Camping in an IW506 trailer -tips?

Orchardbeck

Orchardbeck

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Hi, I'm contemplating camping in my trailer, an IW 506 with central partition. Was considering a pop up tent inside, which is an excellent idea, but we have a central partition and I really don't want to have to faff with it if possible! Does anyone manage without taking them out? Is a tent a waste of time?
 
I camp in my 506 😁

I use a bog standard blow up flocked single bed from Tesco, cover it with a folded double duvet and then have my sleeping bag on top with another fleece blanket on top of that. Trick is to stop the cold from rising up and making you cold in the early hours. I know people who lay strips of carpet under their beds but I've never needed to. Don't forget your pillow. It all fits perfectly down one side of the trailer without removing the partition. Down the other side I have everything I need for the weekend in plastic stacking boxes so I can see at a glance where things are.
 
Until recently, I didn't know that sleeping in your trailer was a thing horsey people did. It all makes perfect sense though as you have a ready made weatherproof home away from home (once the horse poo has been relegated to the muck heap). I wouldn't think a tent would be at all necessary. My only question is what about ablutions? Do people have portable loos, or are there usually facilities where you camp?
I agree with Lindylouanne about the blow up bed. I have slept on a stretcher camping bed and the cold came straight through it underneath. I would still want some carpet/cardboard under the mattress to protect it from punctures.
 
Green Bean at TREC events there are always loos but for the inevitable emergency night wee I just use an old bucket with some wood pellets in. Works really well and goes on the muck heap the next morning when I poo pick the corral. Cardboard is a brilliant idea under the bed.
 
I've done it plenty. I've never bothered with a tent inside although I did see a campbed with an integral tent online the other day which could work. I use a campbed to get off the floor and put a blow up mattress on top of it for comfort. Then a fleecy blanket on top of the mattress and a decent sleeping bag.
Close it up as early as possible (don't forget to shut the roof vent) to keep as much warmth in as you can. A bungy cord to hold the door shut is also handy as unless you have one with the lockable jockey door you can't close it from the inside.
 
I went glamping in mine last weekend- actually took a single mattress which just about squeezed in next to the partition fine!
 
I do it regularly for TREC. I have changed my rubber floor mats for EVA matting which is both light and warm. They can also be easily taken out and hosed off if horse ever does a wee in there - it only ever happened once when we had a minor breakdown enroute, but I was so glad to be able to wash it all out easily on arrival, and dry the mats in the sun. I guess this wouldn't work with the partition in though, (I travel without one) unless you cut the mats to accommodate easy removal. I now manage very well with just a self inflating airbed with a fleece blanket laid on top.
I have never bothered with a tent - far too much faff.
Bucket for night wees, just empty it in the hedge in the morning.
Lovely bright little LED camping lantern Hanging off one of the cross ties
I also have a little folding table that fits in the nose, camp stove etc. I even have a hanging metal shower caddy set of shelves permanently in the nose, so useful for bits and pieces. Plus S shaped hooks I can put up for clothes etc to hang up. It's all very civilized!
 
Wow, thanks guys!! To be honest I didn't ever think that it was even a thing, that people actually did but I was trying to plan ahead for a weekend clinic with overnight stay. The only reason I thought about the tent was to keep some heat in/condensation out, but it would be less hassle not to use it! I have thin self inflating mats as well as the usual single air beds - but the self inflating would be less hassle I guess. Do people not have a problem with water leaking in around the trailer ramp?
 
I camped in my trailer quite a lot and for shows as well as Trec, where you have to keep all your smart outfits clean and in the right order, plus tack cleaning.

Tent only necessary into the autumn I think, just the trailer in the summer. I never had a wet weekend, but be prepared as maybe the trailer isn't 100% waterproof. I used to take torch, small camping stove and kettle for early morning tea and late night drink, some food like cereal for breakfast and fruit, UHT milk. Was quite snug really. Could also take a bowl so you can have a wash in the privacy of your trailer!
 
Camp in mine all the time. I do use a tent all year round as I get cold and it really does help. Plus a blow up bed and a double duvet. Near got wet and use the other side as a changing area, food prep etc
 
Camp in my single trailer but if the weather is really foul I up sticks and move into the back of the Volvo estate.
 
Before our horsebox build we used to do it all the time.. little table and cooker one side and hang the gas lamp from the hole in the ceiling... we never travelled with partitions though which made it easier...
 
This thread is really interesting. We are camping in a couple of weeks, some on bunks in the living and some in the horse area. I was thinking of sleeping bags and camp beds for the back on top of a tarp to keep everything a bit cleaner, never occurred to me about damp. We also have blow ups we could use but are roll mats better and do you use just roll mats? Also will sleeping bags be warm enough or do we need duvets? I’ve never camped before!!
 
IME roll mats are better for insulation, inflatable beds are more comfortable but you are lying on the air which is cold.
I'd use an inflatable with a roll mat on top. Then a sleeping bag. As long as you buy the right 'season' one you'll be warm as toast.
Or you could buy 2 cheap single bags, then join them together if you are with your partner. Maybe with a duvet over the top.
 
Ive been warmer and more comfortable on folding camp beds than inflatables.
I find just the roll mats a bit unforgiving. A proper duvet is a total luxury that transforms the experience imo :)
 
Roll mats are fine if you are are travelling light but they are not the most comfortable beds in the world. Your hips might be sore by the morning so if you have the room take the most luxurious bed you can. I would always advise camping out at home for a night just to test out your kit, nothing worse than freezing at the event and feeling tired and miserable when you need to be at your best.

gemini87 at 3 am it will be damp outside so unless you are in a very good sleeping bag you might be cold. Have as many layers underneath you as you do on top and you should be ok.
 
A camping stove, gas and kettle for me too as well as a little radio. Plenty of insulation underneath and a decent sleeping bag and pillow.
I once got up for a pee in the hedge at a Trec, it was about 4am in mid summer - there were about 40 horses corralled in ones or twos but they were acting like a big herd with about half lying down sleeping, some dozing standing up and some look-outs. Magical :)
 
I did on a riding holiday last year. It was actually really fun, and I got to hear my horse in the field around me all night, which was really cute!
I had a pop up tent up, and 2 layers of foam matting underneath. And then my sleeping bag.
I actually got far too hot, and ended up sleeping with the trailer jockey door and my tent open, and was met with my horses head investigating in the morning, and snuffling for her breakfast!
 
I did carpet on floor, double blow up mattress then two single roll mats side by side ON TOP on the mattress for extra insulation from the cold air from below which were held in place with a fitted sheet and then a very good sleeping bag and was toasty warm. This was in Autumn in rainy southern Ireland for a week.
 
Ensure your blow up bed stays up! Half way through the night mine deflated which is horrible and so cold. Its the dampness and cold that are the worst in a trailer. Take loads of duvets. We paid for a B&B last weekend instead...
 
milliepops said:
Ive been warmer and more comfortable on folding camp beds than inflatables.
I find just the roll mats a bit unforgiving. A proper duvet is a total luxury that transforms the experience imo :)
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^ this
I camp in my little 3.5t rather than trailer but similar, camp beds, pillows, duvet and blankets make all the difference to keeping warm, plus wine this always helps ;):p.
 
Just remember - however cold you think it's going to be, it wil be colder!

We did used to book in a local hotel until the time when we'd just arrived in our room and had a phone call to say the horse had got his leg stuck in his rug. We had to turn around and drive back to the venue. Seemed easier (but colder) to stay on site after that.
 
Thanks everyone for your help! It’s the kids sleeping in the back and us grownups on the bunks!! We are camping with the ponies as an adventure but want to make it as easy and comfortable as possible! I have camp beds but I think I will invest in roll mats to go on top! And will take extra duvets, blankets and onsies!
 
gemini87 said:
Thanks everyone for your help! It’s the kids sleeping in the back and us grownups on the bunks!! We are camping with the ponies as an adventure but want to make it as easy and comfortable as possible! I have camp beds but I think I will invest in roll mats to go on top! And will take extra duvets, blankets and onsies!
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Where did you decide to go in the end?
 
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