Funnily enough, we used to get everything for the 3 of us and our collie into an R50 MINI and go camping with a 6 man tent, a table and chairs. I have absolutely no idea how we did it!!! Wouldn’t ever want to do it again ;)
Quote: Originally posted by DarrenElbrow on 16/5/2019
Here’s a suggestion, don’t take so much stuff. Save the money and use it for more camping.
We fit everything we need for a week for 2 adults and a dog in a Mini Clubman with one half of the seat folded down ( the dog has to sit somewhere) Our Conway Challenger doesn’t have a lot of storage space when folded down , so we have to travel light.
You must be messing with us given you're towing around a large trailer with your tent, beds, seats, kitchen etc in it and mostly fill a mini estate as well
Family of 4 plus occasional hangers on with a large poly cotton tent + tables, chairs kitchen stand etc and you soon need a decent amount of space. If I'm using the third row of seats then I can literally get a wash bag or two in the back of the car.
While I'd like a day van or similar, it's still seems much simpler to use a decent size trailer and its a semi secure place to keep half the stuff that usually clutters up the tent! I say semi secure as it's no worse then an unoccupied tent.
My head is spinning between.
Daxara 198 with high sides and ABS Lid
Brenderup 1205 XL with ABS Lid
Lider Saragos with high sides and ABS Lid
Lider Venise with high sides and ABS Lid
Trouble with the Lider is the lid looks really shallow, though I'm mostly counting on lid space as a bonus for stuff that doesn't pack well or is an awkward shape.
I guess a nice problem to have, but getting any real information pretty much requires going to kick the tyres. Surprising how little info there is on the net or even the total lack of videos on youtube.
I was trying to compare lid locking mechanisms, but it's so difficult to find legible pictures of the actual details and the best Venise pics I saw don't even seem to have the latches fitted.
Ahh well, looks like the trusty 127 and roof box will have to see us through this time which is not so bad as I've got the boot on this trip.
Quote: Originally posted by DarrenElbrow on 16/5/2019
Here’s a suggestion, don’t take so much stuff. Save the money and use it for more camping.
We fit everything we need for a week for 2 adults and a dog in a Mini Clubman with one half of the seat folded down ( the dog has to sit somewhere) Our Conway Challenger doesn’t have a lot of storage space when folded down , so we have to travel light.
You must be messing with us given you're towing around a large trailer with your tent, beds, seats, kitchen etc in it and mostly fill a mini estate as well
Family of 4 plus occasional hangers on with a large poly cotton tent + tables, chairs kitchen stand etc and you soon need a decent amount of space. If I'm using the third row of seats then I can literally get a wash bag or two in the back of the car.
While I'd like a day van or similar, it's still seems much simpler to use a decent size trailer and its a semi secure place to keep half the stuff that usually clutters up the tent! I say semi secure as it's no worse then an unoccupied tent.
My head is spinning between.
Daxara 198 with high sides and ABS Lid
Brenderup 1205 XL with ABS Lid
Lider Saragos with high sides and ABS Lid
Lider Venise with high sides and ABS Lid
Trouble with the Lider is the lid looks really shallow, though I'm mostly counting on lid space as a bonus for stuff that doesn't pack well or is an awkward shape.
I guess a nice problem to have, but getting any real information pretty much requires going to kick the tyres. Surprising how little info there is on the net or even the total lack of videos on youtube.
I was trying to compare lid locking mechanisms, but it's so difficult to find legible pictures of the actual details and the best Venise pics I saw don't even seem to have the latches fitted.
Ahh well, looks like the trusty 127 and roof box will have to see us through this time which is not so bad as I've got the boot on this trip.
You do realise that our Mini estate is smaller than most family hatchbacks! With half the seat folded down we have a bag for clothes. And a tub for food and basics
that can’t be stored in the camper, mostly pillows and towels.
We don’t take tv’s, microwaves, ovens, sofas etc that some folks feel the need to drag around on every trip.
The Challenger is probably the smallest folding camper ( not trailer tent) and really doesn’t have a lot of storage space when folded.
It’s un hooked, levelled and kettle on in 15 minutes after arriving on site
Quote: Originally posted by Red Merle on 16/5/2019
And this is the end result of a space upgrade
Wheels, tyres, suspension and mudguards upgraded and adapted this time, so that it can now follow the car off road without being nasty to it
Okay, a slight overkill for camping and other family holidays, but darn useful for shifting kit at work (which is what is does much more often!).
After a few hundred miles’ use of the Daxara 218 (very similar to Erde 213), it’s an interesting contrast the the, just one size smaller, Erde 193. For those having to make this choice, these thoughts might be helpful:
1. The greater distance between the tow hitch and trailer axle make it a lot slower to go off line and consequently, much easier to reverse.
2. There is significantly more room inside and 4x4 and even 8x6 ply can now be carried.
3. The maximum loading weight, which is now reduced to around 450kg, is not a problem, as the bulky items that it is now able to carry are, often, not that heavy. I’ve got a massive and empty cardboard box, which mustn’t be flat packed, in the back currently
4. The extra width is a huge bonus as, just like the car, the trailer can now straddle “speed cushions”.
5. The front white reflectors are now replaced with white lights. These have been upgraded to powerful white LED’s and I can now clearly see to work on the tow hitch of unload the boot, or the trailer nose box, on dark nights.
6. It’s enormously stable at motorway speeds.
7. Larger loads can be packed lower to aid stability.
8. It’s a long way to the far end of the trailer - it’s useful to keep a long stick and hook to hand!
9. The draw bar is a fair bit longer and a “one size up” nose box can be fitted.
10. The (recently made) cost optional rear shocks really do greatly improve the ride.
Disadvantages:
1. It’s harder to turn around, detached from the car, in very tight spaces.
2. To buy and kit out it’s been about a 1/3rd more expensive than the old 193.
3. The supporting cables for the fold down loading door were flimsy before, but the extra size and weight of the wider door means they really are far too flimsy now.
4. The accountants at Erde really have been taking costs out of the trailer and I’ve had to ask Erde to post some essential bits to me to retrofit; the most serious was deleting the lower of the two mounts for the jockey wheel, rendering it pretty unsafe to use!
Starting again, what would I have done differently? I’d have gone for the Erde 233, or even the brakes version.
Yep Red Merle, it’s all a sort of learning curve this trailer business, due to a major cock up with the company car policy at the firm I work for, I won’t be taking the trailer to France this year, so will be going car only like we did back in 2009.
Current firms car is a BMW 1 series, but managed to get that changed for a Ford a Kuga, having had a word with the fleet dept.
Yep Red Merle, I guess so, although it does irk, me that my trailer is to remain in the garage this year, especially as I had new 13” tyres fitted last year Grrrr !
Current company car policy is that we get a brand new car every 4 months (8k miles), which pretty much rules out having a tow bar fitted.
Over 100 cars on the same scheme with the firm, our team is fairly small with just six of us, there is an option to go Grey Fleet, in which you get £400 car allowance and 12ppm, I have been looking into that but with servicing costs along with high mileage and also needing my own business car insurance it would end up costing me.
As a team we are pushing back, as we want to return to cars on two year lease, far better for ones sanity it has to be said.
2 year lease company cars worked fine for the last 14 years, why the firm changed the policy is yet to be discovered, but this current scheme is beyond bonkers.
Quote: Originally posted by Red Merle on 16/5/2019
And this is the end result of a space upgrade
Wheels, tyres, suspension and mudguards upgraded and adapted this time, so that it can now follow the car off road without being nasty to it
Okay, a slight overkill for camping and other family holidays, but darn useful for shifting kit at work (which is what is does much more often!).
Post last edited on 16/05/2019 14:07:30
Post last edited on 16/05/2019 14:09:47
Post last edited on 16/05/2019 14:12:21
Can i ask where you got the cover from?
Sorry, I’ve only just seen your post. It was made to order by kustom-covers.co.uk. Good people to deal with, much better than the covers that Erde sell and the same price too!
Quote:
As a team we are pushing back, as we want to return to cars on two year lease, far better for ones sanity it has to be said.
2 year lease company cars worked fine for the last 14 years, why the firm changed the policy is yet to be discovered, but this current scheme is beyond bonkers.
Only one reason the fleet would be changed every 4 months, It's cheaper.
Many years ago a family friend was the fleet manager for a large bank. They switched to 6 month leases and the scheme started to make a decent profit, effectively free company cars, they just needed to pay for fuel, tax and insurance.
They bought the new cars for less than they could be sold for 6 months old at auction, getting additional discounts for having a rolling order for fleet replacement. Add in the lack of servicing and consumable costs and it's a win for the business.
Car factories have to fill every production slot to maximise profit so infinitely better to sell 30% of their cars at no/little profit than absorb fixed costs on 70% of the volume.
The hire car companies etc. all do the same thing. Plenty of punters who want 6 month old cars as they think they are getting near new at used prices when for many brands you can get >20% discount from RRP via a broker once you add in incentives.
Quote: Originally posted by Red Merle on 11/10/2019
Quote: Originally posted by g4fne on 22/8/2019
Quote: Originally posted by Red Merle on 16/5/2019
And this is the end result of a space upgrade
Wheels, tyres, suspension and mudguards upgraded and adapted this time, so that it can now follow the car off road without being nasty to it
Okay, a slight overkill for camping and other family holidays, but darn useful for shifting kit at work (which is what is does much more often!).
Post last edited on 16/05/2019 14:07:30
Post last edited on 16/05/2019 14:09:47
Post last edited on 16/05/2019 14:12:21
Can i ask where you got the cover from?
Sorry, I’ve only just seen your post. It was made to order by kustom-covers.co.uk. Good people to deal with, much better than the covers that Erde sell and the same price too!
No problem, but Thankyou, I have already managed to track them down
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: Trailers info brenderup 1205 v erde 233
via mobile 16/5/2019 at 1:41pm
