Buying a trailer tent is becoming an ever more popular option, offering the benefits of rapid assembly combined with ease of transportation. However, there are a number of things which need to be taken into account before you buy one. Whilst many people prefer to buy new, trailer tents are expensive items and as such, you may want to explore the option of buying a used one.
In basic terms, a trailer tent unfolds at the side of the trailer body, allowing you to use this as a base from which to peg out your tent. The trailer body supports the tent, which is usually made from fairly standard tent fabric. This offers many benefits to campers. The sleeping area is generally of the ground and some models offer a separate daytime lounge which is also raised off the floor. You can also store your cutlery, crockery and other essentials with the tent instead of having to load them every time.
On the road, a trailer tent is far easier to tow than a caravan, simply due to its size. There is less wind resistance, together with lower associated fuel costs as a result of the reduced weight. You will also enjoy far better rear visibility when compared with a caravan. The other major advantage is that you can store a trailer tent in your garage rather than having to pay ground fees or leave it parked on your drive. There are of course speed restrictions to which you must adhere when towing your trailer tent and you must also remain within the inner two lanes of a motorway: you cannot drive in the outside lane.
When looking at the available models, you first need to make sure that the trailer tent you have in mind is going to be suitable for your vehicle: the last thing you need is to be forced into buying a new car simply to suit your trailer tent – overtones of the dog wagging the tail! The trailer tent must be of a size and weight that your car can easily tow and which will allow you to maintain full control of it as you drive. Your car’s owner’s manual should provide detailed guidance as to the maximum permissible towing weight. Not only is this essential for safety but exceeding this weight could invalidate your trailer tent insurance policy.
Before committing to a specific model, you should also consider that setting up a trailer tent takes longer than setting up a caravan. You will need to consider how much you are prepared to spend on your trailer tent and also how many people will be sleeping in it: the two factors of size and cost will be directly related. Since trailer tents are fairly complex, it is reasonable to assume you will need spares at some stage so do check as to their ongoing availability of parts: online reviews and communities are a vital source of information in this respect.