Downsizing from a caravan to a trailer tent....

[Rosscow]

Hi all,

After 6 years we're thinking about selling our caravan. We've enjoyed some fabulous holidays, but don't feel that it actually works very well for the holidays we enjoy the most. Let me explain!

Currently have a 6 berth twin axle caravan, with large double bed formed at the front (eating/sitting area) and 2 permanent bunks to the side, with a further 2 bunks if required which are formed from the side dinette (we have never used these bunks).

In a perfect world, we'd have a caravan with a fixed double bed, 2 fixed bunks and a permanent eating/sitting area. They don't exist.

Therefore, when we holiday in the UK, we generally have to make our bed every night and dismantle to form the seating area in the morning. Having just done this for 2 weeks I can assure that I'm fed up with it. We mainly have to do this because the weather is changeable and not always warm enough or nice enough to persuade wife and children to sit outside or in the awning for breakfast!
I also seem to get a bad back after a few days which I think is caused by sleeping on sofa cushions rather than a slatted bed/mattress.

When we holiday abroad (our preferred option) the double bed stays made up for the duration as we tend to cook/eat/sit/etc. outside and then just flop into bed at midnight half cut!

We've basically decided that we don't particularly enjoy caravanning in the UK enough for it to be our main yearly holiday, and in future will always go for France/Germany/Italy for our summer camping holidays (which we had done for 4 years prior to this year).

Therefore - we are seriously considering selling the caravan and getting a trailer tent.

The way I see it is that a trailer tent is a lot easier to live with day to day and has good pros:

-cheaper to buy
-minimal servicing costs
-can live in the garage (easy to pack/unpack, secure, etc)
-can be towed by anything (better MPG)
-cheaper ferries/tunnel
-more spacious inside than a caravan when set up
-proper slatted beds with memory foam mattresses

Cons that I can think of (based on a main foreign holiday):

Storage space for camping equipment (tables, chairs, Cadac, etc.)
Waking up to a very light tent at 5am rather than a nice dark caravan at 8am
Need to dry it out if put away wet
Setting up if it's raining

Now I think I can live with most of these cons, and have been looking at some of the more premium options.
First choice would be a Holtkamper Kyte XL but with the horrendous £/€ at the moment they would be hellishly expensive (also don't have a UK dealer anymore)
Second choice at the moment would be an Isabella Camplet Premium with additional side annexes and awning.

Does anyone have experience with either of the above or would you recommend any other makes?

TL/DR: Selling caravan and thinking of a trailer tent. Does anyone have any info/advice?

Thanks in advance!

[C0ffin D0dger]

I've never owned a trailer tent so not really qualified to comment but I just see the downsides of a caravan (i.e. having to tow something, set it up, etc.) without the luxuries (dark with the blinds down, heating, toilet/shower, etc.).

With our caravan we just leave the double up all the time. Either sit outside or in the awning. The cushions on the front seat weren't the comfiest, also had an achy back after a few days, but Duvalay toppers seem to have sorted that out for me and now sleep comfortably.

Just don't see the appeal of trailer tents which I guess is why you don't see that many on sites.

[Rosscow]

We've seen quite a few in France. They're certainly more popular there than they are here (again - due to the weather I'd imagine).

We're talking this sort of thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSHpuHnBTyA

Yes you have to tow, yes you have to set up. But at least you have a decent bed, off the floor. And they're a lot cheaper than replacing the caravan!

Not worried about heating, we're basically saying that it'll be used abroad in the summer. No more damp and dreary UK weekends away playing monopoly!

[Jonboy_t]

If you haven’t already, have a look at Adria. They’ve just launched a new range that are 6 inches wider than standard and so have some new layout options. My olds are replacing a Bailey Unicorn because the grandkids are getting bigger so don’t want to share a bed and, I may be wrong here, but I’m sure they found an Adria with a fixed double and bunks for the g-kids.

[surveyor]

Rosscow said:

In a perfect world, we'd have a caravan with a fixed double bed, 2 fixed bunks and a permanent eating/sitting area. They don't exist.

They do. Someone (one of the regular UK manufacturer) has just launched a model with just this - seen the pictures.. Can't remember who though!

[smifffymoto]

How about something like a KIP shelter or an Eriba.

[Sonie]

Take a look at the Opus Air, that will fit your Trailer tent requirements

[Tyre Smoke]

I too have a six berth twin axle. The fixed bed is in the rear, the bunks are to the side and can be left up, and the sitting/eating area at the front is easily big enough for four.

It's a 2010 Sterling Eccles Amethyst. Plenty of this layout about. Here's the layout...



A trailer tent? All the inconvenience of camping in a tent with none of the luxuries of a caravan. And you still have to tow it about.

Edited by Tyre Smoke on Wednesday 21st August 22:08

[visitinglondon]

Have you considered an hotel?

Proper beds. No need to tow anything. Doesn’t annoy other road users. No need to st in a bucket. Costs of caravan/trailer tent would probably pay for many a decent night’s sleep in cheap hotels.

[surveyor]

visitinglondon said:

Have you considered an hotel?

Proper beds. No need to tow anything. Doesn’t annoy other road users. No need to st in a bucket. Costs of caravan/trailer tent would probably pay for many a decent night’s sleep in cheap hotels.

Did you get lost?

[Simes205]

We’ve camped abroad for years and just returned after 4 weeks in France.
We were mainly down South so fairly dry and consistent sun.
I noticed the Dutch like a trailer tent and some looked fairly modern and innovative. Sorry no brands I’m afraid, I can’t remember but worth a look at.
You’d need a top box to carry additional luxury!

[PurpleTurtle]

Caravanner here (Eriba Triton, tiny thing for 2 adults and a 4yo), having upgraded from years of tent camping and having spent my entire childhood caravanning.

I feel you are missing a trick, and going to a considerable amount of expense and aggro just because you don't like putting the beds up.

Neither do I, and neither did my Dad, so the answer is to deftly delegate that task out.

I put it to my wife that I couldn't/shouldn't be expected to do everything on 'van set up, and given that I do all the stty jobs like emptying the Elsan and fetching water, she should take care of some of the stuff that I would rather not do, like making up the beds. My Dad similarly delegated that task to us kids (I perversely enjoyed it back then). Have you not considered that? Then just sit back in your awning with a drink being master of all you survey.

As said up the thread, trailer tents lose all the heat/warmth/comfort aspects of a caravan and leave you with the towing/storage/packing when wet/cold in inclement weather issues.

[Rosscow]

OK, thanks for all of the replies!

So yes, I had a look last night and it seems some of the new 8' wide caravans can offer what we thought was unavailable. Especially the new Sprites:

https://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/caravans/swift-sprite...

However, I feel that some of you may be missing our main points for getting rid of a caravan:

- We don't need the comfort of a caravan as we're only going to use it abroad and literally fall into bed at the end of the day! We don't sit/cook or eat in it.
- We don't plan on using it in the UK or if it's cold, so things like heating are irrelevant
- All of the sites in Europe that we have visited have had fantastic facilities - I rarely use our shower/bathroom anyway
- Regardless of layout, caravans still come with the hassle and expense of cleaning/storage/servicing etc.

I think we've decided to go to the camping/caravanning show in October and have a look at what is available - both caravans and trailer tents.

This, for me, looks very good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ASC573vD3k

Loads of space, slatted memory foam bed, easy to tow, can keep it in the garage (on its side!), etc.

Will keep you posted!

[Tyre Smoke]

Best of luck. Whatever you decide, think carefully. You don't want to jump out of the frying pan into the fire.

Most posters here have said a trailer tent is a poor move from a caravan.

If you only plan to sleep in it, why not keep what you have and leave the bed made up? Or at least try that, because that's what you say you will do with a trailer tent.

Or ditch the whole thing and just go to somewhere that has those pod things?

[Rosscow]

Tyre Smoke said:

Best of luck. Whatever you decide, think carefully. You don't want to jump out of the frying pan into the fire.

Most posters here have said a trailer tent is a poor move from a caravan.

If you only plan to sleep in it, why not keep what you have and leave the bed made up? Or at least try that, because that's what you say you will do with a trailer tent.

Or ditch the whole thing and just go to somewhere that has those pod things?

Leaving the bed made up is what we do!

But it's a sodding great big caravan to keep/service/tow/clean just to sleep in at night, that's the whole point!

Thanks again, will give it some serious thought and have a look at what's available at the NEC in October.

[Simes205]

Rosscow said:

Tyre Smoke said:

Best of luck. Whatever you decide, think carefully. You don't want to jump out of the frying pan into the fire.

Most posters here have said a trailer tent is a poor move from a caravan.

If you only plan to sleep in it, why not keep what you have and leave the bed made up? Or at least try that, because that's what you say you will do with a trailer tent.

Or ditch the whole thing and just go to somewhere that has those pod things?

Leaving the bed made up is what we do!

But it's a sodding great big caravan to keep/service/tow/clean just to sleep in at night, that's the whole point!

Thanks again, will give it some serious thought and have a look at what's available at the NEC in October.

Store it down in the south of France.
Get it delivered to the site of your choice.
It’s likely to be cheaper to do that once it’s there than pay for the crossing / fuel each time.

[PurpleTurtle]

OP - if I were you and just camping in warmer climes I would just forget all about towing anything and get a great big air tent and a comfy SIM mattress.

I'm thinking a Berghaus Air 8 with porch extension and a 10cm Outwell Dreamcatcher.

We've got one of the latter and it is just as comfy as our memory foam mattress on the double bed at home, and comfier than our caravan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiFMCeufRFo

Then you have the massive advantage of not having to tow, store or maintain any kind of towed trailer, yet still get to camp outdoors in sunny climes.

All whilst getting to/from your destination at a decent speed.

Give me a wave as you pass me doing 60 with all the other tuggers!

[reglard]

I had a trailer tent which I much prefer to towing a caravan (which I have now). The Problem was putting away wet with no place to dry it when home. Its sort of the worst of both Worlds towing and a lot of work packing the thing up. At least with the caravan, I can be up and ready beer out the fridge in 10 minutes flat. Must admit prefered sleeping under canvas than a tin box though.

[RTB]

Plenty of places will hire you a trailer tent (I've seen them for 25 quid a night). Might be worth having a couple of long weekends in one and see how you get on.

When I was a kid we used to go on a lot of caravanning holidays. My dad considered a trailer tent for ease of towing, storage etc. but after helping an older couple set one up in the pouring rain on a site in the New Forest he decided he preferred to pull up in a 'van and have a brew going in 10 mins.

[task]

I went from a tent to a trailer tent to a 2 berth van to a 5 berth van back to a 2 berth van and now a camper van, which works the best for us currently.

We found we rarely used the caravan as intended, the bed was always left made as a bed in the 2 berth and 5 berth and we always sat outside in an awning except when winter vanning. We rarely used facilities so the shower/toilet were the biggest attractions of the caravan. What we really didn't like was the lack of actual freedom afforded by the caravan, you are tied to sites which you need to book in advance and can't stop when moving between sites.

The trailer tent was a great step up from a tent, not sleeping on the floor is a massive improvement. It took less time to setup compared to a tent and was much larger, it was also easier to dry off inside the garage after wet weather Sadly, everything else is a downside;

They're horrible to tow, small/bouncy and you're still having to actually tow something
Lack of toilet (don't underestimate having an on board toilet to save walking half way over a campsite at 2am for a slash)
They get damp inside if the weather turns, which is miserable, it does rain abroad in the summer too...
They're not very secure when setup, much the same as a tent
Aforementioned "light at 5am" issues
Very warm in the sun

There are a lot of great roof-tent options available these days which provide much the same living space but without the requirement for towing