We wanna go camping!

clairev

My 23 year old daughter will have finished her six months chemo for brain tumour in eight weeks. We initially wanted to take her on a holiday of a lifetime this summer but cannot afford the travel insurance (£1,600)

I am determined to give her some fun and adventure this summer and have hit on the idea of a folding camper/trailer tent and really explore the UK. This would give us freedom to go whenever Becky is well enough, never far away from medical care and we could take her beloved Westie with us.

Needs to be something I can easily tow behind our Grand Vitara, low running costs but is easy to set up so that just the two of us can take off somewhere even when hubby working.

I think I have found the best solution in a Camp-let http://www.camplet.com/index.php?id=238

They are expensive so we are currently selling everything we possibly can to raise the funds and relatives are all going to chip in.

Would be grateful if anyone out there could advise how to get the best possible price for one of these (there seems to be only one supplier in UK at manchester and we are going to visit them as soon as Bex recoevered from this month's chemo but if we could get one cheaper elsewhere in Europe we would consider it)

Also open to alternative suggestions. A classic VW camper crossed my mind but not keen on the extra running costs and not sure that it would give us the space that a trailer tent would.

Also please could anyone recommend extra special campsites, places to visit in UK.

Many thanks in advance:j

chipolata

Have you thought of looking at second hand tourer caravan's. This would be easier when you arrive at your destination.

clairev

Thanks Chipolata but no I havent as not at all keen on towing a full caravan - plus not sure how much a grand vitara could legally pull. Will think about it though

liz-paul

Can I ask why you want a trailer tent instead of a normal tent? Is it to with being easier or something? Many ordinary tents are pretty easy to put up (although not sure how easy it would be to put up a huge one if you really want the space) & there is a lot of choice. Whatever you do get can I suggest that you insist on a practice run at the shop to put it up especially if you are likely to need to do it by yourself at all (have no idea how 'well' your daughter is).

Also just from googling your car it looks pretty big & I'm sure you could tow a caravan if you were comfortable with it. Secondhand caravans can be bought fairly cheaply & make camping a whole easier unless you are hoping to get back to nature far from civilisation!

clairev

Hi lizpaul. Becky got right sided weakness caused by two tumour debulking ops. She is now out of wheelchair but her balance not good and she cannot get down on the floor and up again, she can only walk short distances with stick. I was thinking along lines of the fact we would need a trailer anyway to carry ordinary tent plus all equipment and we would like nice amount of space and good headroom so she could have a raised bed. Really don't like the idea of towing caravan but perhaps I should give it a try before making any decisions.

coolagarry

A lot of people try camping and then find that they prefer hotels. (personally I prefer camping) with the result that a lot of barely used tenting equipment, including trailer tents are sold second hand. Have a look in your local newspapers.
Incidentally towing a small caraven is dead easy and again second hand works out well.

berniesmaster

sounds like a great idea, hope you both enjoy your adventures!

mandragora_2

Definitely try a second-hand option, or, failing that, trawl the websites/outlets for last years stock - retailers will want to be shifting it now. They may well have traded-in stock too.

As for towing - our local drivers' centre does courses to help new towers - I would think that either Practical Caravan or the Camping & Caravanning club magazines (and websites, I guess) would be awash with pages of advice. If they have a forum, so much the better, but stand back for a flood of helpful advice from their members!!

Your car gets good write ups as a towing car - its the kerb weight you need to know about - check out this page:
http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/suzuki.htm

and again, ask the caravanners for advice!

Wishing all of you all the very best - if you get as much fun and pleasure as we have done out of our little Adria tourer (bought 16 years ago for £5000, and still going strong) they will be great holidays, and the best money you've ever spent

xx

chika

Hi Claire,

I assume the place in Manchester is Camperlands? Its fab, if you do decide to go for the trailer tent then Camperlands have lots of pre owned ones, The last time I was there they were selling a vintage (but still ok) one for £350!

fruit-loop

Have you thought about hard top folding campers? We have one ( a conway clubman) and the roof winds up with a handle and the bedrooms pull out on runners iykwim? They are really easy to put up and I can do ours alone in about 20 mins.

Conway stopped making these in 1999 (the year we have) so you would need to buy second hand but they have all the caravan luxuries without the height. We are selling ours at the moment but only because I want a caravan.

A good place for advice is the uk campsite forums, these guys are all really helpful. www.ukcampsite.co.uk

Lara44

Hey Claire

I hope your daughter's doing well. What about something like this where you go to a campsite where they already have cool big tents prepared?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/may/04/camping.hotels

Have a great time x