Not Your Father’s (or Mother’s) Tent

One of our family’s favorite stories, growing more hilarious with each telling, is of the last minute camping trip orchestrated by my mother and her cousin, Nancy. It’s one of those “someday we’ll look back at this and laugh” experiences, having to do with the tent that they couldn’t get set up in the rain, causing four of us kids to sleep under (yes, under!) a car that night. Needless to say, we felt a bit soggy in the morning. But, we were sure that even had we slept in the tent, the outcome would have been the same because we knew that tent leaked. 

Today’s campers have much better and versatile options. Like TOPO, the new Crossover BaseCamp folding tent trailer product line from Dutchmen Manufacturing. TOPO partnered with Therm-a-Rest®, to create an innovative extreme weather tent that sets up in less than ten minutes. The tent features collapsible tent poles, zippered doors and windows with screens, a water resistant floor and fresh air vents.

Once opened, you have a spacious 15 foot wide and 18 foot long family living area. Two large beds with comfort mattresses, providing off ground sleeping for four, are integrated into the top and bottom of the trailer’s frame. One of these beds converts into a sofa for seating, while the rear door converts into a kitchenette with camp sink, countertop and storage.

Weighing less than 500 pounds, the tent trailer can be pulled by virtually all compact cars, minivans and crossover sport utility vehicles. In the closed position, it’s only 6 feet wide and 10 feet long, and can be stored on end in a residential garage.  

Last, but not least, you can take your bicycle with you, because the trailer’s exterior features an aluminum roof rack that is compatible with Thule roof rack systems for bike racks, accessories or cargo boxes.

Currently, TOPO can only be seen at shows, such as the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) convention December 2nd to the 4th, 2008. But it is scheduled to be available to consumers January 1, 2009.

Edited by Ellen Schofield