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Topic: Camp-let + small car

mitzionline

05/8/2018 at 3:24pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: Cabanon Barbados & Cabanon Guadeloupe

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Have been considering getting a trailer for our camping gear to making packing/storing easier and found myself looking at trailer tents.

If (big if) we went down that route we'd have to opt for one of the lighter TT's as I wouldn't want to change the car.

Initial investigation seems to suggest the Camp-let as a good choice as it's one of the lighter ones however I do wonder how a small car like the manual Jazz really copes with towing one? Our current camping gear fills the back of a Jazz and the car handles it well although is a tad slow uphill.

Would appreciate any insights from camp-let + small car owners please.

At first glance it seems a trailer tent may be an easier way to camp with the tent (quick to put up) and storage all in one trailer. Any insights from those who have converted from tent to TT would also be appreciated!

Thanks

Post last edited on 05/08/2018 15:44:15

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marg6

05/8/2018 at 3:50pm
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one of the longer term members of here used to tow a folding camper with her jazz no problem at all, and many many moons ago we had a 1.3 ital! with a Conway trailer tent on the back plus 3 kids and one was a baby so all the gubbins that babies entail

Lincoln57

07/8/2018 at 1:51pm
Location: Cheshire
Outfit: Camplet Concord Romahome R30

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Think you will be fine. Camplets weigh around 250Kg plus the weight of your gas bottle, camping gear and all the other things we all take with us!The maximum fully loaded weight of the Camplet is around the 500Kg mark so there's quite a decent payload provided you can fit it all in.

I've seen them towed by a Ford Fiesta which I'm guessing is about the same size as a Jazz? They are about the same width as most cars and not as high so they tow very well even when it's windy. Biggest danger is forgetting it's there!

There was a Youtube video of one being towed around a car park by a bicycle.

DarrenElbrow

07/8/2018 at 4:46pm
Location: Poole Dorset
Outfit: Conway Challenger 1997

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We tow a Conway Challenger ( max weight 600kgs) with our 1.6 Mini Clubman without any bother. So a sub 500kgs tt behind a 1.4 Jazz should be ok. Just check your car has been type approved to tow. Section O on V5 should tell you your towing limits

mitzionline

10/8/2018 at 8:27am
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: Cabanon Barbados & Cabanon Guadeloupe

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Thanks for all your comments - its good to know there's at least one person out there who's towed with a Jazz - I can't find much mention of a Jazz towing elsewhere online. V5 section O was blank so I checked the plate in the car and with the dealer and both indicated our model Jazz should be ok tow, although dealer says may need low gears uphill.

Next step is to see some TT's perhaps at the NEC, then if we decide it's the route we want to go down then we can think again about whether the car is right - the towbar quote I had for the jazz was very expensive and would hate to make a mistake and find it doesn't handle towing well.

Thanks for all your help.

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Aug 2017 St Martins Campsite, Scilly
Jul 2017 Trewan Hall, Cornwall
Jun 2017 Higher Kestle Farm, Cornwall
Mar 2017 Pitch Perfect camping Bath
Aug 2016 Brittany/Normandy:-
La Ferme Croas Men (near Morlaix)
Le Ranolien (Ploumanac'h)
Le Bois Courdrais (Cugen)
Chateau de Montfreville (Montfreville)

navver

10/8/2018 at 8:07pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo

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Most TTs and a lot of small FCs are unbraked. This means the car brakes must do all the braking and this can restrict the towing limit for a small car to a low weight.

Larger units and caravans have overrun brakes fitted which provide the braking for the trailer.

Dandy trailer tents or folding campers or folding caravans (whatever you want to call them) are all braked yet are still light weight. The smaller ones are max weight 500kg but only about 300kg unladen. The fact they are braked makes them very suitable for small cars.

As a bonus, they offer a lot more than a TT as well. A few on ebay at the moment

DarrenElbrow

11/8/2018 at 3:59pm
Location: Poole Dorset
Outfit: Conway Challenger 1997

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The tow bar and single electrics for our Mini was £400. Expensive, but well worth it for peace of mind from having it professionally fitted and wired in.
We’ve had quite a few great trips with Chilli the Clubman and Connie the camper.
Towing requires some forward planning when on the road. I know that my car pulls best at certain revs, so I change gear to suit. Especially going up hill. I can usually keep the car in the sweet spot and stay at the prevailing speed limit without holding traffic up by crawling up hills. Just think ahead and watch the road and traffic and you’ll be fine

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