Camper trailer or trayon

If you decide on a camper trailer, a hard top style is the easiest and quickest to erect, or collapse. Adding an awning for a longer stay probably takes about the same time and effort.
Have a look at Campertrailers Org - Manufacturers for access to most manufacturers.

To give you an idea, take a look at the Pioneer range of campers.

You should also be able to peruse the Trayon and Heaslip range of slide-on traytop campers.

If you have no problem in towing and reversing a trailer, a camper trailer will be probably cheaper, depending on the model/configuration you choose.

Most "slide-on" campers can be jacked up off the traytop, so you can leave them at the campsite while you travel around if you need to.

Lots of configurations to consider.
Good luck in your quest.

Bill.

My sister just changed to a hard floor camper recently due to difficulty she had opening soft floor camper on her own. All trailers, depending on the situation, need varying levels of strength to hook on etc. I’ve no experience with a Trayon type product but I recently read they were very light – if so that’s very attractive. Can’t take a trailer everywhere (bit of debate on that subject) so that’s also a factor.

Another thing I do know is that everyone has different likes / dislikes in camping options, and sometimes it’s not obvious which is best suited to you at first. Best thing if you can arrange it, is to try out the options i.e. hire.

Best wishes, JD

Another thing to consider is how you will store the camper when it isn't being used. A slide-on and a trailer take up roughly the same amount of space to store, but it's possible to store other things under the slide-on.

Also, bear in mind that you can sit the slide-on on top of a trailer should your circumstances change in the future and you need a camper trailer instead. You can't just convert a trailer to a slide-on in the same way.

Hello willgethere,
There is a better option, that is you choose whatever option you like , and invite me to come along to help you out with it

Hi willgetthere,

I am planning to get on the road myself in a year or 2. I have the vehicle ordered & i think the best option for me on my own is a noender camper trailer. Small & easy to tow to get to those off road places and easy to set up - just wind the handle.
They are not much bigger than a camper trailer but easier to set up.
Examples are Goldstream Crown, Coromal Silhouette, Jayco Penguin.

Might be worth your consideration.

Dazza
(I hope i posted this right as a new forum member)

The Trayon is an excellent camper, well suited to touring being very quick & easy to errect. Packing up it is slightly more trouble on your own as is removing it off the tray. For permanent living some may find it a touch small & a bit short on storage space.
As for a Camper trailer some of the flip over styles may suit being easy to errect on your own & giving more room to live, particually being able to leave at a base camp & head into town, meet a friend etc without having to pull down the canvas.
One main difference between the 2 is the kitchen is inside the Trayon & outside on the majority of the trailers unless one sets up all the canvas.
Go to a show, climb in & out of them & even ask if you can errect it yourself as finding one that works easily for you being on your own is the key concideration that I can see.
Cheers Craig.............

Hello Willgetthere,
I have met only one very active female who has towed a caravan or a camper trailer on "the big trip". Most single and mature females I've met up with - please excuse the age-related assumption if it's well off the mark - have been touring about in smaller motorhomes . The cost of a good, late-model motorhome such as those based on a Toyota Hiace/Ford Transit/VW platform, would be comparable with the cost of your proposed set ups. It would also give you better comfort and security and you could fit it out with all the lttle luxuries you'd like to take with you. However, you would be restricted to well-formed and well-maintained roads.

You mention that you would prefer to catch up with friends wherever they are. That may mean you would need to consider an offroad vehicle such as the 4X4 Toyota Troopy kitted out as a camper? Occassionally Britz makes these available as they finish their rental life. This, along with an OzTent (which can be optioned with a sleeve to connect the vehicle to the tent) or similar accommodation, would give you plenty of space when on an extended stay. It also has the capacity to go almost anywhere and you could take advantage of free camping options. You could even take up the proposal offered by another member !

As for the camper trailer option, I have a rugged hardfloor-style offroad camper trailer and suspect that it could not be managed by most single women. The single-axled 16' caravan I've recently sold could not !

If you want a compromise between a rugged camper trailer and an equally rugged caravan, have a look at the Track Trailer Tvan. I suspect it could be handled by one person; it's compact, hard-walled, expandable, well-engineered and highly-featured depending on the model and options chosen. You could go to the factory and have a go at setting one up.

A wind-up camper has been promoted to you. I'd also support the idea of a wind-up camper trailer. If you want an easier option, an Avan folding camper such as the Cruiseliner would be worth considering. A small caravan, the rear entry style, would also be manageable and very comfortable. IMHO, the last two would be better for a long trip and would see you cope better with a wide range of weather conditions.

If money is tight, a lightweight, soft-floor-style camper trailer would be manageable. I'd recommend the off-the-back style as it fits on caravan park sites more easily than the off-the-side model. However, frequently setting up/taking down a camper trailer can become a chore.

Do some more research. Find a friend who's done years of camping and travelling using a range of accommodation and go with them to:
1) a caravan and camping expo,
2) a motorhome dealer who sells new and seconhand units, and/or
3) ambush some grey nomads who stop for a break in your town/area. The country's thick with them !

And, as a final suggestion, contact the premier motorhome hire companies about their post-rental sales.

Happy travels!
Robin

This is my favourite - for a few years down the track once the kids are gone.

Tray Topper

Not good with inserting links!

Regards

PGK

Hi
both camper trailers & ute backs have good & bad points ,
not all solf floor campers are hard to put up , only bad ones are !
and there are heaps of those ,
look for a camper that stands with less ropes /pegs /poles
most solf /hard floor campers have 6 or more of each , ,some have 10
look for one with 2 , less time to put up , most of the time you will need a awning , make sure it is larger than the canopy as 80 % of your time is in the awning /annex area, solf floors can be folded with awning attached, most hard floors can not . again saving time !

ute backs are great if you need to tow a boat etc., but some a bit hard to remove/refit on the car , remember the higher the bed base the harder it is to put up , ute backs are higher than most trailers , also packing up you campsite every day is a pain if you need to drive somewhere or work , ok for a week or two ,but not for long trips or living in
hope this helps
Cheers

if you have the money buy a Kimberley
superior in living quality to both your suggestions.
any tent like accomodation is hard to cool or heat.
I have a slide-on (large one) because I tow a boat.
good luck
gmd