Here’s the perfect camper for the small family – a rare tiny camper, the smallest model pop-up camper you can find!  My niece and her husband just bought this camper, it’s their first camper…  I didn’t ask them what the blue book camper would be, but I was curious!  Quite a step up from tent camping, and with two small boys they can really use the ease of their new home away from home! 

The Hybrid Travel Trailer is a combination of a folding camper and a hard shelled camper.  The Hybrid Travel Trailer offers the convenience of a small hard sided camper, with the sleeping space flexibility of a folding camper. 

Hybrid Folding Camping Trailer Jayco 17C

Are you considering a hybrid travel trailer?  Hybrid travel trailers are a great introduction to the rv camping life! 

 When you’re shopping for your first RV, you’ll want to take the time to think about your needs.  This will help you select the perfect RV for you and your family.  The hybrid travel trailer offers some of the best features of the folding camper, while incorporating the luxury of a self contained camping trailer.  If you already own a vehicle that you’d like to use as your tow vehicle for the hybrid folding camper, please consult with your authorized automobile vehicle manufacturer and vehicle owners manual to determine the proper weight range of your towed camper.

Hybrid Travel Trailer Review-Features of the Hybrid Travel Trailer -
-Jay Feather EX-PORT 2009 Ultra Lite Weight Travel Trailers by Jayco Review-

• Ultra Light Weight Hybrid Travel Trailer – Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (apx.) 3500 lbs.  Check your tow vehicle to ensure this weight is appropriate to tow.
• Floorplan 17C Jayco Ex-Port Hybrid Travel Trailer exterior length is 17′9″.  This short length is easier to manuever than longer length expandable travel trailers. 
• The pull out beds of the Hybrid Travel Trailer give you the convenience of extra sleeping space without the inconvenience of a longer vehicle length.
• The Hybrid Travel Trailer is more economical to purchase than a traditional travel trailer with hard walls. 
• The Hybrid Travel Trailer offers a built in bathroom with a bathroom exhaust vent, marine toilet w/foot flush, shower curtain with curved shower track, and towel holder.  The bathroom is quite spacious and comfortable, and offers privacy and convenience.
• The Hybrid Travel Trailer offers a big step up in luxury and convenience in the kitchen, as apposed to the folding camper.  The Hybrid Travel Trailer offers a built in 3 burner range, 5-cu ft. flush mounted refrigerator, cover for sink/cutting board, high-rise mixing faucet, large kitchen window, range hood with light and exhaust fan.  The cabinet and storage areas are quite generous.  Optional features include an oven.  This kitchen is truly a dream to cook in, and you’ll enjoy the convenience of the large built in refrigerator.
• The Hybrid Travel Trailer offers 60″ front and rear beds (select models), and 2 queen sized bunk mats. There’s plenty of room for comfortable sleeping.
• The Hybrid Travel Trailer offers comfort with a 6 gallon gas water heater, 12V demand pump system, 12V electrical system with deluxe 110V 45 amp power converter, 18,000-BTU furnace with auto-ignition, 30 amp power cord, auto-ignition furnace with wall thermostat, gravity fill for water, hookup for city water, Rotocast fresh water holding tanks, single 30lb propane gas bottle with regulator, Systems monitor panel, Water heater bypass system, winterization kit. The Hybrid Travel is a great home away from home, with just the right combination of “camping” and “comfort”!
• The Hybrid Travel Trailer offers a standard Cable TV hookup with RG6 coax, Crank-up digital antenna with signal booster.  You won’t miss the conveniences of your living room, you’ll have them with you!
• The Hybrid Travel Trailer is beautifully furnished with top quality Manchester Oak doors and drawers.  The craftsmanship is wonderful.
• The Hybrid Tralel Trailer has the look and feel of home, with Mini-blinds throughout, Residential furniture, designed and made by Jayco, Slanted overhead cabinetry – selected models, and Vinyl flooring.

This new Hybrid Folding Camper is in approximately the range of $25,000. (including tax, dealer prep, and a long list of small fees.)  We don’t quote specific prices here because the purpose of this article is to review the hybrid travel trailer camper itself, not to provide price comparisons for different folding camper or hybrid trailer camper showrooms.  You’ll find the local rv dealer showroom will provide price information for you.   An rv dealer should be consulted when you’re ready to calculate exact dollar prices for a specific hard sided folding travel trailer model.  You’ll need to arrange for rv insurance as well.

For detailed information about the Jayco 17C expandable folding hardwalls travel trailer and other hybrid travel trailers, your local dealer can provide specific informataion.  I visited the RV showroom (rvs, campers, folding campers – pop-up trailers) Manteca Trailer and Camper dealer recently and had a great time walking the lot with their top salesman, Reggie Rojas.  (209) 712-0678.  If you need any help with your hybrid travel purchase give Reggie a call – (tell him Penny sent you!).  If you’re on your way to Yosemite via Hwy 120, be sure to drop by the Manteca RV dealer, one of the biggest and best in the state!  Their address is 2006 E. Yosemite Ave, Manteca CA.  The main telephone number is (209) 239-1267.  They have a beautiful showroom, and a full lot of the latest and best folding campers, hybrid travel trailers, 5th wheels and motorhomes.  They are an autorized Jayco dealer, and carry other rv brands also.  You’ll find a selection of used rvs also.  The service bay is well qualified.

Do you own or are you looking for a Hybrid Folding Trailer?  Please leave a comment with your thoughts about this unique type of expandable folding hardwalls travel trailer.

Do you own a Conway trailer tent? Would you agree or disagree with this statement; Conway trailer tents are convenient, durable, fun, and easy to tow!

Click Here for Folding Campers, Tent Trailers, and PopUps on eBay Australia!

Folding Camper Setup as seen in this folding camper video with a few random tips thrown in for good measure!

• Park your folding camper tent trailer in a level spot – check for ant hills before you park!  Do not camp on or near ant hills, particularily the red ant type.  (This is one of those chalk it up to bad luck experience tips.)  You might also check for poison oak, poison ivy, muddy spots, etc.  We’ve tried all of the above and don’t recommend it!
• Grab your tent pegs and a tent post hammer.
• Remove the protective tarps from the trailer and unfasten the tie down straps.
• Place your large ground cloth or tarp next to the folding camper.
• Lower the trailer legs, keeping the ground cloth steady, and place the legs down in a position to hold one edge of the tarp in place. 
• Fold out the tent.  This variety of folding tent camper has the poles already in place when unfolded.  Just step inside (after checking the bottoms of your shoes please) and adjust the poles.
• Stretch the tent into place.  Ground cover still in place and doing the job? 
• Pound in the tent stakes.
• Roll up the window flaps.  Voila!  Your home on wheels is ready!  Takes five minutes to set up, even in the wind!
• Now a few neat and tidy tips to keep things in good order!  Does the ground cloth extend at least two feet in front of the front tent entrance flap?  If not, you can use an old shower curtain as an extra floor mat in front of the tent.  Keep a folding camp chair right by the front door.  When you go into the tent, take a moment to sit down and remove your shoes!  Keep a tub right inside the front door for shoes and anything muddy, so nothing muddy touches the tent!

Folding Camper – Tent Trailer take down and storage tips

• It’s almost as simple to fold up the tent trailer as it was to set it up. 
• Before you begin, you’ll want to make sure the tent is clean and tidy. 
• A small bowl of clean soapy water and a soft rag or some paper towels come in handy to spot check the exterior of the tent.  Did you set up under trees?  Check for bird messes and pine tree pitch!  Gently spot clean the tent where needed, and towel dry. 
• Use your long handled broom to sweep out the tent.  Clean out the corners with your whisk broom and dust pan.  Dirt stored with the tent really ages the tent a lot faster than necessary, so take the few minutes needed to clean the inside thoroughly.  Plus, who wants spiders breeding in the tent while stored?
• Use your long handled broom to sweep the dust and leaves from the exterior of the tent. 
• It’s best to fold up after the sun is up and the dew is dried off the tent.  If you must pack up when the tent is wet, especially if you’re beating a hasty retreat in the rain or snow, be sure to set up the folding tent camper in a dry location as soon as possible, same day if possible, to air out and dry the tent.  You really don’t want to tolerate a situation where mold could grow!
• Sweep and clean your ground cloth.  When you fold it in half, again sweep the top, which was the bottom last time you swept!  Keep folding in half and sweeping, all this cleaning really pays off. 
• If the bottom of the ground cloth is wet, and if you have the time, you can drape it over the picnic table or your car to fully expose it to the air to dry.  You’ll be glad you did!  You don’t want to unfold a moldy groundcloth the next time you set up your folding camper tent trailer!
• While you’re at it, if weather and time permits, stretch your open sleeping bags over chairs or a clothes line.  The airing out will keep things fresh, and give the evenings perspiration a chance to evaporate prior to packing up.

Do you have any favorite tips for setting up or taking down a folding camper tent trailer?  Please leave a comment and join in!

Looking to purchase a tent trailer?  eBay is a good place to check!

 Click Here for Folding Campers, Tent Trailers, and PopUps on eBay US!

Click Here for Folding Campers, Tent Trailers, and PopUps on eBay Australia!

And here’s a link to a video of a family taking down and getting a pop up folding camper ready for storage:  Take down folding camper video.

The MiniMate folding motorcycle camper is a little bitty dynamo that packs a punch!  It weighs in at only 265 pounds (empty), has 15 cubic feet of storage you can get to without having to set up the camper, and a whopping 6′6″ of headroom!  The MiniMate folding camping trailer can be pulled behind a variety of vehicles, including motorcycles, trikes, cars, trucks and vans.  It’s solidly built, sturdy, has a completely waterproof vinyl roof, heavy duty canvas material walls, and 3 windows which open up and completely ventilate the trailer.  The MiniMate trailer’s bed is 4′6″ wide, and 6′5″ from head to toe.  The dressing area of the MiniMate camper is 6′6″ tall, plenty of headroom here! 

To get the MiniMate folding motorcycle camper set up just adjust the jack stands, remove a part of the luggage rack to use as a support, and fold out.  There are 2 rods to place in the tent area.  Check out the excellent video above for a simple demonstration of the MiniMate folding motorcycle trailer.  Do you have a tiny motorcycle trailer?  Which one, and what do you like about it?  Please leave a comment and let us know!

Thanks – credit for the video goes to Open Road Outfitters.

There is a wide variety of folding campers available for purchase today. One important consideration in the purchase selection considerations of a folding camper is the setup. Here’s a folding camper setup video for Fleetwood folding campers, using a hand crank to raise the solid Fleetwood folding camper roof, and a hand crank to level the folding camper once set up. This demonstration of the setup involves one adult for all the installation requirements of the folding camper. The video clearly shows the benefits of the crank system for the folding camper! (Also well known as a “pop-up camper” or “popup camper trailer.”)

Directions for Fleetwood Folding Camping Trailer Setup

1. After choosing a level site for the folding camper, park and secure the folding camper by placing the wheel chocks (chock blocks) against the tires.
2. Swing down and lock the folding camper dolly jack.
3. Disengage the folding camper coupler, disengage the wiring and safety chains.
4. Drive the tow vehicle away from the folding camper.
5. Use the folding camper dolly jack to level the folding camping trailer from front to rear.
6. Release the top latches of the roof of the folding camper from all four corners.
7. Insert the folding camper crank handle into the lift mechanism and begin cranking.  Pause as desired, the folding camper top will stay in place.
8. The top of the folding camper will stop automatically while fully raised.
9. Remove the crank handle.
10. Lower the corner jacks of the folding camper to stabilize the camping trailer.
11. Pull out each folding camper bed, and then engage the support legs under each bed.
12. Open the entry door of the folding camper to engage the step and  enter the folding camper.
13. Raise the folding camper galley (kitchen assembly) into position.
14. Lower the folding camper screen door into position.
15. Complete the folding camper bed installation by engaging the front and rear tent supports.  (poles)
16. Fold out the legs of the dining area table to set it up.  (Keep this table indoors in case of rain, it’s not waterproof.)
17. Press the door seals into place, keep a bug free environment.
18. Attach the drinking water hose to a fresh water supply.
19. Connect the power cord to a 110V source.  (Check the cord plug, it’s a 3 prong plug.)

The Fleetwood folding camper with hand crank assembly is quickly and easily set up, and also quickly and easily folded down for travel and storage.

Looking for a folding camper to buy?  Have a folding camper to sell?  Check current eBay listings for folding campers:  Folding Campers for Sale

If you enjoy tent camping, you’ll appreciate a step up in comfort and convenience with a folding camper.  The folding camper provides a lightweight home away from home with plenty of comfort and storage. 

Folding Camper Styles and Features
A folding camper is a self contained camper that is lighter in weight than a traditional camping trailer.  You’ve probably seen folding campers while you’ve been camping, and admired the soft canvas walls with mosquito net screened windows of some folding camper styles, or the simple A Line features of other folding camper styles. 

Towing a Folding Camper
You generally don’t need a special tow vehicle to pull a folding camper like you would a fifth wheel or toy hauler, because the folding camper is generally very light weight. 

Folding Camper Manufacturers
There are a wide variety of manufacturers of folding campers, and an assortment of floor plans designed for modest to grand accomodations. 

Types of Folding Camper
The folding camper has solid sections that fold in and out to provide sleeping space or walls.  Once set in place at the campground, the solid roof or solid walls are raised.