Ease of use also means ease of assembly. Feature-rich trailer tents are close to worthless if it takes an army of engineers to put it all together. When shopping for one, ask for a demonstration on set-up and teardown – then try doing it yourself. There should be minimal need for extra tools and everything needs to mesh nicely with everything else. Also, simplicity is key. Unnecessarily complex parts can break and if they do, they are harder to “MacGyver”.
Become familiar with your trailer tent. Practice putting it up and then tearing it down several times if needed. Knowing how it works will make life simpler in the campsite. Also, by doing a test run, you will encounter glitches that can be sorted out at home where it is more convenient. If you think it’s hard now, try to imagine how much harder it will be when you are tired, the kids are hungry, and there are dark storm clouds looming in the horizon.
Capacity is important. Don’t trust the brochure. If it’s made for a family of four, make sure that that family is yours. People and their manners of usage are never alike. Make sure that it works for your particular purposes. Take them with you when shopping. Lay down and get comfortable. You cannot fully say that something is comfortable unless you have used it for some time. Don’t be hurried into a decision. Walk away if you are not fully convinced. You can always come back later.
Different tent trailer brands cater to different markets. Try out at least three. There are Coleman tent trailers. From the makers of various outdoor products, you can be sure of the pedigree of a Coleman. Next is a Conway trailer tent. Conway is a company that prides itself on specializing in trailer tents and it’s hard to go wrong with their products.
It is, after all a tent trailer. You will have to have a tow vehicle for it. Is yours up to the task? A compact meant for a couple passengers and some groceries cannot possibly hope to pull even just a small hard sided tent trailer. Add the fact that most good campsites are a good distance away and many are located in mountainous terrain and you are now limited to using SUV’s and pickups. Keep them in good condition as a vehicle breakdown will ruin your vacation. Also keep in mind the added weight of several days’ worth of food and supplies. Take note of all the weight you will be carrying and adjust accordingly.