Trailer tent options

If you go and see some of the camper trailer manufacturers, most are willing to supply you the top only, that way you can get a good quality top to suit your needs.

For speed of pack up, you can't beat the Oztents. We have an RV-3 for 2 of us, but would suggest an RV-4 for a couple, if you're using stretchers. Another alternative, if weather is fine and mild, are those side awnings for 4wds. Roll up quickly and stop dew to a certain extent. Even handy in light rain.





Bob

We use a Southern Cross tent in our trailer, quicker to pack up than a trailer tent.
For just an over-nighter we don't bother with the awning, just 4 pegs, one in each corner. Have done a couple of 3 month trips this way and no issues.
Our friends with camper trailers take considerably longer to set up.
For stays of a couple of days or more, then we set up the awning, which takes about 15 minutes.

Packing anything up in 0 degree weather isn't fun, The getting out of the warm sleeping bag is hard, stowing everything is harder too, particularly zippers when your fingers don't want to grip and slipping off and hitting something hurts like hell.

Picking up a name brand? I don't think it would make a lot of difference in your situation. Any future purchaser would mainly be looking at the name on the trailer, rather than the name on the canvas.

As for pitfalls, probably the biggest one is making sure the height from the top of the trailer to the ground (known as the 'fall') matches the tent.

You will be buying canvas and making it fit your trailer, rather than having them designed together, so you are going to have compromises. You might also have to tweak your trailer layout of gas bottles or jerry cans are trapped behind layers of canvas when the tent is deployed.

I have no idea what part of Queensland you are in, but if on the Sunshine Coast, it would be worth your while dropping into Austrack Campers and looking at their bolt on tents trailer tent linky as they can show you some options and you can get a feel for if it will work for you. They seem to be reasonably priced too.

Packing away a tent on a trailer will also take time, the only bonus is that the bed stays where it is.

Another option is to put some tradesman racks on the trailer and fit a roof top tent above the trailer. Setting them up is easy enough, same too for stowing, even more so when fitted on a trailer. Team it up with a roll out awning and you will have some covered area and a bed that can be stowed quickly. You could also keep the existing BW Turbo for longer stays.
The RTT and roll out awning is what I get by with, but they are on the back of a ute.

Hi qldcamper, I have an Oztent RV4 30 second tent. I used to use it when I toured on my Motor Cycle towing a small camping trailer. As you can see from the pic. attached, it fitted longways on my trailer. It takes about 5 mins to set up & pull down when you use all the pegs and guy ropes, but if you are not pegging it down, it literally takes 30 seconds to set up and about 1 min. to pull down. I used a camp stretcher inside, (there is room for two), and a self inflating mattress and sleeping bag. From start to finish, it used to take me about 20 mins altogether to set up camp & pull down.


Macca.

A friend had a trailer made and then purchased a soft floor from Cameron Campers. I was impressed with the quality and design.
When I bought a camper trailer I got one from Cameron Campers and I am happy with it. The design means I do not have to peg it. In some parts of Oz it is almost impossible to get the pegs in the ground and this is an important feature.
Have a look at their site.

https://cameroncampers.com.au/product/tent-top-only/

Just buy a hard floor camper and all your problems are solved. mattress and bedding remain in place. Set up about 10 mins and the same for closing up.

If you want to keep the tent for any length of time then you want Ozzie canvas.
It'll cost a lot more will last years longer than Chinese stuff.


Johnnos Campers made really nice tents that took under 5 minutes to set up. (I'ved owned two of them)

They are made by Crazy Dog Canvas in Maryborough QLD who will customise to suit. Damned good work.


Alternatively the Johnnos camper bodies were made for them by Cub campers in Sydney.
Johnnos have gone bust but I believe Cub have quite a few tents left over that they don't know what to do with.
Might be worth giving them a ring and see if you can cut a deal.