Cycling UK Forum

I use a Carry Freedom Y-frame trailer and love it.
I use the small one which carries up to 45KG, although I only carry about 18 KG (for a 2 week camping tour) in the form of a Mountain Equipment holdall held on with a couple of bungee ropes. I bought it because I didn't want to pod out £1000+ for a half decent tourer and so I could use it with my lightweight audax bike. You can use it on virtually any bike - even Bradley wiggins could use it on his racingbike
I've done three 2-week camping tours and never had any problems - it's solid, well made, really stable (even at 50MPH on an Alpine descent), never feels like it might jack knife, and the bike feels and handles like normal, except you have to push a bit harder on the pedals.
The coupling onto the bike is via a nylon coupling onto a metal pin. I use a MTB skewer (which is longer) on my road bike to allow for the coupling bracket thickness (about 8mm). It's never come close to tipping over whilst being towed - it's only tipped over on me when I was pushing my bike down a high kerb, but this wasn't a problem as the coupling is incredibly elastic/flexible and zero damage was done.
The only thing I'm going to change for future tours are my bike tyres (as I currently use totally unsuitable lightweight Schwalbe Blizzard Sport 700x23C, but only because I couldn't be bothered to put on something more durable) as a couple of weeks using the trailer wears out my back tyre. Even though there's very little dead weight from the trailer acting on the bike, there are some dynamic forces which scrub the tyre.
I have used panniers in the past and would never go back to them unless forced to. Therefore I would highly recommended using this trailer.

I use a Wild Country Duolite Tourer when cycle camping. I chose this after an exhaustive search mainly because it has an extended porch(ideal for storage), is so easy to put up (it takes about 5 mins) ,can be erected fly sheet first (thus keeping the inner dry) and can take a good battering from strong winds no problem..
With lightweight tents like this, the flysheet isn`t especially thick so I bought a Gelert survival bag and cut to fit under the sleeping area to add some additional protection from stones. The pegs are a `V` shape and help prevent bending in stony/hard ground. The sleeping area is fairly cramped as is the case with most small, lightweight tents and sleeps 2 people. I`m 6`1" tall and fit in with my girlfriend no problem, but it is fairly `cosy`. I don`t mind as I spend most of the time outside.
I bought this tent in spring 2011 and it cost £200. I`ve used it on 2, two-week tours and was thoroughly impressed with it. Therefore I would recommend to anyone thinking of buying it.
One tip I`d give when looking at buying a tent - take the advertised weight with a pinch of salt. I couldn`t get mine down to within 150g of that advertised even after ditching the tent/pole/peg bags!