Itching to get out on the open road again?

If a long year in lockdown has you yearning for an adventure this summer, one Irish company can supply all you need for a camping trip with a stylish twist.

With foreign holidays looking dodgy, staycations are front and centre for 2021 and Buckled Wheel in Fethard, Tipperary is doing a roaring trade in sales and rentals of their achingly cool adventure trailers.

The trailers come with all the gear you need for a few blissful days in the great outdoors, from mugs, wine glasses and crockery to dish towels and pots and pans. They attach to most vehicles and you don’t need any extra insurance to hit the road.

They won’t break the bank either: “The trailers and tents really are something different for Ireland and a very affordable way to tour around the country this year (when we are already hearing rumblings on the price of travel in Ireland).” David Henderson, who owns the company, told Yay Cork.

“A family of four in a trailer costs less than €500 for a week in June and €200 for a weekend. Tents are €25 euros a night and we put them on and off your car and give you a basic set of camping equipment to take with you if you need it with your tent.”

What’s the inside like?

Handsomely crafted in Henry Ford black, the adventure trailer’s double bed-sized convertible sofa is a sitting room by day and a bedroom by night, while the roof tent with integrated mattress offers a great night’s sleep for guests up to 6ft 9.

You could take off and explore the great cycling routes of Ireland (they recommend the Great Western Greenway from Westport to Achill, a 42km off-road route with breathtaking views over Clew Bay) or simply kick back with a good book and unplug for a few days.

The Great Southern Greenway, a 39km traffic-free route from Abbeyfeale to Rathkeale, is another good option. A €5 million project to resurface it is due to be completed by this summer.

The trailers are roomy enough to sleep four people, so they’re a nifty option for a family holiday if you don’t mind existing in close quarters – something we’re all more accustomed to after months in lockdown.

The kitchen features a gas hob, sink, water tank and tap, with an oven, grill, fridge drawer and lots of storage with a leisure battery powering the internal LED lights and awning light, USB chargers and 12V fridge.

If you fancy a more luxurious style of camping, they’ll even set up your trailer for you at any campsite within about an hour of their base in Fethard. You’ll spend the week camping and they’ll return to pack everything up and take it away at the end.

Buy your own Hero Camper and you can order a custom wrap to ensure you blend in (or stand out) in the wild. They’re not just for summer either; the Hero Ranger’s insulated cabin is rated to – 21°C, so you can take off in the dead of winter too.

If their nifty roof tents have caught your eye, you can rent one this summer and try before you buy. The roof tents are designed to be put up and taken down in less than 30 seconds and you can avoid the common camping pitfalls of muddy ground and a wet tent base.

Tent Box Classic rentals are €25 euros per day (minimum three-night hire) and each tent comes with a whole set of camping gear for your trip.

For the frequent camper who is ready to splash out on something to enjoy every weekend, the company also sells hipster-tastic Hero Campers, starting at €17,495, in white, grey, green and blue.

“We currently have grey in stock, white arriving in March and blue and green on special order,” says David.

“We can also do a Cork Red as a special colour. The prices start from €17,495 up to €20,995 for these units delivered in Ireland. They come with rear and side canopies (especially for those wet summer days we inevitably get) and these are genuine off-road trailers for a go-anywhere adventure.”

With no clear path ahead, many question marks hang over the type of restrictions we’ll be dealing with this summer, but Buckled Wheel offers some much-appreciated reassurance when it comes to rentals: “Our guarantee is simple, if you, your family, your county or the country has to lockdown or isolate you get 100% of your money back.”

In partnership with Mossy Earth, the father and son team plant a tree in Ireland every time they rent a trailer as they work towards becoming a carbon-neutral business.

And if that doesn’t make you a happy camper, nothing will.

Check out the latest available dates on buckledwheel.ie.