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quoteJust to be clear, this is a folding camper, not a trailer tent. The difference?
An open and shut case
Folding campers like this literally do fold out either side of their solid-sided base, with bedroom sections that stay off the ground (a trailer tent, meanwhile is indeed a tent that pulls out from its trailer unit and pegs directly to the pitch).
The two styles share plenty of attributes, however. Easy to stow, tow and use, compared to caravans. And towable by just about any car that can take a towbar, including electric models, folding campers like the Pennine Pathfinder here should have a lot going for them. Plus, they cost less to insure!
Indeed, the Pathfinder is one of the most definitive models in its sector. It can trace its roots back to 1977, but a major milestone in its career came in 2008 when the fabrics were switched from the previous canvas to Isacryl, a durable, breathable synthetic. Isacryl was developed with top awning manufacturer Isabella. It’s designed to be resistant to mildew and fading, is highly water resistant, and dries and cleans particularly easily. It also has relatively good thermal properties.
But what you also get with a leisure vehicle like this, once you’re set-up, is an incredible amount of space. More so if, like most owners, you go for the full awning option (and this does peg directly into the ground, of course). Do look out for special offers here.
Arrive on site and it’s a relatively easy procedure (once learned) to organise the folding out of each side then putting into place such fixtures as the washroom. Slide-out sections, pneumatic struts and support bars, along with typical corner steadies on the main trailer, keep it all sturdy, while the canvas includes window and ventilation panels.
The Pennine Pathfinder folding camper has the usual gas and electricity systems, including a mains inlet with a couple of 230V sockets and a basic control panel that includes a battery condition indicator.
Those bedrooms are king size and standard doubles with one-piece mattresses on solid ply bases, with zipped curtains for privacy from the central living area.
Plus you can sleep two more if you want by adapting the lounge seating into a third double. In daytime mode, the Pennine Pathfinder provides a generous amount of U-shaped seating space, and when things threaten to cool a bit there’s an electric space heater on a floor-level plinth, with two output levels.
A free-standing table is also supplied.
The kitchen includes a three-ring hob and a mini grill/oven as well as a sink with drainer. To the right of this is a worktop extension, while storage includes a cutlery drawer, a couple of shelved lockers and a neat shelved section overhead, with lighting to its underside.
To the left of the kitchen, the washroom might lack a shower (there is an external socket), but it does boast a proper, plumbed-in Thetford Cassette bench toilet as well as a fold-down handbasin with a hot and cold water supply.
A small, three-way Dometic fridge sits across from the kitchen directly under a wardrobe that’s pretty much full height.
Also here is a low-level unit that will take your TV.
At the end of play, the Pennine Pathfinder all folds back down to a very aerodynamic, fuel-efficient compact unit that you’ll find easier not just to tow, but also to stow when you get home.
To find out more about insuring a Pennine Pathfinder or your current folding camper or trailer tent visit our folding camper insurance page.
Verdict: Pack it all away in a folder
Plus: Lightweight, economical, roomy, well made
Minus: Lacks full caravan sophistication
In-a-nutshell: Venerable
Alternatives: Comanche Montana, Opus All-Roader, Isabella Camp-let North trailer tent, Trigano Odyssée trailer tent
Pennine Pathfinder factfile
| Model | Pennine Pathfinder |
| Dimensions | 4.88m L, 2.12m W, 1.39m H (towing)/6.00m L, 2.12m W, 2.20m H (erected) |
| Internal length | 3.55m |
| Berths | Six |
| MTPLM | 1,000kg |
| MIRO | 840kg |
| Payload | 160kg |
| RRP | from £21,495 on the road |
| Safety & security | Spare wheel and carrier, hitch stabiliser |
| Key options | Bed skirts (£499), awning (£1,625), awning extension (£826), awning extension inner tent (£140), synthetic starter park (cleaning and maintenance kit) (£55) |
Thinking of selling the Motorhome and getting one of these
This is a great review
I saw one yesterday at a holiday park we are staying at and the guy let us have a look around
Beautiful piece of engineering