Camper trailers: A comprehensive guide for beginners
Let's talk camper trailers. We’ll start with the basics of the different types, the pros and cons and the brands that make them. Learn more here.
By Jessica Palmer,
February 21, 2024
Camping is great, but do you know what’s even better? A little bit of comfort to go with your camping in a neat towable package! If you’re reading this, you obviously understand the appeal of the humble camper trailer as much as we do. However, with so many different camper trailers on the market in Australia, it’s hard to know where to start looking.
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What types of camper trailers are there? Why are some of them the same price as a caravan? What should I look for when buying one? Which one will suit my needs? What brands are there? How much will it cost? What are the top 10 I should look at? What will it cost to insure your camper trailer? All of these are common questions, and we’re going to answer them for you in a series of articles aimed at helping you choose the best camper trailer for you.
In this article, we’ll start with the basics of the different types of camper trailers in Australia, the pros and cons and the brands that make them. Future articles in this series will cover what to look for when buying a camper trailer and guides to the various types, such as camper trailers with a toilet, those that will fit a family and those with a quick set-up time.
The main types of camper trailers in Australia
Soft floor camper trailers
A soft floor camper trailer folds out in a tent-like structure with a PVC floor and canvas walls. Usually, the bed is on the trailer, and the tent section is used as living space. They’re one of the most lightweight options available but require a little extra time to set up once you arrive at your campsite. This is because you need to fold it out and ensure the ground it’s about to fold out onto is flat and free of sharp rocks that could pierce the tent floor.
Typically, they are significantly cheaper to purchase than their hard floor counterparts, and due to their light weight, they are cheaper on fuel to tow as well. When you unfold it, you will nearly always be surprised at how much room you have compared to how small it packs down.
Soft floor camper trailers aren’t as popular as they once were, but they’re still a fantastic option for those on a budget.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Large living space
- Plenty of storage room
- Lightweight
Cons
- Slow to set up and pack away
- Harder to keep clean due to the floor being ground level.
- If you don’t sweep it thoroughly, all that dirt ends up on your bed when you fold it up
Hard floor camper trailers
Hard floor models fold out as well, but instead of resting on the ground, the hard top cover that you see when it’s packed up folds down to become your floor. They’re quicker to set up, making them more practical for those who tend to move to a new campsite every day or two.
When it comes to keeping them clean, they’re a bit easier than a soft floor as you have an off-the-ground area. However, a hard floor camper will be heavier than a soft floor camper and tend not to have as much storage.
Pros
- The raised floor protects against water ingress and pests
- Quicker to set up
- Easier to keep clean
Cons
- More expensive
- Not as much room
- Heavier
Forward fold camper trailer
Forward fold camper trailers open towards the tow vehicle with the bed resting above the front toolbox and partially over the drawbar. The camper trailer itself acts as the floor. For this reason, a soft floor camper can’t be forward folding. As that the floor is above the axle, entry is via stairs, and the hard walls of the trailer tub provide a bit more protection from the weather.
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A camper that folds forward is usually faster to set up as there’s less movement in the canvas, and they require fewer adjustments and mucking around with poles to set up. They also require less space at camp, making it easier to park at the campsite.
As the main floor is permanent and doesn’t flip over the hinge, they often include features like a removable table or a U-shaped lounge that converts to another bed. The downside is that there is not as much room once you’re inside, and they don’t have as much storage space as rear folds.
Cub Campers have been in the camper trailer game in Australia for donkeys and their Frontier Forward Fold is 100% Australian manufactured.
Pros
- Faster set up
- Table or lounge
- Small footprint at campsite
Cons
- Not as much living space
- Not as much storage space
Rear fold camper trailers
Although they take up a little bit more room at the campsite than a forward fold, a rear folding camper trailer strikes a great balance between a soft floor camper (which can only fold at the rear or side) and a forward fold with its hard floor.
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Like a soft floor camper, the bed is on the trailer, except instead of a canvas floor, you get a hard floor that sits above the ground on little legs. The storage area is usually under the bed.
Pros
- More doors than a forward fold
- Fixed bed
Cons
- Takes up more space at the campsite
Side fold camper trailers
Some campers utilise a side fold like Patriot Campers’ X3 above or Marlin Campers. It’s the same concept as a rear fold or a forward fold, but just like it sounds, it folds out onto the side. This is common when the kitchen is mounted in the back of the camper.
A side fold camper design is fairly versatile and can fold out to a hard floor close to ground level, a soft floor at ground level, or the fold-out section can be a bed at trailer height, turning the camper itself into the hard floor living space by default. A small step ladder is used to walk up into the trailer.
Pros
- Allows the back to be used as a kitchen
- Versatile design
Cons
- Takes up more width at the campsite
Double-fold camper trailers
Double-fold (or dual-fold) camper trailers are as close to a caravan as possible without being a hybrid camper trailer or a pop-up. They provide the maximum amount of space, and as the name suggests, they fold both forward and rear. They generally have a larger internal living area and more storage options, making them a popular choice for families.
A double-fold camper trailer is a good option if you need extra space for kids or teenagers and your budget doesn’t extend to a caravan.
Pros
- Twin bedrooms
- Separate lounge
- Often has room for two fridges
Cons
- Heavier than a forward or rear fold
- Less manoeuvrability on tight tracks
When we said there was plenty of room in a double fold, we meant it. This dual-fold camper trailer from MDC sleeps six!
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Pop-up camper trailers
Some would argue that pop-up camper trailers are actually caravans, and when you start looking at the larger ones with slide-out bed-ends, you can see why. Nevertheless, many brands market them as a camper trailer.
There is no folding mechanism. Instead, they pop up either by manually winding or by electric means, revealing canvas walls. Larger models can include inside kitchens and even heating and air-con. Their hard roof offers protection from the weather, but they are a fair bit heavier than traditional camper trailers.
Jayco is well known for its range of pop-up camper trailers, all of which are named after birds. It seems that the larger the bird, the larger the van. So, a Jayco Eagle is much larger once set up than a Jayco Wren.
Pros
- Easy set-up
- Beds and living area off the ground
- Internal kitchen
- Dining and fridge
Cons
- More expensive
- Heavier
Hybrid camper trailers and pod campers
These are both categories of camper trailers that also easily fit into the caravan category. This is because a hybrid happens when you cross a caravan with a camper trailer. They both feature rigid, permanent walls like a caravan but with a camper trailer’s suspension and towing ability. As a result, they fill a significant gap in the market for those who want the comfort of a caravan but also want to head off-road.
We cover both hybrid campers and pod campers in our beginner’s guide to caravans, which you can read by clicking the button below:
Other types of camper trailers
Slide-on campers
Although not officially a trailer, a slide-on camper is simply a camper for utes that slides onto the back of a vehicle with a flat tray or platform that it can be mounted on. They have a lot of pros, such as not having to pay a second rego, but your vehicle’s payload can be easily exceeded. Many people get a GVM upgrade if they invest in a slide-on camper.
Some slide-on campers have ‘jack-off’ legs so you can put them on and drive out from underneath your camper, leaving it set up at camp while freeing up your car.
Rooftop tent campers
Of interest are rooftop tent campers, which are basically box trailer campers with a rooftop tent mounted up top. Austrack Campers make a capable off-road one which you can see in the images below.
Blow up campers
Also of interest are the range of blow-up camper trailers from Opus.
Let’s talk about off-road camper trailers
The vast majority of camper trailers are off-road and are purpose-built to withstand the rigours of hitting the rough stuff. However, it’s important to note that some off-road camper trailers are only semi-off-road. If you plan on doing serious 4WDing (as in more than easy tracks into national park camping sites), you’ll need to look at manufacturers that specialise in off-road camper trailers like Patriot Campers or Opus.
Additional types of RVs
In addition to camper trailers, but still falling under the banner of RVs (Recreational Vehicles), we also have caravans, motorhomes and campervans. Given that there are multiple types of these as well, this is a topic for another day. We’ll be creating a series of articles on these RV types as well. Stay tuned!
What brands sell what?
Read our other articles in this Camper Trailer series:
- What to look for when buying a used camper trailer
- 10 x hard floor camper trailers
- 6 x soft floor camper trailers for every adventurer
- 10 x Australian-made hybrid campers/caravans for your next adventure
- 10 x camper trailers that can fit a family
- 10 x camper trailers with quick set-ups
Jessica Palmer
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