by Holly Tribe
It’s official – the popularity of camping and caravanning is on the up. Earlier today Jon Dale of the Camping & Caravanning Club revealed to Caravan Times that so far, 2011 has been a bumper year for club site bookings. “It was a fantastic Easter, with occupancy up 43% on the same period last year and 2011 looks set to be as good, if not better than last year” he explained.
With those impressive figures in mind, we wondered how many camping fans have made the natural transition to caravanning – and where did they start?
Once a camper, always a camper?
The Camping and Caravanning Club is one of the UK’s leading outdoor lifestyle organisations with over half a million members. This roughly breaks down to 48% caravanners, 25% tenters, with the remaining proportion made up of trailer tent, folding camper and motorhome owners.
But it’s not a simple case of ‘once a camper, always a camper’; there is a certain degree of movement between the tenting and touring fraternities. As families grow, so too does the need for more space and improved facilities: “There tends to be a natural progression from tent to caravan and then on to a motorhome later in life,” added the Club’s Jon Dale.
Introducing the trailer tent: a “half-way house”
For some, making the leap from canvas to caravan is a big decision. Whether you’ve outgrown the tent and need a bit more space for the family, or if you’re seeking a bit more comfort later in life – the decision to upgrade to a touring rig is not one to be taken lightly.
So then, where to start? How do you know if you’ll enjoy holidaying in a rolling home-from-home? A new entry level caravan, after all, is a much bigger investment than even the most sophisticated of tents. Then, there are storage issues and the small matter of a compatible towcar to think about.
Trailer tents make an excellent half-way house, bridging the gap between a ground-anchored tent and a mobile caravan unit. They offer the flexibility of lightweight touring, whilst still providing the all-important space and comfort factors.
Three of the best
If form is just as important as function – a new import from Dutch camping trailer manufacturers Holtkamper may be just the ticket. Extremely lightweight, the Cocoon model (pictured above) weighs just 220kg including the tent, tent frame and awning, and the front section can be pitched without the use of tent pegs. Once packed down into the trailer, this model is light enough to be towed behind most small family cars with a standard driving license.
Those with a small budget, and a big sense of humour might like to try out this full-sized, officially licensed, replica of a 1965 VW campervan. The tent (pictured right) may not be as transportable as the real thing, but at £300 it’s a snip for any big pretenders out there! And at 100 paces on a still day, who’s to know the difference?
Another alternative is to turn your car into a caravan with the SwissRoomBox. This Swiss Army knife-inspired box of tricks has four modular units which can be converted into kitchen, washing, dining or reclining formations.
It claims to be ‘the world’s smallest motorhome set up’ capable of fitting into most cars, and provides an alternative method of testing out the facilities found in a caravan at a fraction of the cost. But be warned, this is one for good weather only! Watch the SwissRoomBox in action.
