We have just purchased our first trailer tent, i put it up at the in-laws yesterday by my self and it took me about 2 hours by my self to put up, next time i think i could easily half that time (wont zip the awning on inside out etc etc) it has left me with a few questions though.
Does anyone know the model? Its a Racelet from the 80's with orange and brown canvas, the inner tents have orange and brown flowers and the trailer is white.
Does anyone have the manual?
I think i have done a better job of packing it away than the last owner he just folded the canvas on top of the beds and i have undone the poppers and tucked it into the trailer so when the over is on its flatter is this correct?
Am i ok to store it outside? I was thinking of just a couple of bricks onto then placing a tarp over that and pegging it to the floor.
My parents started to repair there old Racelet as the floor had bowed and mice had gotten in and used the inner tents for nests. It looked the same (from memory) apart from the fact the inner tents had bamboo detailing on. Would the awning be interchangeable polls and canvas giving me spares?
The legs under the bed look as though they will sink do i just need a small bit of wood under them? Same for the trailer legs as well i guess?
The canvas has a small rip on the back i just duck tapped it until i get time to sew in a new piece of canvas, the tape did not seem to stick to well is this normal or was it just cheap tape?
Also i managed to put this up with just memory of my parents putting there's up when i was a kid and reading a few posts on here. I found it was very simple and i could lift the beds etc without problem is this common for the older tts?
sorry, have never owned a raclet, so can't answer much of this except for two 'generic' points. Tenacious tape which can be bought off ebay or at camping suppliers will repair the canvas probably even better than sewing it unless you have major skill with a needle.
Also available from camping suppliers are 'feet' to go on the ends of the bed legs and stop them sinking. They are usually just a few pence. I hope that's a start at least!
Both points are very useful i am ok ish at sewing my gf is not bad either but if the tape will do the job then that will do as its only to stop the rip getting bigger rather than to stop water as its fairly low at the back on the trailer.
I have more questions i have thought of, i have read about different pegs are they only needed on the guide ropes or all around? Also that a storm strap should be used just in case, can you or anyone else recommend pegs / straps
hi savotu regarding bed legs sinking my caps on my bed legs were missing i got four octoplus legs from any fishing tackle shop they are round plastic discs red in colour and are attached to a round steel leg about 16 inc. long whitch you slide in side your bed legs and they are on a ball joint to suite any kind of uneaven floor. discs are approx 4 inc. wide job done. kind regards fluffs.
Hi - You will have to get the canvas and poles of the old tent out at the same time as yours is pitched then you can see if it would fit. Spare poles are always useful and you will probably find that you can make use of some of them.
You will acquire a vast selection of pegs if you camp for more than a couple of years. Unless you always camp in sheltered spots you will need something a bit more substantial than the bent wire ones - any camping shop sells them. Delta pegs are recommended on here and you could put a mixture all round as you are building up your collection ( I'd recommend you start off with about a dozen heavy duty ones and build it up from there)
For outside storage, if your transit cover is watertight, you shouldn't need anything else but make sure you put something under it to raise the middle so any water runs off. Open it up at every available opportunity to air it and make sure there is no mould or mouse damage.
If you email me i can send you some raclet instructions :) They are in French but it has pictures but i could send you the conway one's i have too if you think they may help?
The guy i brought it of gave me a handful of heavy duty pegs so i guess that will be a start.
The travel canvas is looking very weathered and it was wet on the inside so i have turned it inside out so now it looks new and have a tarp under it will get it replaced asap.
Its a 4 hour round trip to get the extra polls etc so will take it up there when i can and check to see if they all fit.
Thanks for all the info
I will send you an email now for the instructions ashwellgirl.
I have just emailed to ask for the instructions now. Help translating them would be a big help, i will then see if i can edit the pgf for whomever else needs them.
welcome to the wonderful world of Raclet ownership.
Can't help you with your tent model, but I might be able to help in other areas.
The canvas that makes up the main body of the trailer stays attached to the frame. With the door zip open, and the frame up, you would fold the sides up onto the roof before you fold it down. Obviously that flatter you fold it, the better. The main awning canvas is kept rolled up in the footwell area of the trailer. That's how mine works anyway
We store ours outside, but we have a tailor made cover over the one it comes with, which is breathable and waterproof. We also add a tarp for the winter. If it will be stored for some time, as previously stated you need a slight slope, and also the wheels raised off the ground slightly.
With regard to the legs, are these just the small ones that fold out or do you have wind-down corner steadies as well? We carry small pieces of wood about 1/2 thick to go under all of ours, and have the large plastic feet that you can buy for caravans for the corner steadies, to spread the load.
Tenacious Tape is excellent stuff and will certainly do the trick for your rip.
With regard to pegging, there are so many pegging points that we only tend to use guys as well if it's really windy. We've got a tie-down strap as well which we use if needed. Having said that, our awning's massive, so you might feel you need to guy down. Make sure you do that if it's raining, as you'll need the guys to pull the canvas away from the bed bases, as the water can travel in extreme conditions
I have a Raclet Instruction and Maintenance Guide in PDF format which is in English (amongst other languages), if you would also like that. There is a diagram for the awning poles which is in French, but it's quite self explanatory.
Your mention of the Bamboo printed material reminded me of our old Raclette TT.
That was the best unit we ever had and we have had the lot. Tents, TTs, Campervans and Caravans, but the Raclette took us all over Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales, being towed by Morris Minors.
Claire i see that you've got yours but Savotu's keep getting sent back :( Sorry Savotu, if i receive an email i don't understand why it won't let me reply?
Do you have another email address i could send them to?
i also owned a raclett with the bullrush interior is was huge only used it once went to the campshop for some bits and bobs and came away with a sprite musketeer wont go back to caravans though
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Topic: New tt owner with a few q`s
