Of course it may be difficult to participate in the discussion unless you understand the differences between the two types of leisure space options!

Trailer tents

These have been around a long time and have earned a strong and loyal following among their devotees. They consist essentially of something that looks very much like a tent but it is folded and contained within a trailer that is towed behind a vehicle.

When the destination is reached, the tent is unfolded and erected around the trailer to provide a weatherproof (hopefully!) environment. The trailer may form a part of the structure, offering for example, off the floor sleeping accommodation.

Folding caravans

These are rather more recent additions to the mobile leisure world. They consist of a conventional, usually metal or plastic skinned, caravan that can be folded down and re-erected to form a full caravan space area.

Trailer tents versus folding caravans

The debate regarding the respective merits of the two can be passionate at times!

Some people may try to see it objectively as:

• folding caravans may be significantly more expensive
• trailer tents may be complicated to erect and fold down again
• some people may claim that the trailer tent gives an experience closer to ‘true camping’ than is possible in a folding caravan
• folding caravans may offer greater wind resistance when towing
• there may be some insurance differences.

Insurance considerations

The two accommodation types may give rise to different insurance considerations, risks and ultimately costs. There are though suitable products available and at prices that you lay find surprisingly low.

Summary

The great debate over trailer tents versus folding caravans will continue. Whichever you have or choose – enjoy it!

Trailer tents are a common way of exploring Europe, as they can be easier to drive with for long distances than a caravan or a ‘wrong side’ motorhome. For this reason, you will often see European breakdown cover included in your policy. However, this is normally offered for a set number of days. If you are currently not using the trailer tent in Europe for anywhere near your breakdown days, you may be able to save money by switching to another policy with a price to reflect your actual number of days ‘at risk’ of a claim. You should also check whether your policy covers damage from weather or accidental damage, as this might not always apply. You can sometimes reduce the cost of your cover by keeping the trailer tent in a weather proof location – even if this does not reduce your cover cost, this can still be a wise option if the trailer tent is not used for extended parts of the year.