We have a hard time to decide between these two models...
We want a two bedroom, big trailer tent that can be setup quickly and used with just the main part and sun canopy (without awning).
I like Xtrail because it has a lot of storage space, big beds, very big space between the beds is quick to setup, looks good...
What i don't like about it is small awning (only 2.5m long), no skirts to hide the trailer at the back, no window towards outside in the bedrooms (is this a problem?), and the price is high.
Safari:
I like the size, beds are even bigger then in Xtrail, there is room between the beds, awning is big, windows in bedrooms, quicker to set up then Xtrails, price is lower then Xtrail,...
What i don't like about Safari: it just looks off, nothing looks solid, canvas and windows are not tight. Less room betweeen the beds, you can't fit kitchen in the main tent, heavy kitchen,...
We are going back and forth betweeen these two models. Unfortunately we can't see them live anywhere to compare, so i hope you can help me with extra info about them?
Not sure what you mean by "no skirts" at the back of the Xtrail
Its a quickstop, the whole idea is that they are not there so there is no need to peg them down, if you are using just the main unit its ready in minutes, as it just needs folded out no pegging at all. Technically its a folding camper not a trailer tent.
As far as the kitchen goes, yes they are heavy, they are a good solid piece of kit. However, we never use ours, its just stays at home as we always go ehu we take an electric kettle and a george forman and that does us, plus a bbq of course. The campsite facilities for washing up are far better than just having a sink in the awning.
All the Raclets are well made, the canvas will literally last you a lifetime if you look after it.
But you are comparing a trailer tent against a folding camper so they are two entirely different things.....
If you use Facebook there is a Raclet Trailer Tent group on there - may be able to get a bit more advice from the Raclet owners on there.....
The X trail looks nice for our weather and rugged, it's quite a bit heavier if that's a consideration for you. There are you tube videos showing them going up, including putting on the awning, that you can take a look at. They look quite similar in size without their awnings. I think any awning is what takes the time as you have to then peg out etc. Are you fixed on Raclet?
I'm not fixed at Raclet, but i can't really find good alternatives for what i want.
Trigano Olympe is a big trailer tent, but has smaller beds and you can't use it without awning.
Anything else has beds close together (Trigano Odysee, Camp-let,..), has small beds or is generaly small.
I really liked Jamet Arizona, but couldn't find any info from people about this model. They have a very good offer right now for 2016 model, but people say it is hard to put together and isn't as good as Raclet models. Even though it has Acrylic canvas and looks good.
If you want a quick put up above all else then I would listen to those comments from people saying it's difficult. Any quick put up trailer you then have to add an awning to if you want extra space. You'll have to collect the trailer so worth taking an additional trip to look at them and have a demonstration if you can as its a big purchase.
That is why i like the idea of quickly setting up sleeping area and then just add sun canopy so we can sit outside, kitchen has a roof etc. I believe Raclet Safari or Xtrail have that option, but i can't get info if Jamet Arizona has that option. Anyone knows?
If i want i can always then add normal awning and enlarge the living space.
All the Raclets can be used with or without their awning - the awning is optional.
The reason that the quickstops (there are a few) are called quickstops is that without the awning they literally take minutes to set up - in fact the kettle to boil your cup of tea will take longer to boil than the setup will.
The trailer tents however, even without the awning still have all the pegs to be hammered to secure the canvas to the ground.
I still don't think that you appreciate the fundamental difference between a folding camper and a trailer tent.....
So the X-trail is a folding camper as the whole thing attaches to the camper/trailer and no pegging out. The safari is a trailer tent as needs pegging to the ground. Any awnings on either unit will add time to the set up, most these days are fairly easy to add. I would still make time to go and visit a few to get a feel for size and ease.
I know it isn't quite the same but we had a choice to make earlier this year between a Safari and a Quickstop. We went for a Quickstop in the end. Yes the awning is slightly smaller but we always pitch the canopy on the front anyway. We thought we'd made the right choice anyway but when it came to pack down after a weeks camping that confirmed it. Bad weather looming. We packed up the awning the day before leaving. Took about 20 mins to pack, hitch and go the morning after.
I'd go for the X-trail. We couldn't afford all the extras so went quickstop but have the skirts etc.. so in reality have the best of both worlds. Full on TT when we need it and FC when that is needed.
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Topic: Raclet Safari or Xtrail?
