We’re off camping on Friday night for the long weekend, but a neighbour has offered us the use of his trailer tent which we quite fancy trying.

Trouble is we won’t have time for a dry run beforehand, so will we end up looking like clowns on the campsite (possibly in the rain!), faffing about for two hours like beginners! Or are the pretty straightforward?

Cheers

My parents had one when I was a kid, not sure if they’ve improved over the years but I remember it taking them forever to put up and take down, so much they got rid in the end. I dare say if it’s a sunny night and you don’t mind taking time it would be easy enough but if it’s hissing down and dark you may regret the decision.

They are pretty straightforward as with any large tent avoid wind etc.
It requires two but it will take longer the first time if you are not used to it.
Loads of space inside though. We used to take 10 kids and 4 dads and used the open area as base camp in the cool evenings. That was a Conway.

DO NOT GO WITHOUT TRYING TO PUT IT UP FIRST

we did the same and it took us 3 hours in the pissing rain, with the whole campsite watching, theres a bag of about 30 poles to ersct, its a **** nightmare!

they vary. If there is no awning then it should be fairly self explanatory:

fold out each side, extend and level legs, extend and tension internal poles.

Awnings are a pain in the arse to do though, usually a frame that you build the hook onto the trailer section then spend 2 hours fighting with heavy canvas and a 100ft long zip.

Some have a kitchen built into the rear which comes off and either sits inside or goes on it’s own legs. they usually have water/lectric/gas connectors

We had a Conway Olympia and our first attempt at erecting it was in a very wet camp site in the lakes. With a useless wife and kids laughing and not offering much help.

Firstly –

Some trailer tents don’t need the awning on to be watertight, so you may be ok with that.

The main tent section –

With ours, the canvas for the tent itself is connected to two folding sections. Simply unfold these and climb inside so you’re sat ontop of the bed sections, the poles that support these sections are telescopic with the little ball bearing type locks on them, slide them up until they lock into place and then attach the two sections to the main supports to create the pitched roof.

The bed sections can then be folded out into the canvas areas, they have folding legs that will drop down. They’ll just need to be adjusted to suit the terrain.

Pretty simple and can be done by 1 person.

The awning, however, is another story (ours had missing poles when we tried putting it up, so a bit of fettling was required)

Hopefully your neighbour has gone through the pain of this before and has colour coded the poles. get the framework up first and then pull the awning over the top. At a stretch it can be done by one person, but it is easier if you have a competent helper! Just make sure you have a step so you can reach the zip at the top of the awning as they’re about 8-9ft tall.

They are great once they’re up and have masses of space and with practice they can be pitched with awning quicker than a caravan and side-awning.

good luck!

We are trying out our new to us cabanon stratos out this weekend in wales. We opted for this one because the awning section only needs 3 hooped poles so should be reasonably easy. Famous last words.

2 man job taking 30 mins.

(BTW I’m selling one if anyone interested??)