Bob and Tracey
I have just sold my 1990 conway trailer tent on eBay for £650. I was told this was in very good condition for the year, and compares favorable with other units where bidding was £450 and the quality poor.
Here are the things I would look for with a trailer tent:
1) Number of berths - and how many are on comfy materesses, and how many in underbed tents where you are still sleeping on air beds on the ground.
2) Fully errected. You need to see the tent fully errected, so you can see the canvas stretched tight and square. Some people do not have the space to do this at home, so ask to see high quality photos if not.
3) Errected. You need to see the tent errected (even if not fully pegged out) to see any cuts and tears. Some cuts and tears are inevitable in older tents, but the important thing is the quality of repair. A glued on patch is OK, so ong as the patch is an inch bigger than the tear, and all edges and frayed bits are glued down. Repairs to the inner fabric are less crucial, but they must be pleasing to the eye - i.e. look like they have been doen neatly, not stuck together with parcel tape. Also make sure all poles are present and straight.
4) Damp/mold/mildew. This can be caused by two things. a) the tent has been put away damp (maybe it leaks like a sieve), or b) the tent has been stored outside with out the cover properly fastened (and maybe the materesses got wet too). Look for a tent with no damp or mildew and one that is stored in a garage. Look at the poles, even after 14 years they should be rust free and still have a little shine to them. Also look at the carpet in the trailer bit (not all have this). This can get heavy wear, and a clean carpet is a good sign.
5) Windows. Make sure the plastic is not torn and check all curtains are complete. A lack of curtains is not bad in itself, but can be a sign of neglect.
6) Guy ropes. make sure the guys are not frayed, and make sure thay are all present. Some folk don't use guys ropes on trailer tents, but on windy days the frame is subject to more stress, so the poles might be damaged.
7) elastic peg thingies. These are the 'elastic bands' or loops for shock absorbtion where the pegs are used. These things deteriorate over time. Look for signs that the broken ones have been replaced with new ones.
8) zips - make sure thay all work. Dont take the sellers word - open them and close them yourself.
9) electrics - test the electics (if any). Some folk have retro-fitted sockets to the trailer - check these carefully
10) trailer - make sure the trailer is in good roadworthy condition - lights / tyres / spare wheel etc. Ask the seller what the PSI is for the tyres. If they dont know, they have probably never checked.
11) legs - these are stabilising legs on the trailer that you put down to level the trailer on site. Make sure that all the knobs are present and working and that all legs go up and down and not bent.
12) Kitchen - general cleanliness can tell you a lot. check the gas connector for the cooker and the waste for the sink.
13) Storage boxed. These are very useful. See if they are clean inside - that will tell you a lot about how they have been used.
14) Waterproofing- the need for waterproofing depend upon how often and where the tent has been used. My tent had only been used about 20 times in 14 years, and never in hot climates. It had never had any further waterproofing applied, but was still waterproof.
Ok, so soe of these points can be questioned over the phone, but don't forget to check when you do see the unit.
Hope this helps, Anthony
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Topic: Buying a Trailer Tent
