overnight stop you don't have to put up the awning at all. Our Trigano has a gross weight of 650kg and is braked so can be towed by most cars.
We are currently selling our Trigano Randger 415 (it's in the adverts here on UKCS), we chose this as we liked the idea of not putting up the awning every time and not having to stand on a cold groundsheet first thing in the morning. There is plenty of room under the beds to store spare equipment, toys, buggies etc, we fit the mobility scooter under there. There is also enough room to put a porta potti in the cabin if needed.
Canopy roof lining and Matching Curtains for inside of Camper
Welcome my Dandy Delta, She has never let us down and has always held her own she has NO Leaks, two almost new tyres and a fairly new Water pump with all new clean pipes. Always been looked after and cared for. She has 4x 12v power sockets with a 12v light installed. And a further 3 sockets inside for 240v appliances. Please note the unit is fitted with the later type plastic double glazed windows which keep it very warm.
The Floor heater is complete and fully working She sleeps 4 grown adults and a 5th smaller person on a bed that is formed my removing the Island Table and placing it between the 2 fixed seats. There is also a roof liner, which hides all the poles along with matching blue curtains and tie backs.
Sink hob and Grill are all working and have guards; the water system works a treat as I completely re-vamped it without cutting corners improving the design!
All the cushions are clean as is the outside of the unit with no rips tears.
Complete Awning with all poles and pegs and “INSTRUCTIONS” I will also
Teach you how to put it all up and down again if you are a Dandy Virgin so you know exactly what your are doing.
Willing to spend time with people who are serious about buying and show them everything. Only selling as I have just purchased another Larger model (Still a Dandy) to house a growing family. You see a few on here for sale but this is a decent one, which is reflected in the starting price. To find a Delta with a Designer Interior is rare very few where made like this. I would welcome any viewing.
St.Albans / Hatfield Area Hertfordshire
CASH on COLLECTION don’t forget a Rear Number Plate.
Look at Sunncamps, you can get them new, although you need to be aware that the poles are thinner and the canvas cheaper and less long lasting then some serious quality makes. Not a problem if you look after it, but you need to know it.
The general trance of other TTs divide up into 2 broad groups:
1: Trigano, Jamet, Raclet, Cabanon: Good quality canvas, all worth the cash. There are variations, Raclet has the best canvas, Trigano has the best looking interior, Cabanon has a different folding system which requires 2 people and takes twice as long but doesn't involve wet canvas going onto the mattresses. Price is the only serious varigating factor.
2: Camp-Let and Combi-Camp. Superb quality. Canvas as good as Raclet, fit out as good as Trigano, cost astronomical, for the same price you can get a new folding camper.
If you are after a bargain you can get some 50% off brand new TTs at Codicote Tent Festival until 14th June. You could easily get a Raclet Flores with a huge awning and big sexy kitchen for under 2.5k. Let me know if you want the details.
Oh, one last thing. All TTs with kitchens need 2 people to lift them off and you can't travel without them, with the exception of Camplet and CombiCamp, where they are built in, and Raclet, who also offer smaller kitchens which lift off and can be left behind.
We have a Dandy Designer. There are 3 of us, my wife & I as well as our 7 year old son. The Dandy fits the bill very well as it is 5 berth, 2 x double & 1 x single bed. One double easily turns ito a settee, the single into two seats & a table. We usually put a folding chair on the other side of it if eating indoors without the awning up. Biggest plus is the fact that Dandys are the only folding campers that can be folded, packed & stored if they are wet. This is due to being made from PVC not canvas. Many also have insulation built in making them less prone to condensation than canvas campers as well as warmer. There are a number of models that were made over the years, the last in 2008 though the company still does servicing as well as second hand sales. For more info look HERE. Good luck with whatever you get.
Family of 5 and had experience of trailer tents and folding campers.
Suncamp trailer tent was enormous but what a pain to put up - kitchen takes two people to move about and that not easy when looking out for little ones. Not really able to camp properly without awning which put us off going away for weekends. On the plus side very easy to move by hand around bumpy camp sites to get that perfect position and we bought 3 year old model for about £1250 on e-bay.
Now have Trigano folding camper also bought on e-bay (but almost 3 times price of trailer tent). A lot wider than TT but 1600cc zafira has no problem towing so your cars shouldn't have problem either. This is so much easier to put up than a TT and has built in kitchen (some have loo too). Without awning can be set up with fridge on, cooker conected, sink plumed in and kettle boiling in about 20 mins with practice - add 45 mins for awning. This compares with about 2 + 1/2 hours for trailer tent!
I'd have to say no contest pay the extra and get a folding camper. Sorry if this is a little late.
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: Rec`m`dations for beginners please?
