Looking to progress up and away from tents and I am looking at either a trailer tent or a folding camper. Limitation is that I drive an EV with a towing limit of 900kg, so from what I understand only the lightest chassis folding campers would be within my weight range, where I have pretty much free run of any trailer tent I find.
I've spend some time at Camperlands looking at both and the Isabella Camp-let is the current front runner. The one I'm looking at is a 2016 Classic SE with the sun canopy and side annex (and a few extras) for about £5k.
For a similar price I would be looking at something another 10 years older (around 2005-2007) in a folding camper, chances are without the same quality of canopy as an Isabella and with all the other concerns you get with a nearly 20 year old unit.
Question is, is it worth looking at folding campers that age vs a newer camplet? I know you *can* find good condition folding campers of that age but I dont know how prevalent they are - am I going to be searching for a needle in a haystack vs. the camplet which should (unless its been abused) be in excellent condition still?
Is a folding camper even worth it given my weight limit?
i think you would be better off looking for a folding camper such as a pennine fiesta that is below your weight limit and all the advantages of folding camper.
they are easy enough to come by on the preloved market such as ebay, or marketplace on facebook etc and costing no where near the 5k you have been asked by the dealer £1500 max would get you a quite new one.
the other one to look out for is a dandy, they are all weather and can be packed up wet and have a proper door and opening window similar to in a caravan, and be used with or without the awning and once again no pegging out
Have a look at Riva Leisure web site for Dandys. The best place to see them and buy one. They last for ever but are not as well equipped as canvas folding campers.
I struggle to see the wisdom of an expensive caravan bottom half with a tent over the top.
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I struggle to see the wisdom of an expensive caravan bottom half with a tent over the top.
May I ask why that would represent a problem. Over a period of over 25 years, have owned three three Pennines, My present Pathfinder is now eleven years old, and still sometimes gets mistaken for a new one.
It could be that your experience is somewhat different from my own.
It totally depends on how you like to camp and which TT or FC you go for. Do you want the creature comforts of a caravan (sink, cooker, toilet compartment, wardrobe, sofas etc)? If so, go fir a folding camper. Or do you simply want a bed, some storage and a living space? If so, it's surely a trailer tent.
The condition of any used camping unit is more important than age, so how it's been used, stored and maintained is important.
Over the years (or rather, decades), we've had what seems like every camping unit known to man, bar a motorhome. We had caravans, Pennine FCs as well as Conway, Raclet and Cabanon TTs, interspersed with canvas tents, in our perpetual search for an easier option. Now, with no kids in tow, we have a Cabanon Malawi trailer tent and it's the easiest thing we've ever had, but quite simple. We like it because it can be easily stored in the garage, is quick and easy enough to pitch, has storage, a comfy bed on the trailer (which we prefer to a fold-out bed base) and is light and easy to tow. We can use it with or without the awning (usually without). It suits our needs.
I'd suggest you should prioritise what you want in a camping unit and buy accordingly, rather than focusing on age of the item.
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Topic: Newer Trailer Tent vs Old Folding Camper
via mobile 03/5/2023 at 10:42am
