Are we the only ones?
We just went out for the first time in our new (1998!) Pennine Pathfinder. My husband and I went up to Ft. William, and checked into the Bunree (https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-sites/scotland/highlands/bunree-caravan-club-site/ ) site.
The place was spotless and spacious. We were late in booking, so couldn't get a waterside pitch, but we weren't missing out on any views. We also really appreciated how quiet everything was, despite being nearly full.
We even met and invited in a couple for early morning coffee after they had locked themselves out of their RV, oopsie! FYI, it's cold up in them there hills at 7 am!
My only concern?
Are we the poor country mouse cousins? We were the ONLY trailer tent in the place, and we looked a bit shabby compared to all these gleaming, sleek and aerodynamic caravans.
We may have looked a bit different, and we may have looked (and smelled) a bit fusty, but so far I'm loving Miss Hetty '98. It sure would be nice to see other canvas tops, but I wont complain.
I'll add in a few pictures from our weekend, which was gloriously sunny and warm.
Comments
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Hello and welcome. Lovely photos such blue sky 😃. We liked Bungee but not the midges which adored me and even had a nibble or 2 of my OH and that' very rare 😲. We will visit again earlier or later in the year.
Is this your first caravanning experience? I'm quite happy to see all sorts on the sites we stay on. You'll obviously fit in well if you're happy to offer coffee at 7am 😉
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Hi, there.
It's true that we don’t see many trailer tents on site which is a shame as I like to see a variety of units and chat to the owners.
Dont be concerned. Anyone who looks down their nose at a trailer tent isn’t worth bothering about. You’ve got a great attitude.
Lovely pics, too.
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Hi Jenni and welcome to the forum.
No need to be concerned re the age of your unit, our daughters caravans are 25 and 20 years old and are towed with old towcars.
The main thing is that you are enjoying the experience and well done for helping that other couple.
Thanks for the pics, it looks like you had some great weather.
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Some great photos there, hope you print them out and frame them.
And welcome too
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We (Wife and I) are in our 60s and these days are probably among those with gleaming, sleek and aerodynamic caravans.
When I was in my 20s we (wife+2 kids) camped in a tent and thought people with trailer tents were posh
Yes, you'll no doubt meet some in the posh caravans whose owners look down their noses at you, but for the most part people are - as I hope you'll find - friendly. If not, it'll be nothing to do with your trailer tent, some people just like to keep themselves to themselves. And all of us are no doubt looked down upon by those with more money than sense who holiday in the Bahamas or wherever ...
OTOH if you had a dog you could expect unbounded, unreasoning vituperation from some
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As a former tenter, I don't have a problem with trailer tents. What has always puzzled me is the rationale of them. ISTM to be just a tent with the added complexity of towing. Perhaps someone can explain it to me.
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Duplicate post.
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Hi my family were probably one of the first families to have a wind up roof trailer it was around 1980 at Belle Vue manchester camping show, we currently owned an 8 berth tent we were not intending to buy but my dad couldnt resist the time amazing comfort that the trailer offered so he bought one. The trailer was an american model and if my memory serves me correct it was a Starcraft starflyer 1706 XL it was 6 berth running water of a foot switch comfortable foam mattreses and we had many years of wonderful holidays.
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Jenni,
Long may you and Miss Hetty '98 enjoy the sites and spectacular scenery (and photos).
When I was young, our neighbours had a trailer tent and I was sooooo jealous! It was far better than my tent (bought with green shield stamps-which you wont remember as you're far too young!)
The point is, it doesn't matter what you've got as far as I'm concerned. Just get out there and enjoy!
My excuse for owning a "gleaming, sleek and aerodynamic caravan" is my arthritic ankles and knees, otherwise I'd prefer to still be under canvas
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Hello and welcome Jenni. Never mind about what you tow and what you enjoy your holidaying in, (we will never all have the same outfits). The kindness that you showed to somebody in distress speaks volumes about the kind of people that you are.
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My sister has a trailer tent and we'll both be at Edinburgh this weekend so you're definitely not alone.
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I don't think it's the age or type of outfit that concerns people at all, and we started in a £600 van....
If you respect & show consideration for others ( and the roolz) you will be very welcome....
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Don't ever be put off by what others might think. We started with a TT, it was a Coleman Camper, you wound a handle and the roof went up, two huge double-beds either side of a very reasonable living space. We had our first trip to Oban and loved it, especially as the kids were young. It was dead easy to tow and much easier then a tent to erect. The biggest hassle was folding it all away, especially when it was wet. I agree with the comment about sleeping off the ground - it was the only way I'd ever get her-indoors camping!
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Despite having one of these gleaming nearly brand new caravans I am jealous. We had both caravan and trailer tent until a couple of years ago and just wish we could find a caravan with the comfortable bed of our trailer tent. Long may you enjoy your newly bought TT👍
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Trailer tent? How very dare you - it's a folding camper
We bought a ten year old Conway Crusader (sister to the Pathfinder) to test the waters in 2012 and used it for a year. We changed to a caravan so that we could enjoy caravanning in the colder ends of the season (the wife isn't keen on being cold and damp).
FCs and TTs are often lighter than equivalent berth caravans, offer two permanent made up double beds, better fuel economy and are less affected by wind when towing.
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Good to hear you having fun! We've seen a few folding campers around, one at Durham in the December snow as I recall!
Your outfit's too modern for us, we have a 1984 caravan. Mind you, we do have a MH as well!
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We see all sorts of outfits in Italy where, of course, the weather has an influence. People sleep in tiny tents, ordinary non-converted vans, pop-tops, sling a tarp for an awning, micro caravans, massive Concorde motor homes ... anything goes.
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Welcome t'Club. I started in a tent, progressed to a frame tent which was carried around in a trailer towed by an Austin Metro before we made the leap to several older caravans and too had a slight feeling of unease among the big shiny monsters on Club sites! I stopped worrying very quickly but you do see the ones out there polishing their prides and joy! Forget 'em and enjoy the lifestyle.
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Interesting we have a shiny van and a new car and I find many members don't speak or make eye contact. However it doesn't happen on CLs or the rally field. Nor on club sites in winter. I also find the members of the other club friendlier and see all sorts of habitations on their sites. Enjoy your folder and be proud of it.
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Hi Jenni and welcome to CT. nothing wrong with your unit,we had 2 Pennine Pullman units when we started camping .the Pennine is a great unit and as some has mentioned is not a trailer tent but a folding camper.we loved them and had some wonderful trips away when the kids were younger. You should not be thinking about what people think of your unit .We are all doing the same thing in matters not what unit you have .If some one has a problem with that then it’s their problem not yours. Just go out and enjoy
Brian & Jo
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Your sort of question gets aired every so often on here, but rest assured that it is only on here. In the real world, ie on site, no one will think or say anything about your outfit, and if they do it will always be positive.
It may not appear like it on here but people just get on with their own holidays and pitch, and as you have shown friendliness carries more weight than your outfit.
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As a former tenter, then trailer tenter, and now caravanner, it's great to hear from you. It's true, there aren't as many trailer tenters around, but you are very welcome on Club sites. We had many happy years holidaying in our TT., especially over in France and Germany.
David
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Welcome from another member of the non-gleaming-new brigade! We've only moved from tents in the last 2 years, and love our tiny 2000 pop-top caravan, looking rather like a piece of Duplo between the big shiny ones. (Behind an 04 car, too!)
If anything, it occasionally starts nice conversations on account of its unusual character, and friendly conversations are something we've always associated with camp sites, hopefully you'll have many more of them with your trailer tent.
Have fun, and smile peacefully upon any who do look down their noses.
And you can tow round tiny corners so much more easily too!PS Bunree was our first C&MC site, last year in April, when the weather went between gorgeously sunny & rain belting in off the loch. It was great!
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