Take a Step Up from Tenting with a Trailer

Sun, 06/07/2009 - 23:15 — Jayne Hawkins

Jayne Hawkins' photo

I have to admit, most of my camping life has taken place in a trailer. Sure, I’ve done my share of tenting, but I’m not much the outdoorsy type. I love the sounds of nature, the warm summer breeze and soaking up the hot sun just as much as anyone else – but I’d much rather retreat to a hotel at the end of the day.

Either way, every camping adventure revolves around the concept of living and learning. Even if you’ve been sleeping outdoors for decades, there is always a new adventure, campsite, or product to try. To be honest, I’ve only travelled by RV once, but I’ve spent most of my 32 years in trailers (otherwise known as campers). It’s my preferred way to camp– not quite as ‘in touch with nature’ as tenting, and less expensive than RVing.

Trailers are great because they provide many of the conveniences of home with a camping feel. The beds aren’t as comfortable, the stove takes longer to heat up, and the floor is always covered in sand, but isn’t that the point of camping? Even the most discerning of campers can set up shop in a trailer, and it makes it much easier for families to vacation, especially when there are babies or toddlers involved. If you’ve ever tried to get a young child to sleep in a tent, you know what I mean.

In my experience, a crank-up trailer is the cream of the crop, for a few reasons:

  • Organization – Since most of the contents have to be removed at the end of the vacation, it’s easy to keep clutter at a minimum;

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  • Travel – Hooked to a trailer hitch on the back of your vehicle, the top of a crank-up trailer lays flat, so it doesn’t interfere with the view out your back window;

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  • Ease-of-Use – Who can’t wind a crank? By turning a metal arm, the trailer rises and creates instant shelter.

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  • Options – Crank-ups are available in basic to deluxe models, and everything in between.


    In most cases, a crank-up trailer does not feature a bathroom, leaving you and your family no choice but to rough it. While trips to a campsite bath house or outhouse can be annoying, it’s all part of the experience, and isn’t that what we’re all after?

    Before you buy, shop around. Decide which accessories and options are important for your family and make your decision to set up camp in a tent, trailer, or RV based on that list.

    • ‹ Returning to campground Take a Step Up from Tenting with a Trailer ›

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