Folding caravan, folding caravan, tent trailer or trailer tent: the terms are confusing; it is not easy to find your way around the market. But what lies behind it is all the more practical: a mobile home packed into the smallest of spaces. By the way, folding caravan is the generic term.
In this market overview you will find the most important manufacturers of different models. It’s incredible what has happened in this field in recent years. Some manufacturers are new to the market or have launched new models.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Folding caravan brands
You can buy a folding caravan from the following manufacturers. CULTMOBIL and Gordigear also offer the option of renting a folding caravan.
CAMPWERK
CAMPWERK, founded in 2010 in the Ruhr region, is relatively young compared to the very old-established companies. In 2012, the team around company founder Michael Krämer received the “Caravaning Design Award: Innovations for new mobility” for its folding caravans. An online configurator on the website helps you choose the right folding caravan.
Offer: Tent trailers, roof tents, camping accessories
Head office: Velbert
Showrooms: 6 in total in D and NL (Find the locations here.)
Distribution: Europe-wide
Website: www.campwerk.de
CULTMOBIL
The idea of founding CULTMOBIL arose from the desire to use an everyday vehicle as a leisure vehicle and thus be more flexible – this is how Sven Otersen’s small family-run company started converting T3/T4 buses. In the meantime, a simple, inexpensive tent trailer has been added: A tent caravan that can easily be converted into a utility trailer. Or vice versa.
Offer: Folding caravan, van conversion (T5/T6), mini camper, box trailer
Head office: Syke
Website: www.cultmobil.de
Info
In addition to buying, CULTMOBIL also offers rental options! You can find more information and the contact form here:
Rent a folding caravan | CULTMOBIL
MGO MONTEGROSSO OUTDOOR
Another true northern light: the “Sunbird” folding caravan from MGO is built near Hamburg. Advantage: The complete equipment can be stowed in the loading system.
Offer: Folding caravan, roof tent
Head office: Sauensiek
Showrooms: 7 in total in D, AT and CH
Website: www.campingtrailer.de
ALPINE CROSS
Alpenkreuzer is one of the most legendary brands in Dutch caravan history. At the end of the 1950s, the company EELART KRAMER SLIEDRECHT (E.K.S.) imported the “Klappfix” (also known as the “Camptourist”) built in the GDR and marketed it under the name “Alpenkreuzer”. In 2006, the “Alpenkreuzer” disappeared from the market due to a lack of demand, but now it is back. In 2017, the manufacturer DOREMA initially revived the brand on the Dutch market; the models have also been available on the German market since the end of 2018.
Offer: Tent trailer
Head office: Doetinchem (NL)
Dealers: 17 in total in NL, D, CH, BE, SE, GB (find the locations here)
Website: www.alpenkreuzer.com
TRIGANO
From a family business to a group: it all started very small in 1935. TRIGANO is now one of the largest groups for motorhomes, caravans, accessories and, of course, tent trailers. The tent trailers are manufactured in France and are then marketed under various brand names such as “Jamet” (exclusively for the Netherlands), “Trigano” and “Raclet”. Kreppel Freizeitmobile exhibits the tent trailers.
Offer: tent trailers, motorhomes, caravans, accessories
Head office: La Roche-de-Glun (F)
Exhibition: 2 in D (locations can be found at the bottom of the website)
Website: www.trigano-faltcaravan.de
COMBI CAMP
Just one minute and the tent is up – at least that’s what the Dutch manufacturer COMBI CAMP promises. The Combi-Camp tent trailer also offers a spacious luggage compartment inside and a luggage rack on top for larger accessories or bicycles.
Offer: Tent trailer
Head office: Heemstede (NL)
Exhibition: 11 in total in D, NL, DK, N and ISL (find the locations here)
Website: www.combi-camp.com
HOLTKAMPER
The Holtkamper company is located just over the Dutch border in Emsland. Production began here at the end of the 1920s. Initially tents were manufactured, later tent trailers, folding caravans and luggage trailers were added. In 1983, Holtkamper launched the fastest folding caravan in the world at the time: the “Holtkamper Flyer”. The current models “Coocon”, “Kite Windforce”, “Aero Windforce” and “Nano” are reminiscent of kites in their streamlined design.
Offer: Folding caravans, camping kitchens
Head office: Emmen (NL)
Dealers: 3 in total in NL, D, CH (you can find the locations here)
Website: www.holtkamper.de
Campooz
Simple construction, robust look and funny model names: Fat Freddy, Lazy Jack, Red Ruby and Sleepy Joe come to us from the neighboring Netherlands. The first model, Fat Freddy, saw the light of day back in 2015 and was the protagonist of a world record attempt in 2017: at the “Kampeer en Caravan Jaarbeurs” trade fair, Raoul from Campooz set the world record for setting up tent trailers, setting up Fat Freddy a staggering 99 times in six hours.
The irrefutable proof that the folding caravan can be set up in just three and a half minutes. For all those who want more than just a particularly quick set-up, all four models in the basic version offer enough space for two, four or six people, conjured up from a small trailer. With the right accessories such as an awning, kitchen module and side tent with sleeping cabin, you can spend an entire vacation in comfort.
Offer: Tent trailers, accessories
Head office: Assen (NL)
Dealers: 16 in total in NL, D, F, CH, SE, IE (find the locations here)
Website: www.campooz-zeltanhaenger.de
OPUS CAMPER
Inflate instead of assemble: The “Opus Air” received the “German Design Award” in 2018 for its special appearance. The self-inflating folding caravan, which can accommodate up to ten (!) people, is manufactured in the UK as an offshoot of the renowned “Purple Line” brand.
Offer: Folding caravans
Head office: Wherstead (GB)
Exhibition: a total of 27 dealers in GB, D, NL, DK, N, IT, CH, AT, CZ, BE, IS (you can find the locations here)
Website: www.opuscamper.de
CAMP-LET
The Danish manufacturer CAMP-LET (Danish for “light camping”) is also a real classic on the market. The company has been producing folding caravans since 1968. It now belongs to the Belgian ISABELLA GROUP.
Offer: Folding caravans, accessories
Head office: Lohfelden (Isabella company headquarters)
Exhibition: numerous dealers in D, DK, CH, IT, GB, SE, BE (you can find the locations here)
Website: www.isabella.net/de/camp-let
COMANCHE
It’s so light, it even floats in milk? Not that, but the “MC Camp” from COMANCHE can even be pulled by a motorcycle! The manufacturer is based in Barcelona and has been producing tent trailers and transport trailers for cars and motorcycles since the 1970s.
Offer: Tent trailer
Company headquarters: Barcelona
Exhibition: numerous dealers in ES, PT, F, D, DK, SE, GR, HR, IT etc. (Here you can find the locations)
Website: www.rcomanche.com
Gordigear
At the Australian outfitter Gordigear, it all started with the manufacture of equipment for personal use. The company has since specialized in the manufacture of roof tents, trailer tents, car awnings and accessories. The production facilities are located in Australia and overseas, while the development and design department is based in Upper Bavaria.
Offer: Tent trailers, trailer tents, roof tents, accessories
Company headquarters: Southport (AU)
Dealers: numerous dealers in D, DK, NL, IS, IT, AT, SE, CH (you can find the locations here)
Website: www.gordigear.com
Info
In addition to buying, Gordigear also offers rental! You can find a list of rental companies in Germany and their contact details here:
Dealers and rental companies | Gordigear
Advantages of folding caravans
The biggest advantages are financial, because compared to “normal” caravans, folding caravans are much flatter during transportation, have less air resistance and therefore lower fuel consumption for the towing vehicle. They can therefore also be towed by smaller vehicles and take up less space when not in use.
The purchase costs are also often more moderate – with the exception of luxury models. In addition, taxes and insurance are cheaper than for a caravan. And unlike tents, folding caravans have a stable substructure – an advantage on uneven or stony terrain. The solid floor also offers protection against the cold from below.
Disadvantages of folding caravans
But of course there are also disadvantages. This means that the folding caravans are not so easy to use during a stopover or overnight stay, but have to be fully extended or set up. Some manufacturers state that it takes a crisp 12 minutes to fully assemble the device, while one even speaks of just 1 minute. However, some owners are amazed at the time it takes and estimate that it takes 45 to 60 minutes. My tip: Always try it out before your first “real” trip and take suitable tools with you. You can also find tips in our text “Basic equipment for campers”.
As with simple tents or tent roofs, a folding caravan, whether with tent or fixed walls, must be set up again after two days at the latest to dry out, according to the ADAC. Otherwise there is a risk of mold and nobody really wants that. And another real disadvantage: toilets are apparently in short supply; only very few models seem to be equipped with them.
Who invented it?
No, it wasn’t the Dutch 😊 The (presumably) first foldable caravan was manufactured in the GDR in the 1950s, was called the “Klappfix” and, thanks to its lightweight construction, made it possible for Trabbi drivers to fulfill their dream of owning a caravan. The successor models were called “Camptourist”, but disappeared from the market with the fall of communism and the associated closure of the VEB Fahrzeugwerk Olbernhau. However, used models can still be found in the classifieds market. The “western version” of the “Klappfix”, the imported “Alpenkreuzer”, has recently been back on the market after a break of several years.
Cover photo: © CAMPWERK
