When we are not road tripping in the US enjoying the open road with an RV we like to head off in our trailer tent. We also have what you call “pop ups” over here in the UK but the type of trailer tent we use is quite rare. It is very light and smaller than most, easy to tow and easy to get down the smallest of lanes or up the steepest of hills.
The real beauty is that it is very quick and easy to get erected. This is much to the disappointment of the caravaners who like to turn the sun chairs in the direction of anyone arriving with a tent and sit there giggling,pointing fingers and pulling faces while you are trying to sort out where each pole belongs and getting frustrated. [Been there done that] Funny how some people get their entertainment!
Anyway here’s our “second home.”
OK. We get it level on the ground and put the adjustable legs on the luggage rack [handy for carrying gear if using a small tow car] ready to open it. Open the rear door and release the catch inside that is holding it shut.
We then open it out and, to the disappointment of those onlookers wanting entertainment, there is only one short pole that inserts inside the poles in each half to make it one solid bar.
They start to think, “There must be a lot more poles in there somewhere” as they look on. Well no there aren’t — all we have to do now is pull it over like a pram hood, peg the front down and extend the poles to tighten the canvas.
Inside there is enough room to store fold away tables and chairs, fridge, portable TV, gas cooker and bottle, Porta potti,lamps, electric cable and all the other bits and bobs you might need. There are two inner tents that turn each part of the trailer into two separate bedrooms at night and into a settee during the day. It basically has everything we need stowed inside.
And there we are, all ready to crack open a can or two and light the BBQ. Although it takes some time to do all the little bits for a longer stay in the same place, for an overnighter you could have it ready for a nights kip in less than half an hour. All in all a good little unit if you like that sort of thing.
Dave Gomm camping., Equipment
