As the name implies, tent trailers are a cross between a tent and a travel trailer. They are collapsible so they have a low profile on the road. When extended they have full headroom inside. A tent trailer is essentially a tent with solid floors, a partial lower wall, and roofs or a trailer with canvas walls. The walls between the roof and the solid lower wall are made of canvas, like a tent. Most tent trailers provide nearly all the amenities of a travel trailer, including spacious and comfortable beds and a well-equipped galley. Most tent trailers are not fully self contained, meaning they don't usually have bathrooms. Many do include a porta-potty (or one can be added) to reduce late night trips to the camp restrooms. Tent trailer's light weight makes them easy to tow but it also makes them a little less stable in camp and on the road than larger, heavier trailers. Even with stabilizers you'll notice the difference in camp. Some tent trailers, such as the one pictured above, have 'pop outs' for the beds. They greatly expand the living space by moving the beds outside the primary floor space, but they tend to be somewhat unsteady. Always be sure the braces beneath them are properly extended and locked. Even then, the leverage makes them a little shaky, which is disconcerting to some people. The canvas walls mean you will hear wind and rain and outside noises loudly. The canvas will transfer a lot of heat, making them somewhat warm in summer and cold in winter, and the very walls may flap in any breeze. Keeping a tent trailer warm or cool enough is a little easier than maintaining the temperature in a tent, but more difficult than it is in an RV with solid walls. Many tent trailers include propane powered furnaces that generally keep them pretty comfortable when the weather turns cool.
Heating or cooling a tent trailer has some of the problems of a tent. The canvas walls do not provide a lot of insulation. However, a solid roof, floor, and partial walls provide more protection than a tent and some tent trailers may be equipped with forced air furnaces for added comfort and convenience. In summer, cooling has similar drawbacks. Heat enters through the canvas walls and thin plastic windows.
Tent trailers aren't usually equipped with air conditioners. Air conditioners require 120-volt shore or generator power. In addition they are heavy and don't lend themselves to being installed on the raiseable roof of tent trailers. You pretty much have to cool a tent trailer as you would a tent.
Tent trailers are a good transition from tent camping to RVing. The "real" beds in a tent trailer are a definite boon to anyone with back problems or who has difficulty sleeping on the ground. Having stand-up headroom makes many tasks, such a dressing and cooking, much easier. Speaking of cooking, it is OK and even desirable to cook in a tent trailer. Most have well-equipped though often compact galleys. You still want to avoid cooking things that produce strong odors as they will permeate the canvas and you'll be living with the smell long after the meal is done. Some odors will deteriorate over time and become really disgusting. You may want to bring along some Fabreze or similar fabric freshener, just in case. Making sure you have adequate ventilation when cooking can minimize potential odor problems.
Because tent trailers are generally light weight, they are somewhat unstable in wind. The instability is apparent both when towing and in camp. Using stabilizers on each corner in camp will greatly reduce rocking but the canvas could still be susceptible to flapping and to damage in high winds. If it gets windy enough, you may have to close it down and sit in the car and wait out the storm to avoid serious damage to the canvas. Because they are so much lighter than solid wall RVs, they may be more likely to be blown over in high winds in camp. On the road, their low profile keeps them fairly stable, but once again, light weight makes them susceptible to wind gusts and even blow-by from passing trucks. Because they are often towed by smaller vehicles, the wind effects are typically felt more intensely by the driver than when towing a heavier travel trailer with a larger vehicle.
Tent trailers are usually easier to set up than tents. You don't have to roll them out, stake them down, or setup poles and ropes. All the components are connected so you don't lose poles and stakes. The presence of beds, tables and seating areas, lighting, furnaces, and water systems makes them far more comfortable and convenient than tents. All this without taking up any room in the family car. Some high end models are equipped with electric motors to raise and lower the roof but most require either manual lifting or manual cranking. That means you will have some setup time when you arrive in camp and, if the weather is bad, it may be uncomfortable and tedious, especially when extending the pop-outs.
Always chock the wheels before you disconnect the trailer from your tow vehicle. Even a slight slope may cause the trailer to roll if it isn't blocked. Even as comparatively light as a tent trailer is, is bigger than you are and it can easily run you over if you try to stop it by getting in front of it!
Despite some of the special considerations, tent trailers are still an effective and economical way to begin RVing. They are inexpensive, easy to tow, and provide a great amount of creature comforts. You just have to know how to use them and understand and be prepared to live with their limitations and their idiosyncrasies. If you need a low profile, for towing or for storage in your garage, a pop-up tent trailer will surely fit the bill.
Lest you think tent trailers are for sissies, check out this version from Australia, the ConquerorAustralia off road trailer. It is loaded with inhabitant comforts and is incredibly strong. But it comes with a hefty price tag to match: about $46,000! Not exactly entry level. But if you really want to go camping off road, this is one way to do it. Tow it with a suitable 4x4 and you can go just about anywhere.
I have even seen a little tent trailer designed to be towed by an ATV for really remote camping.
Tent trailers have been around a very long time. There was even a patent for a horse-drawn tent trailer in 1894 and clever inventors starting building various tent systems for motor car use almost as soon as motor cars went into production in the early 1900s. For a lot of background on tent trailer history, see Popup Camper History.
Tow it easy!
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