Sunncamp Trailer Tent awning.

With thanks to Allen at UKCS.

New tent.

Princess and I went to a jumble sale yesterday. She's old enough to want to do her own looking so I gave her some loose change and kept half an eye on her while I nosed around the books. I got the usual bag of mixed toys handed to me to hold, a badminton racket and then she turned up clutching a tent that she'd just bought.

A real tent, not a toy tent. A 70's-ish turquoise blue cotton flysheet 2-man ridge tent, complete with an astonishing assortment of very nice pegs and lightweight poles. No badge, says "Escort" on the bag, not bad quality but not as good as say a Force 10 or a Blacks of Greenock. However she wanted it as a garden play tent, it had cost her £2. Who was I to say no?

Of course as soon as we got home, she wanted to put it up. Half an hour later, with help from Big Scout Brother, it was up and guyed for storm conditions.





We got a bit of rain overnight so it's now wet but it doesn't leak. Sign of decent quality canvas. However it's only a single skinner, like many tents of that era so it's not ideal if you're prone to hitting your head on the inside of the tent. Fortunately Princess is still quite compact. Interesting though for two adults in there. I may make it a simple flysheet if it's going to be up all summer. Easy enough to fit it onto spiked ridgepoles.

You will note however she has her play cooker lurking in the rear of the tent. I must have words with her about this. I don't approve of cooking inside tents!

Walker Viva.

Offered: Old Walker Viva trailer tent. This is a Dutch trailer tent made in 1978. We bought it second hand several years ago but for the last seven years it has been sitting in a friend's garage. We pulled it out today to see how it looked.

The Viva was a 4+2 berth trailer tent with one large upper bedroom area, a very large double undertent that easily takes two and benches in the cabin living area that can convert into two narrow beds. These have highly useful storage lockers underneath. There is an awning which doubles the cabin area and a small zip-on sun canopy for over the front door. There is no integral kitchen but there is a fire resistant panelled area in the awning where you can use your own camp kitchen. The colour is vey retro and typical of the '70s...lime green, orange, brown etc, as in the pictures. The pictures btw are not of our specific trailer tent as last time we used it was pre-digital camera days.

Good bits.

Canvas is Ten Cate, the best in the world. It was totally waterproof the last time we used it. No rips or tears as far as I recall.

Tyres seem in fair condition for age...they were not flat even after seven years (!) and we could pump them up again to wheel the trailer out. There is also a spare.

Cover is filthy but seems to have remained watertight.

Wind down steadies still working.

Upper mattress still there, with extension cushion.

Inner tent for bedroom, undertent and cabin ceiling liners still there.

Poles are all present, including ones for sun canopy.


Not so good bits.

The zip that attaches the awning to the cabin is broken so you cannot take the awning section off...the zip is stitched firmly shut at the damaged end though so the awning is perfectly usable.

We have lost the "key" to take the rear panel of the trailer off, for access. A large flat bladed screwdriver makes a good substitute!


Cushions for narrow extra beds are missing. (Will check the attic.)

Curtains missing. (Will check attic for these also.)

One of the bed legs for a pull-out bed got damaged and OH's uncle re-welded it for us. Unfortunately this meant it didn't fit back very well on the locker top. So that bed/locker section is a bit wobbly.

The trailer electrics did not work even in our day so we used a lighting board when towing.

We looked under the cover and the canvas etc still seemed bone dry. However we did not open it up fully so there is still a faint possiblity it might have some damage. No smell of mice. No promises though!

The trailer is actually wired for internal electrics, with a blue socket on the outside which would connect up to the campsite electrics via a long lead. We never used these internal electrics because they looked scarey, so we don't know if they work or not. We don't have a camping extension cable for these.

The towhitch is working (we checked) and the securing split pin is still there. There is a secondary coupling as required by law.

Other bits.

No jockey wheel. Never had one.

Trailer section seems in good condition, with no rot or damage. Bit grubby but would clean up pretty well I think.

It is an old trailer tent. Walker was a top company though and their products were excellent quality so despite the flaws of age there's still a few years of camping in the old girl yet. We'd like to see another family give her a good home and have some fun with her. Anyone want to give her a home?

Blacks Good Companion.

Weekend list.

As part of my never-ending quest to take as little as possible I've been working on paring down my weekend camping list. This list is the latest attempt for all four of us, going for three nights.

Vango Oregon 800.
Vango Tunnel Canopy.
Mallet & rock pegs.
Airbed and pump.
2 x self inflating mats.
4 sleeping bags.
4 camping pillows.
3 fleece blankets.(One for on top of airbed.)
Fitted sheet and one pillowcase.
Small fold up table.
2 large and 2 low chairs.
Hago camp kitchen.
2 burner stove and 907 gas bottle.
Battery lamp and spare batteries.
EHU and strip light.
Bucket.
2 x picnic rugs.
Tent repair kit.
First Aid kit.
2 x wind up torches.
4 towels.
2 tea towels.
Electric coolbox.
2 coolbags food.
Kitchen equipment box.

4x small weekend holdalls.
Waterproofs.

2 x micro scooters.
Colouring books, knitting, books and comics, mini size board games etc.
In-car DVD player and DVDs.

That's all. How much of that could I live without?????

Big.

"I izz getting big..."

Oliver and Family.

Oliver and his sister Joy, aged three and a half weeks, with mum Lily.