Hi all,
My family are planning and overland trailer camping tour of Africa next year, and we are struggling to find someone who deals in the U.K. In second hand overland camping trailers. Traveling with two kids so would like to purchase this item sooner rather than later to get some practise and modifications made. Anyone have a steer on where is the best place to start looking? Thanks!

have you spoken to other people who have used trailers and researched it? have you ever used a trailer off road? what type of roads are intending taking a trailer on? Trailers can be a proper nightmare off road, although some have got on ok with it. there was a thread on here about it a little while ago you should be able to find. My advice would be to get an ex military sankey trailer and get it modified by someone that knows what they are doing. Actually, my advice would be, don't take a trailer!!

Are you thinking along the lines of the Conquerer trailers as made in south africa? These are specifically made for 4x4 use and can be bought here at a price. We looked at them in detail when on our last trip down there and have just spent almost 2 years building our own .. If you want to discuss this further then drop me a pm with some contact details.

Margaret

I would agree with Moggy , trailers can be a real problem , when on other than a good bitumen road , and even there in snow (obviously not relevant to Africa!). How big is the family / and ages , all factors for consideration on mode of transport/living , for overland travel , especially for an extended period .

Why bring a trailer????????

Have you ever tried to tow a trailer off road? Probably not. Wait til you try it and observe how it slides sideways (sometimes) with gravity and makes going through even quite wide gaps/corners a nightmare.

What do you propose putting in it? There are shops the world over to buy food and all important stuff (a very relative term), I'm sure you could live without HP sauce and 6 ipads quite easily and probably be the better for it.

Many moons ago I managed to travel round the whole of the former Warsaw pact countries with a small gym bag. Even then, I managed to find a shop when I needed to buy something (particularly socks because I only brought one pair) and places also exist to buy food....

Couple that with needing an extra spare or two for the trailer, waiting for the trailer chassis to crack somewhere, trying not to get the trailer stolen and just trying to do a U-turn anywhere.......
Did you ever get stuck trying to U-turn a trailer, or even with a trailer attached? Well its just triple fun compared to just getting stuck.
1. Trailer off
2. Recover vehicle
3. Recover trailer (and its unlikely it will pull out forwards IF its loaded properly
4. Try to find a firm enough spot to align trailer to rehitch and not ...................................get stuck again.

Rethink your vehicle choice and get something with a bit of boot space. Although my Aunt, Uncle and 2 cousins managed 6 weeks touring Europe every year in the 70/80s in a VW beetle with a roofrack.

Have you done a Google search ? I don't know of anywhere in Scotland but there are companies in England that make and sell Off Road trailers.

Two things I would suggest. Leaf springs and a 360 revolving hitch.

As Margaret (mrsgemini) says drop us a PM

Mike (gemini)

There's one listed on this very site and at

Desert Wolf Lynx 4x4 Overland Expedition Trailer | eBay

I've never taken a trailer off road and don't have any particular plans to do so, but many travellers here in Aus take camper trailers and off road caravans to very remote / challenging locations without any problem.


No idea what models are available in the UK, but if you'd like to chat with people who have experience with camper trailers you could try MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum - Index

[QUOTE=misterpaul;475841]I've never taken a trailer off road and don't have any particular plans to do so, but many travellers here in Aus take camper trailers and off road caravans to very remote / challenging locations without any problem.


There are quite a few that do as well, I had to go out to some !

As long as you are aware of the drawbacks of towing a camping trailer, then go for it, there's plenty of South African and Australian models available, shame you cant buy one down there as it would be a lot cheaper than picking one up in the UK. Here's a good Aussie make:

Conqueror Australia | Conqueror Australia’s Urban Escape Vehicles are the ultimate Aussie off-road camper trailer built to travel anywhere.


If you go to any of the larger Land Rover shows (Land Rover Owner etc) then there are always plenty of camping trailers around there to look at - probably a few vendors too and make sure you leaf through the classifieds in the 4x4 magazines for a used unit. When you get talking to a lot of the people that actually own one in the UK they haven't really been anywhere other than mainland Europe with them.


What vehicle will you be using to tow the trailer out of interest?

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Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
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http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Home - Adventure Overland Show

For anyone wanting to do trips this is the show to go to.Like The Hubb it caters for the traveller on 2 wheels or 4 not for a person wanting a blinged up machine at an extortionate price.

Margaret

went there last year and enjoyed the show. talked to some of the guys that do use trailers for expeditions (mostly tour company operators). I won't colour your impressions with what they said but it was good to get some real first hand feedback and to look at their rigs. It also means you can benefit from someone else's mistakes in terms of design and strength.

Hi all,
Thanks for the replies. Have actually been away in a borrowed trailer tent with the family across Scotland last week hence the lacy of reply.
I cannot currently drive with trailer but my stonemason husband does so everyday and is quite comfortable with it. I guess I have a year to learn!
Kids will be 2 and a half and 4 by the time we set off, so separate sleeping compartment for them essential. Tent we borrowed had a space about 1m wide and 3m long at the back of the trailer which worked perfectly for the two littles. Double mattress on top of trailer. 'Gans tent' was the only manufacture label I could find on the trailer and research once home has led me to a S.A. manufacturer. Makes sense, the couple who had previously owned the tent had flown to Cape Town and driven it home. With 3 kids under 5 on tow, so must be achievable!
The trailer tent idea basically came from the need for sheltered living space when the sun isn't shining. They are hardy kids who are used to the outdoors but literally towing your home seemed to make sense.
Found the trailer remarkably light and easy to manhandle, was an unbelievable twist of fortune to be able to trial one which had been there and done it.
Open to other suggestions but was not entirely comfortable with roof tents and the kids getting in and out, their wee legs just can't manage te steps unaided.
Taking an amazon so will have plenty of space in vehicle but keen to restrict the quantity of stuff that will have to be packed in around us as we travel daily.
The Australians do seem to go in for trailer tents in a big way and have found multiple sites dealing in second hand models. Looking in to shipping as I can buy a superior model for less than half the price in oz.
I liked the 3dogs trailers, made in Germany, but our budget is just not going to stretch to a 15-20k bit of kit...looking closer to under 10. Less is preferable!
The short answer is that the one we borrowed is perfect, already customised for the job, aligned and matched to the amazon, and has previous...it has done it twice. But it was sold a week before we knew of its existence for pennies. Friends who bought it were not sure it was the right thing for them and concidered selling it to us... Until they seen how excited we were about it and how much fun it was! They have offered to sell it to us if we sell it back when we have completed the trip, which is a kind offer...but if it doesn't come back in one piece then we would have to replace it and as I have discovered these things are not easy to come by!
As I said, we are open to suggestions. That is why I joined this forum...you guys seem to know what you are talking about.

Keep your eyes open for these they sometimes are for sale in UK
Home | main

this site might be of use , some friends of mine who went to Australia

Overland With Kids |

HTSH

Thanks, I haven't read that yet but already had it bookmarked!