Have just, after a lot of thought, bought a 2nd hand Trailer Tent. We are still keeping our tents and will use them.
Because we want to do quick week-end trips and most of our stuff is in the loft it will be a lot easier (apparently) to just up, off and away.
Just had our first night in the Trailer Tent and it worked well although it was very cold. We had no instructions per say and took our time to get it right - it's the same but sorta different. The poles are connected springs - a little different to Outwell poles - and are semi connected in various configurations
We used all the add ons, so we had a clear view and idea of the trailer and it was, to say the least, a little complicated. But taking it steady, having a couple of breaks, 4 hours(!) later it was complete. Next time it certainly won't take that long!!
It has loads of space - too much - so we know now what to take and when. Missed the SIG - as it was cold you could feel the draughts - something to sort.
Took pen and paper and noted things down that we need - take a stool is one (OH is not 7') - so all in hand. I think once we're sorted OH may be right and we can up and away if the sun comes out.
So, have we gone to the dark side - we are under canvas and it is a Cabanon.
------------- May - Dorset
July - Saundersfoot
September - S. Wales
October - S. Wales
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Goodluck with your TT, We are just returning to tenting after selling our brilliant 20 yr old Conway, Had a few great weeks away, We would love another, maybe folding camper but to expensive and a lot bigger than the TT
Good luck and you will get the set up time down some more
I hope you get the set up time down, my brother and his wife had a Cabanon TT and it used to take hours to put up, they wouldn't recommend it to me when I asked about it although they did enjoy the comfort of it. The folding camper we have takes about an hour including pegging and setting up tables, chairs etc.
Did you consider a trailer with all your tenting gear in for a quicker get away?
dk168 - Yes we will, thanks very much. The dog loved it - but he does love camping. He actually snuggled right to the bottom of his "Bob the Builder" sleeping bag and never moved! (It was cold on Saturday though).
homebird - Yes, we definitely will get the setting up time down - as I said we did take our time and put every awning up. Although we won't use all of it, it will be handy for girls and their respectives if they come too.
We're coming near you in a couple of weeks (it's my big birthday). Usually we would stay with friends who live on the edge of the New Forest, but we want to give it another go - now we now what we're doing. The cabin itself only took us 20 minutes, so we should half that. Yes, we did consider a trailer but OH really fancied a Trailer Tent and it is only overnight we could just stay in the cabin.
duffs54 - Nice One
Most definitely keeping the tents and use them. Going to S.Ireland in September and are taking a tent there.
That bit of sea must be the most expensive anywhere and we have to take the quick ferry because of the dog - so not cheap and more expensive with a trailer.
Thanks
------------- May - Dorset
July - Saundersfoot
September - S. Wales
October - S. Wales
Whereabouts will you be camping? We'll be on a rally in Ower over the Bank Holiday but using the caravan for this one as its "own san essential".
I must admit my brother used to put the whole lot up with his Cabanon - full awning and one metre extension with the liners etc, bit much for a weekend! Sounds like you've got it sussed though and I'm sure you'll enjoy the comfort.
We've recently sold our tt, although we loved the space and comfort, we absolutely did NOT enjoy the time it took to erect and take down, the kitchen unit weighed a ton and we couldn't get it round to the back garden to dry out like we used to. But we had some great times in it with the grandchildren. Lovely memories, although we found it a chore as we got older, I actually cried when I saw it go.
We've decided to stay near Corfe Castle (mainly due to campsite) - we didn't want to stay in the New Forest as we have done a lot of it when visiting our friends (we've been up and down for about 30 years!) Although, I am sure we will visit the New Forest at some point.
Our friends are busy for a couple of days and it's about an hours drive to their house. So we'll probably meet up halfway most of the time - might even join us in the trailer tent!! Oh, and the dog just loves the seaside!
They love Lulworth, Old Harry etc.,so lots of nice walks!
Ooooh, for a week-end I think we might be minimal with awnings, linings will be a no no, I will put curtains up though (now I've sussed which are long, medium and short!) not for aesthetics but for privacy. I bet your brother was worn out!!
to johnwils: Sorry that you sold your TT. Our TT did not come with a kitchen - which was fine as we have it already. So glad to hear you have some great memories though - that's what it's all about!
------------- May - Dorset
July - Saundersfoot
September - S. Wales
October - S. Wales
I hope you will get much faster as you get used to it.
I have a very old Combicamp trailer tent and the main bit pitches in about 30 seconds - honestly! I can put the awning up in about 10 minutes, and another 5 minutes to open the kitchen table and camping chairs and I'm done. At the beginning of the season I put the bedding into the cabin (mattress pads and cushions) and it stays until the end of the season when it gets aired and then put into vacuum storage bags for the winter. My kitchen stuff is stored in a set of plastic drawers, so it's an easy job to lift if off the trailer and park it by the kitchen table in the awning. Cold box goes under the table with the water bottle, and to coin a slogan from Greenbelt Festival, it's 'Tent up, kettle on, music plays, happy days'!!!
Quote: Originally posted by floppy-poppy on 11/4/2016
Have just, after a lot of thought, bought a 2nd hand Trailer Tent. We are still keeping our tents and will use them.
Because we want to do quick week-end trips and most of our stuff is in the loft it will be a lot easier (apparently) to just up, off and away.
Just had our first night in the Trailer Tent and it worked well although it was very cold. We had no instructions per say and took our time to get it right - it's the same but sorta different. The poles are connected springs - a little different to Outwell poles - and are semi connected in various configurations
We used all the add ons, so we had a clear view and idea of the trailer and it was, to say the least, a little complicated. But taking it steady, having a couple of breaks, 4 hours(!) later it was complete. Next time it certainly won't take that long!!
It has loads of space - too much - so we know now what to take and when. Missed the SIG - as it was cold you could feel the draughts - something to sort.
Took pen and paper and noted things down that we need - take a stool is one (OH is not 7') - so all in hand. I think once we're sorted OH may be right and we can up and away if the sun comes out.
So, have we gone to the dark side - we are under canvas and it is a Cabanon.
Hi floppy-poppy we too keep our camping gear in the loft and recently I have built a hook/cradle pulley system for lowering and raising the gear ,made the task a lot easier
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Topic: Have we gone to the dark side?
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