When choosing a Trailer Tent or Folding Camper it is vital that you choose a model that fits you and your family’s needs and wishes. So what is different about a trailer tent to a folding camper?
The Trailer Tent
The name Trailer tent is given to those trailers that have external walls that are unfolded from the main trailer body and then pegged out into the ground around the main base unit. The walls and roof are all made from a fabric such as canvas and when fully erected look very similar to a big frame style tent. They are generally only obvious as being Trailer Tents because of a visible towing hitch that can be seen through the side of the canvas tenting. Trailer Tents are long seen as the more traditional way of camping out of the two and are often cheaper as they require more time to set up and are often more complicated than a Folding Camper.
The Folding Camper
Folding Campers for the most part have a fabric roof and fabric walls over the sleeping compartment areas and either a hard top or fabric roof over the living area. The way in which they are designed means that the sleeping area cantilevers off the main trailer body and has additional supporting struts. This means that the sleeping areas are fully off the ground and there is no need to peg out, saving setting up time and allowing them to be pitched on hard standing areas. They are generally more expensive than trailer tents because of this convenience factor and they weigh considerably more due to the stiffer structure of the unit. If regular use i.e. most weekends is your plan, then a folding camper is definitely a simpler and quicker setup than a Trailer Tent.
Folding Campers should not be confused with a Folding Caravan even though they are very similar in appearance during transportation. Folding Caravans have both solid walls and a solid roof and are generally more expensive than a Folding Camper.
Trailer Tent Awnings
Awnings are can be used with both Trailer Tents and Folding Campers and are generally supplied with a trailer tent and optional with a Folding Camper. Awnings provide the user with a much larger living space, similar to that of a 4 man tent, which can be all important when holidaying with all the family. The disadvantages of extra weight and work to erect are quickly dissolved with the extra space on extended holidays. If the Trailer Tent is being used primarily for weekend trips then the advantages of having an awning are probably outweighed by the time it takes to erect.