Hi there,
We are a family of 4 (5 including the dog!) our kids are only very young, been 6 and 2 when it comes to next season. We have a Outwell Nevada tent at the mo and want to upgrade but I am all confuzzled as to the many many types of trailer tents out there and find myself going round in circles - would love to be able to afford a brand new model but until I get more hours working we just can't afford one - but its ideal for us to have a zip in ground-sheet as our daughter (as well as myself!) isn't keen on sharing with creepy crawlies - there will be a screaming tantrum anytime the tiniest bug is seen! (not from me lol). Does anyone have any idea what year the sewn in groundsheets came about and what manufacturers are best? Thanks for any help x
It depends on your budget. I would however really really recommend the zip in groundsheet. We have a Sunncamp 550SE, which I got on ebay 2 years ago for £1200 - it is brilliant. Some people look down on Sunncamp as they are the budget end of TT, and the canvas is not as heavy as Trigano or Cabanon (We had a Cabanon Galaxy before and the canvas was great).... however, our TT is huge, we have now spent the last 3 summers camping in Spain for between 3 and 4 weeks as well as 2 week long camps in the UK - it has survived massive prolonged thunder storms and gales and not let in a drip. It is easy to errect.
My only advice is to make sure you get the model with a kitchen. Ours had almost no sign of use when we bought it - now pretty well used, but going extremely strong.
Worth looking at the Cabanon tents - the Neptune is similar (a bit wider) to our Sunncamp
I appreciate you'd feel better with a ZIG, and they do make life easier with a dog as well, but don't rule out a TT because it has an ordinary groundsheet.
I was a bit concerned when we bought the Combi Camp that we would notice a difference having previously had a ZIG, but the mud skirts tuck under the groundsheet and it doesn't seem much different, we certainly haven't been overrun by spiders!
Poppy the Jack Russell is another matter, though I suspect she'd have found a way out no matter what!
As regards the kitchen, opinions differ. Some people love them, I hated the weight of the thing, and it was awkward to set up, though I found it useful. We now have one that stays on the back of the trailer, which is pretty good, but If you have everything already consider all options.
I could write an essay on the differences between the quick erect TTs, but I've never had a traditional one or a FC. Whatever questions you have someone will be able to answer them though, so fire away!
Thanks for the replies I can tell people on here will be a huge help - I am looking second hand on facebook/gumtree/ebay/preloved etc. We live in East Yorkshire so not really near any stockists of the new trailer tents (does anyone know of sellers of both old/new around east Yorkshire???) I think a trip to the Camperlands at Manchester may be in order to be able to get a feel for what we would want - wonder why these type of tents aren't more widely demonstrated and stocked as to me they seem to be the best option for those that can't afford/tow a tourer!!! x p.s. good tip about the mud-flaps although I thought they had to fold out to let any rain water drip off?? x
Quote: p.s. good tip about the mud-flaps although I thought they had to fold out to let any rain water drip off?? x
I've had both styles over the years, there appear to be two schools of thought! The Vango tents we've had pegged out as did the Camplet, the Jamet and the Combi Camp go under. Since the Jamet had a ZIG that was a bit redundant, but the Combi is certainly nice and snug, and we've had no water ingress so far.
Its easy to tell how it goes from the position of the pegging points, so if getting a good seal is important to you its something you can look out for.
Camperlands are pretty good, but they are very much biased towards the Camplet. I know its a long way from you, but Black Country Caravans are good as well, and have a lot of info on their website.
You could try Black Country Camping, they have a number of used TT's (they may have our old Jamet Louisianne there!). We brought a new Trigano Odyssee from them a few weeks ago and they were all very knowledgeable and helpful.
They may be a little distance from you, but we made the journey up there from Bucks.
Jeff
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May 18, Delftse Hout, Delft
Aug 18, Le Logis du Breuil, Royan
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: wanting to upgrade our tent to a trailer
