Hello. So we have various tents already and popped to the NEC yesterday to window-shop for a VW camper.....
Anyway, after stumbling upon the trailer tent area at the show, we've had a bit of a rethink and we've started to wonder if a trailer tent may better suit our needs (not least because we could actually afford one rather than just dreaming of owning a VW!).
We have 3 small boys and a dog (who usually comes with us).
We've narrowed it down to
1. Trigano Galleon (with the extra sun canopy extension to awning with 2x underbed sleeping pods)
2. Camplair S(also with 2 underbed sleeping pods and extra sun-canopy extension to awning)
3. Camp-let classic with side extension & front sun canopy (this is probably a no unless people convince me the extra cash it is worth it... is it annoying that you can't move the kitchen out of the living bit?)
I'd be really grateful for all comments/advice/recommendations. e.g. Are they sturdy enough in wind?
I have a Camplair s. There are 4 of us. 2 adults and a 13 and 15 year old. Ours doesn't have the under bed pods or extention. I find it big enough and the design is easy enough to put up. I think though that the Galleon is quite a bit bigger, but probably just as easy to put up as the Camplair. Pretty much everything we need is stored in or on the trailer. They are sturdy in the wind, comfortable and easy to tow. I've heard others say the Camplet side extentions are a pain to put up and quite time consuming. However years ago I did have an old Camplet Apollo and did like the unit itself, although I don't think it's as big as the Trigano or Camplair. As you are probably aware, Trigano and Camplair are the same company but the Camplair are the budget version of Trigano. If you are interested in the Camplair, I will be putting mine up for sale as soon as I've cleaned it and emptied it. I've spent the last couple of months modernising an old Pennine Aztec as the kids don't particularly want to go camping any more and it's a lot of money sat on the drive with the amount of use it's getting!
Thank you very much for your reply, all really useful info. And yes we might look out for it on the selling pages, thanks for the tip-off! What year is it? (just so I can work out if we'd still be able to get hold of extra bits and bobs to add on to it if we wanted)
We have a 2005 Combi camp Venezia. 2 adults and 3 children (5, 10, 15) in the 2 x double bed format. Gives us enough space.
We have the rear two bed annex which covers the hitch and front locker so a good place for a toilet, hanging wet suits, storing stuff etc. The rear annex has the two person tent insert which 15 year old sleeps in.
We keep the front main awning and rear awning attached so putting up is quite quick, about 1 hour from start to finish, including pegging and setting up table and chairs, beds etc.
We have attached 4 relatively cheap (from Halfords, approx £18 each) bike carriers so can carry 4 bikes, surfboard and storage boxes on the rear. It is a braked trailer and I moved the axle forward to reduce nose weight (simple job).
The build quality is very good and having the kitchen set up in 1 minute is great - we store all utensils, pots and pans etc, and most of the food in the drawers etc.
Inside the trailer we also carry, dining table, four lightweight folding stools (with backrests), sleeping bags x5, camping mat (for rear bed annex), wetsuits x5, barbequ, 2 recliners.
In the front box goes the gas, water bottle, charcoal, camping light etc.
Only thing in the car is cloths and pillows.
Poles go in a length of 4" pipe strapped underneath at the back.
On the roof rack part we carry surfboards etc. A Maxxrax carries the bikes.
Go for it. With a large family they are much better than a Camplet.
If you buy used you can try without to high an expenditure.
I just googled the combi camp venezia - it is so clever! The luggage rack becomes the frame for the base, the hard top of the trailer becomes the floor area. Brilliant.
And it is very appealing to have a nice empty car - by the time we have the dog's crate in our boot, we really struggle to fit all of our camping kit in....
I think perhaps I shouldn't get too carried away by the good deals at the NEC but do a bit more research first and, as you suggest, consider a second hand TT
thanks for your reply.
We went to the nec in 2014 and fell in love with the Jamet Dakota trailer tent at the Black Country stand. The quality of the canvas with the wipe clean roof, and 2 kingside doubles, plus big outside area with the extra canopy and sides was just too much to resist! We have had a week in Cornwall and 2 weeks in France but apart from that it's sat all cosy under covers in the garage. unfortunately with work and holiday restrictions we just aren't getting the use out of it it deserves and have sadly decided it should go. We have just put it on eBay this week at a huge saving from the price we paid, and it really is in perfect condition. Look it up, it will be a fabulous buy for someone. You can buy underbeds tents for it, and I have also seen a side extension on eBay recently. When we were in France we stayed at a Dutch owned site and saw a lot of these tents (the Dutch like quality!) - some were years old but didn't look it at all. This will be the second summer it hasn't got used so it really needs to go to a new home :(
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Topic: Trailer tent for family of 5
