Okay. Trailer Tent.-
Good points, generally easy to tow and easy to stow.
Bad points.- Takes a long time to put up and only really good if you are staying in one place for a number of nights.
Caravan.-More difficult to tow until you get used to it. Everything is at hand whether on site or in storage.
We have had both of these types of units.
Fortunately we were younger when we had the TT and so it was no bother to put it up. By not using the awning, we were able, on dry nights, to use just the main part and do some quick overnight stops, but it still takes much longer to stow it away for travelling than our present caravan.
Really a lot depends on what type of touring you intend to do and your fitness level.
This thread ended with the first reply. If you are asking the question any other answer will simply cost you money when you change your mind in September.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
If you are youngish and starting off and money is an issue(isn't it always) then I would try a trailer tent. I was a single parent in my forties and I bought a trailer tent. No electric hookups then but we had great times. There are good second hand ones around but see the one you are looking at erected.Easy to tow and store.
We are older now and have a caravan but we enjoyed the trailer tent.
We loved the trailer tent for the space. It ended there though. Hated the setting and packing up - when the whole thing was put up it took ages and was a nightmare to dry off when wet - we usually had to take it along the beach to dry if we brought it home wet as we had no room in our garden to open it up.
Caravan has less space but we much prefer it for ease of use. No problem with towing for us, hubby is well experienced and confident but that came with time.
In 2010 we went from folding camper to caravan,2 years ago we thought we were missing the outdoorsy feel of camping and the ease of storing our unit at home. So the caravan went and we bought a trailer tent. Yes we had loads of space (far too much for 2 people)we felt at one with nature BUT even with a quick erect tt the set up wasn't particularly quick,as every trip was coming to an end we were praying for a dry pack up as drying space at home was at a premium.
Fast forward to a wild windy week in Wales early this year - not a wink of sleep for the first 2 nights due to the canvas thrashing round like a parachute and that was the end of the tt. We picked our new to us caravan up on 3rd July and had a fabulous stress free week in Dorset. Yes the towing for the OH is different - but he has done it before, yes the costs for towing and storage is more - but is it better? You bet!
As for the outdoorsy bit-no awning for us this time - just a sun canopy - so it's either sat inside or sat out.
Just our personal story - but we are all different - and while we were away in Poole we were smiling fondly at the tt's tents and folding campers - but know for sure it's not for us.
Rachel
After our last holiday in North Devon at the beginning of June, boy were we glad we had the caravan instead of the folding camper. The torrential rain was non stop and the it was too windy to even get the awning up. In the caravan you can just shut the door, we even had the heating on at one point, and get stuck into a good book, nice and cosy. (Toilet on board too so no traipsing across the campsite for the loo).
Yes there is a difference in price, but as said it depends what your budget is.
Re rachntex's post. When we had our last caravan we also felt we were losing the "camping feel". One of the reasons we sold it. This time round we do it all differently. Unlike Rachntex, we use our awning almost all the time and only sit inside if the weather is particulalry bad. We roll the awning side down and it is left that way most of the day. We eat all our meals in it, we play cards/scrabble etc in it, we entertain our friends in it. We have it looking lovely with candles and twinklies. I could count on the one hand how many times we have watched tv in the caravan this season. We have made a decision not to fall into the habit of spending too much time in the caravan this time round. We have our camping mojo back.
We had a abandon stratos trailer tent, note the use of the word "had".
On the plus side, it fitted in the garage so no storage fees, it has a big living space, the bed space is also good and away from your living area.
You do not need to change your car to tow it, in most cases. We did not need a loan to buy it. (I know you can get cheaper caravans etc etc)
On the downside, unless you go abroad, or are v hardy (I'm not) then your season is limited. You are always watching the weather deciding to put it down and go home a day early was often a big feature of our holidays. You have to unpack it all again when you get home to dry it.
No toilet, no shower, no washing up facilities, no heating. Yes all of these can be overcome its true but to my mind add to the work load. It used to take us 4 or 5 hours to have everything.
We bought our first caravan 4 years ago and yes we treated ourselves to a new one, but then we knew it was the sort of holiday we wanted to invest in long term. I absolutely love it. I don't tow it to be fair oh does and he actually says it is easier to reverse than the ttbecause it is loner and you can see it. It takes less than an hour to set up particularly if we don't put up an awning. You stay warm and dry, you have an empty car on journeys because it is all in the caravan. Weekends away are possible, Easter and October half term are possible.
So yes for me this thread ended with your first answer, get a caravan,
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Topic: Help!! trailer tent or caravan
