We currently camp in a khyam tent - perfectly happy with it but are thinking of upgrading to a trailer tent. My husband is disabled (lost an arm in an accident over 20 years ago) and putting up the tent takes around 30 mins which isn't too bad but its very hard work for him, especially if we then add on the sun porch which weighs a ton and adds an another half hour to setting up time
Can anyone recommend a trailer tent that is fairly easy to erect and not too time consuming. I think 45mins is probably the maximum I would want to be fiddling around with one, especially as we have two young children who always want to "help"!
I like the quick erect trigano trailer tents and would love one but unfortunately the new ones are out of my price range and I haven't seen many of these around second hand. I have a budget of about £2000.
Or a Combi Camp? New ones cost a fortune, but a fair number seem to come up second hand. I don't know what year they introduced the telescopic awning poles, but with them the awning is very easy to pitch as well. I've never seen one in the flesh, but I think the Comanche Montana is similar.
Ours is similar to the Trigano Odyssee, and although its relatively quick I still find it quite heavy going. I had some long standing womens troubles, followed by a hysterectomy, and I still find lifting quite challenging (nothing going to the gym wouldn't fix of course but I digress!). I find we rely heavily on our teenage son to help.
If there's any flexibility in your budget then the Raclet Moovea is worth a look, but the bedroom annex was only introduced last year, so you would probably need to be able to buy new.
I don't know how much you can cut your pitching time in total because pegging and set up is a big part of it whatever your unit. I do think you can find something less physically demanding though, £2000 is a healthy budget.
I would think a folding camper would seriosuly cut down your pitcheing time and effort but with two young children you would need to look at one of the larger side entrance units like Pullman or Cruiser.
The awning would still be an issue but you could get an adapted porch awning which may be able to stay attached to the camper main body which makes pitching time pretty quick even including awning, and if a lightweight porch awning not too many poles
Ideally a FC with gas struts would help with teh putting up but think tehy amy be later than your budget permits
Thank you for the replies. I like the combi camp and the camplets so may have a look out for second hand ones.
I have looked at folding campers but dont think they are for us.
We regularly use a camping shop near to us that stock a range of trailer tents so I am sure if we asked them nicely they may let us have a go at putting one up or recommend ones that would be suitable.
My husband does brilliantly putting the tent up (better than some people with two arms!) but I like the idea of the ease and space of a trailer tent and the fact that everything you need is contained within the unit.
I still like the look of the trigano but will need to have a go at putting one up
Once you've decided what you want, look on the free ads here, that's where we got our combi camp two years ago. I think the telescopic poles were introduced in the eighties, but am not sure.
One of the advantages of the combi camp is that the kitchen unit is fixed onto the back of the trailer, so there's no heavy lifting involved at all. In fact, it takes a couple of minutes to put up the main unit and the awning is easier than some although it still needs pegging out. Happy shopping.
I agree with Pillsley to avoid those a kitchen that need lifting off. We are both able bodied & fit, but hate 'fighting' with the unit- IMHO it not heavy but awkward to lift-which we didn't realise when we bought it.
I also agree with you to practice at dealers, our friend 's bought a TT a year ago they were shown how to set up the body but it was the awning which gave them a headache.
You still have to lift it off and level it. It's heavy and its akward, which I thought the OP was trying to move away from. If I've read that wrong of course I apologise. However, given that Trigano have brought out a lighter version I think it would be fair to say a lot of customers must find them problematic!
If you get the TT level before you unhook the kitchen unit you only have to drop the legs to the floor then it`s level.
Lifting it off really isn`t that hard/difficult IMHO.
Yes it is heavy to move around hence I have it on wheels, which removes that problem.
The OP stated they had a budget of £2k, therefore, I do not think they would get the Trigano units with the lighter kitchen version, which I believe fits inside the trailer and has to be taken out once on site, but I may be wrong.
wish I had £2000 budget, I'd get a combi camp venezia which sounds ideal as it has poles that extend from the main frame and kitchen which looks as though it stays attached to the rear.
I do not understand why a folding camper such as a conway or Pennine would not do for you,putting up a main cabin which includes a built in Kitchen & fridge & ready made beds for up to six & does not require pegging down can be done in less than 20 min The awning could possibly be awkward for your husband but most trailer tents awnings are even more difficult
Because FC's aren;t for eveyone . The main units are larger and heavier and in built kitchen isn't for eveyone. Joys of camping - we are all different!
Griff, I have yet to find a site where level at the back of the trailer equals level where the kitchen needs to live, perhaps I'm just too fussy! You obviously have no trouble with it, that's great, and you certainly aren't alone, but we do, it's not so great, and we're not alone either.
I have problems with my stomach and problems with my back, and in terms of pitching its not ideal, in terms of space it's perfect. If DS broke a limb (he skates, I should pitch at A&E!) we would have a real problem, and I hate that lack of confidence. It's a fantastic unit, but probably not ideal for anyone who has lifting problems, (especially if they're obsessively independant lol) and we will be trading it in for something lighter, probably next year.
I didn't intend to suggest the newer Trigano to the OP, I was just defending myself! They've obviously felt the need to bring out a lighter one. It does slide into the trailer, and to be perfectly honest its a little bit odd!
I like the look of that Combi Camp as well Tynxuk!
Where's Stuart? We've not had buy a Holtkamper yet - I feel the discussion is lacking something!
I think the Combi Camp units with the telescopic awning poles came out after 1997, can't say exactly how long after 1997.
I think the Combi Camp Venezia or Panda would be ideal for Claire as they both have the telescopic poles, and the kitchen is mounted on the back of the trailer, so it doesn't have to be moved around.
Ours is a four berth with annex, but as there's only two of us, we sleep in the centre of the 8 foot wide bed so that each of us can get out during the night (call of nature, it's an age thing ) without having to climb over each other. We use the annex as an ensuite, but it would be ideal for two children to sleep in there. The standard awning isn't as big as most trailer tents, but you can buy an extra zip-in section to increase the living area.
It takes us 2 minutes to erect the cabin, 2-3 minutes to raise the internal poles of the annex & peg it out, plus 20 minutes to erect & peg the awning.
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Topic: Which trailer tent?
) without having to climb over each other. We use the annex as an ensuite, but it would be ideal for two children to sleep in there. The standard awning isn't as big as most trailer tents, but you can buy an extra zip-in section to increase the living area.
