trailer shelters, vans and caravans for camping

Introduction

many campers prefer to tow a trailer or van for their camping trips as these may provide:
- more amenity (gas fridges, stoves, better beds, storage space for extended cooking equipment and cutlery)
  - most have a 2nd external gas stove which can be pulled out for use and avoids the cooking smells becoming embedded inside the van
- greater water storage capacities
- often less accessible to animals/insects seeking food
- in some cases better security although most only provide security against opportunistic thieves and not against professional thieves
- potentially less set up and pack up time as self-contained and most gear is already ready to go without packing
the downsides are:
- they are much more expensive and tend to depreciate in value
- more can go wrong - gas leaks, water leaks, towing issues, wheel issues, van brake failure due to failed connections, etc
  - unlike tent scenarios where worst case you just buy another tent, stove or fridge, if things go wrong with a van, they can be time consuming and expensive to fix - if you can fix them - parts or mechanics may not be easy to access - especially over holiday periods or in more remote areas
- need a fairly large area of reasonably flat ground plus use of ramps under wheels to ensure relatively flat
- high risk of accidents whilst being towed, including loss of control at speed, hitting pedestrians due to poor visibility, or poles when cornering due to poor judgement or visibility
- they will require use of more fuel to tow
- some do take some time to set up and pack down
- they can get very hot in summer time if there is no air conditioning
- they can get very cold in winter unless you add extra heating such as a diesel heater but this can be noisy for other campers
- some require considerable physical abilities to set up and pack down, and some require a 2nd person to assist
- require storage when not in use
- constant risk of them being stolen by being towed away by thieves when unattended
- requires an appropriate tow vehicle for the load

traveling around Australia in 2024 as a young family of 4 in a small rig caravan is likely to cost $AU90,000-120,000 per year ($2000/wk) in expenses assuming no disasters and you are budget-minded
- see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvoWOmMra-o
- note, you would spend a substantial part of this if staying at home, paying rent and not traveling so it isn't all bad unless you have a disaster and lose your vehicle or van, or worse.

Design options

full size caravan
- popular with families going to caravan parks
- provide reasonable security although extra measures are needed to mitigate tow away risks by thieves
pop-top caravan
- eg. Jayco Poptop ($AU57K), All-Terrain pop top ($AU73K) all are 17'
- travel heights are usually 2.5-2.7m
- only a relatively small upper ceiling pops up to provide more head room, shorter people can stand up even if this is not poped up
- door remains in situ when towed
- some have extension wing-like annexes at end eg. Expanda Pop Top ($AU65K, 4 adults, 2kids)
“camper trailer” pop-up caravan
- eg. Jayco Penguin 3 person 22' ($AU29K)
- travel height 1.6-1.77m so less wind resistance and less fuel
- double bed, child sofa bed, fridge, stove, sink, cupboards
- top half walls are mainly canvas hence not really secure
- top half of door is folded up into ceiling for towing
- some have extension wing-like annexes at end that can accommodate extra people eg. Jayco Swift, Swan ($AU32K), Lark ($AU25K) and Eagle models
J Pod
- light weight trailer style, roll out side sink, fridge
- eg. Jayco Sport ($AU24K) and Outback ($AU30K)
  - can carry a kayak or bike on the roof
A-frame fold up caravan
- popular with solo women as provide better security against forced access and are reasonably easy to set up and pack down
- less wind resistance and less fuel than a full van
- ends have low head room which can be annoying
pod style camper trailers
- tend to be designed for off-road use and thus can be very heavy to make them robust and durable
- often have an optional rooftop tent
tear drop camper trailers
- these teardrop designs are small compact trailers which are popular for woman as they are easier to hitch to a car than a larger trailer and provide some sense of security
- they generally have a small horizontal 2P sleeping area which is quite claustrophobic and does not allow standing
- they generally have a small kitchen on the rear but no shelter for it
- the security aspect is probably more perception than real as these could be easily towed away
- you would need an additional shelter option such as a tarp for rain conditions unless you just want to sleep through it
- most would be better off with a touring tent which provides far greater amenity
other niche fixed trailer designs
- some are mainly wooden for better security
camper trailer with fold up canvas shelter
- examples:
- longer set up and pack down times but are lighter to tow (so better for smaller cars) and more compact to store.
- some are designed for off-road use
camper trailer with rooftop tents
- more compact and easier set up than fold up canvas shelters but less amenity and you have to climb a ladder to go to bed
- often designed for off-road use and mated with a 4WD off-road tow vehicle
- examples: