Why?
At CAMC Tewkesbury. Watch a bloke rock up with a largish trailer tent, which by the way had a motor mover on it. Two hours or more to set up with much manual labour involved to end up with a rickety canvas shed on a platform, no bigger than and with far less facilities than my BC
Watched with amusement the next day, him drying out all his clearly wet bedding after a mahoosive overnight thunderstorm and torrential rain .
24 hours later, 2 1/2 hours packing up this ramshackle eyesore and he was finally away
This is fun?
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I share your feelings.
We looked at them 27 years ago when contemplating taking the kids, then 4 & 6 on affordable continental holidays. Multiples of the cost of the 'quick erect' Khyam tent* we settled on. Had to be towed with speed etc restrictions. Complicated to erect and stow. Needed to be stored in the garage displacing other stuff.
Other than perhaps cooking facilities no visible advantage.
Folding caravans are a similar aberation.
*Miss B and her husband have bought the current version of exactly the same tent for their hols with grandson George. False start with something too small and too cheap used at most twice.
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>> Why?
>>
I feel a bit like that about caravans... ;-)
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I guess they are cheaper to buy and run than a caravan. Plus a wider range of cars can tow them.
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I don’t mind a bit of inconvenience on my travels. I have been known to stay in three star establishments when no alternative available.
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Still better than roofbox tents!!
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Roof box tents seem very popular at the moment but I don’t see the attraction.
They don’t take up space in the car, but I’d much prefer a ‘normal’ tent. If it rains do you cook in the tent on top of your car…i’d much rather carry a large tent on the roof then set it up on the ground with an awning for cooking in or sitting in at night.
My own preference is a lightweight back packing tent and eating as I go along wherever the opportunity arises, with my ancient MSR Pocket Rocket stove for making a brew or breakfast porridge.
Or a hotel B & B overseas at €40 a night en suite ( Hotel La Balsa @ Soto de Cangas, Picos) where I use as a base twice a year for 7/10 days, mountains on the doorstep, beautiful coastline and amazing beaches a 35 minute drive away.
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What LL says about roof box tents chimes with my own view.
To which I add they have the MoHo problem of needing to strike camp before doing anything with the vehicle.
Going into the village for bread etc was a feature of our camping. Usually better bread then the stuff offered in campsite shops and opportunity to grab other urgent supplies if needed.
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Agree with what LL says - just can't see the attraction.
One theory I was told was to do with wild camping in England (which apparently is just called camping in Scotland), and that having a tent on your roof as opposed to pitched beside your car was a legal difference?
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>> One theory I was told was to do with wild camping in England (which apparently
>> is just called camping in Scotland), and that having a tent on your roof as
>> opposed to pitched beside your car was a legal difference?
I'm sure I saw something suggesting places where inconsiderate use of campervans has become a problem - Western Isles or NC500 - were looking at controlls on roof tents.
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Yes I wondered that too...
Googled it - "Moho most commonly refers to the Mohorovičić discontinuity, which is the boundary layer between the Earth's crust and its mantle"
But I think in context it might be motorhome...
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Ah that'll be it. I did wonder if it was some obscure reference.
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>>
>> To which I add they have the MoHo problem of needing to strike camp before
>> doing anything with the vehicle.
>>
In general we only "strike camp" if we're moving on Cycling and walking fulfill the mobility requirements otherwise.
But. we don't do 2 weeks on a campsite, we move our base around to be able to explore. Generally 1 to 3 nights at a time.
The continent in particular supports this well, with many of the campervan/motorhome-only sites being close to/in town/village centres with "commerces".
We spent last night at a nice riverside aire in Belgium for the grand sum of €15 including electric. Today we're at Vianden in Luxembourg on a full-facility (motorhome-only) site for rather more money.
Current plan is to wend our way to Vienna via Munich and Salzburg (and various locations in-between). We often end up doing something entirely different following the weather.
The half- barrier level crossing as the only viable exit from the village this morning appeared to have stuck with half the village turning out to check it. Having joined the back of the queue, I then had the bizarre and slightly scary experience of being waved across round the barriers. I was about 7th, and though the guy had a uniform blue shirt on, I'm sure he wasn't official!
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Bizarrely now retired we've occasionally actually gone back to camping after a decade or so gap. When I say camping , more like camping for wimps. As we have no work commitments we can plan for reasonable weather. Always have mains hook up, fan heater, lighting, fridge, kettle, electric barbecue etc. Best to pick a better quality tent - In our case we recently upgraded to a Coleman Weathermaster 4XL. Inflatable 6.5 m long with ample head height for 6ft 4" me and pretty easy to put up. Tent bag is big and heavy though.
Fortunately a Swace is an ideal car to do this - one reason I bought it. Huge space below the boot floor for large camping chairs, electric barbecue, Gas cooker, water carrier, tea pot, kettle. Then above decks loads of room to easily slide in the large tent/ gubbins/fridge, luggage etc. Flat load area with seat dropped.
Not our main way of going on holiday but if we have a gap, weather is ok then pack the tent , barbecue food + wine and off we go.
Last edited by: BigJohn on Thu 3 Sep 26 at 23:55
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Trailer Tents - Bromptonaut
