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Hi Naomi, Welcome to the best site for campers new and old, We started out in a trailer tent last year and have never looked back, There will be some real bargains to be had at this time of year, Make sure you have a good look around first before you buy. Try your local freeads , or http://www.loot.com , Also http://www.ebay.co.uk. Sometimes you get alot of extras thrown in.

Happy searching.

Wayne....

Hi Naomi - I have never been camping with children in the trailer tent then FC I have owned, but always thought that they would be pretty good for kids, especially if they have their own ubderbed tents. There always seems to be plenty of room under the awning, and providing the kids are O.K. sleeping alone an underbed would be just like their own little cave.

Best of luck

Hi can some one explain more about under bed tents ! We are also considering getting a trailer tent. they sound more convenient than the one we have . Also can you get most of your equipment in the trailer too? Thanks

Hi Ange,

 The underbed tent is like a small tent that is usually made of a cotton material that fastens to the underneath of the fold out beds of the trailer, It has a zip at one end and you will fit a double air bed in quite easily. As for packing the trailer i managed to get all our camping gear and the odd suitcase in ours,aswell as a oval garden table folding chair ,windbreaks which i packed on top of the trailer before i put the trailer cover on, The rest went in the car along with wife and three kids, Towed it all the way to cornwall and back this last summer no problem at all even for a 1.4 renault scenic.

Cheers, Wayne..................

Hi Kinza

Thanks for the input . I'm just getting the hang of this site mind you hubby not impressed as he can't get on computer.

I just need to find a trailer tent for sale within 50 mile radius of scarborough now !

i'm getting a bit embarrased by our old German made tent mind you it was deffinetly built to last its atleast 30 years old now. and it's stud up in some very strong winds were others have calapsed we get some pretty strong wind here on the east coast

angie

hi we started camping with our two kids 3 years ago now. they were 2 and 3 at the time youngest still in nappies and waking up at night for more milk!! we have upgraded now to a tt mainly for me ( couldnt face another night on the floor on a lilo )

start off getting the kids into a routine ie when you arrive get them a table and chairs to sit at and get them some drawing books and something to eat. they will get used to this when you arrive and happily sit there whilst you put every thing up. we also bought them the ready beds that they loved ( there are some on ebay really reasonable) we used a bucket with lid in tent for loo esepcially when they are potty training they thought it was great fun !! put hot water in flask over night and top up milk with it in night.i did find out 1st tent was not suitable in wet weather as it did not really have a living area so we upgraded to a frame tent but now have a tt. kids love camping and they adapt to it really well. my sister now comes along to with her kiddies last year her middle one was under 1 and he adapted well and loves it now. this year she is coming along with her new baby .so good luck the kids will love it. ps just another tip we always try to book a site that has a playground or on a farm and it helps if they have a family changing room but not essential you can always bath little ones in a storage box.

Hi Naomi.

Ideal for the kids as everyone has said.

I'm a bit biassed but i think that conway and cabanon tents are the best on the market! Could be a controversial statement, but most will agree its good advice for a first time buyer.

Condition is everything if you are buying used, and you should really see it from folded to fully put up and then down again before you buy. (especially private)

You need to be looking for dark patches of smelly mildew or mould and damp in the canvass. If its there, dont buy it! Its not good for the canvass or for those sleeping in the tent. Look for large tears or holes. Check all zips.

Check that all the poles are there and that as they unfold and refold the tent away that the parts all work and arent obviously broken.

Check the mattresses and make sure they aren't stained and smelly. If it has a kitchen unit, check the hob and doors are ok!

Check the tyres and body of the trailer and the lights and hitch before you tow it away.

My best advice is to buy from a dealer (there are lots of them around) for the sake of a few extra hundred you get a better chance of getting a good'n!

When you get it, practice putting it up BEFORE you go away. if you dont have the garden for it, go to a park or local campsite and ask if you can just pinch a spot for an hour. Practice can turn you into pros in no time, so dont panick if you take an hour first time! next time it'll be 45 mins and the next time 30 mins etc!

When you have used it, make sure you pack it away dry! If you have to take it down in the rain, put it up again at home, or spread the canvass out to dry ASAP! Remember that dark smelly mould i mentioned? thats how you get it! Pack away wet and leave it and your pride and joy will moulder and rot away!

All sounds a bit much, but go to a dealer. look at them up already and choose the best you can afford. Look it over at your leisure. Dont be rushed! Get them to show you how to put it up and pack it away. Then hook it up and take it home! (remember you will need a number plate for the trailer!)

All you need then is to enjoy it and book lots of time away!

The missus and i love our tent and tho it was all daunting to start with, we love it now and from the first trip we were hooked.

Hope that helps.

Dan and The Nome

Hi there ,Kinza mentioned a storage box ,for the A-Frame,well I bought one of those green ones out of B&Q or Costco ,the boxes that they sell for storing your summer chair cushions,it cost about £30 .00 ish compared to the hundreds that the manufacturers want.I  used U bolts to hold it to the frame ,and I bought long thin bolts to secure side to side and  sides to base,

Turning circle when attatched to the car is un-affected ,and the extra storage is great,remember the padlock for the hasp as well

Scott