Hello. Proper newbie here.

Excellent size👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻

My thoughts were of possible difficulties in keeping the trailer in a straight line while reversing up hill as, just as you said, the rig bends in the middle😀. Still, much depends on the width of your drive and the steepness of the slope. I hope it works for you👍🏻.

Reversing a trailer in a straight line can involve a lot of the pushing unit not being in a straight line itself. If space is narrow it can be more of a hassle than needed.

I would consider fitting an eyebolt into the ground at the top of the slope and attaching a pulley to it.  Then thread a rope from the back (or even front if that would be a better way round) of the trailer, through the pulley and back down the drive.  A small winch attached to the tow vehicle would be the luxury version, but a ratchet pull-lift, a tirfor, or similar will work very well. As you have an assistant you could even attach to the tow vehicle and drive it slowly away from the drive.

Whatever you decide to do, buy a couple of decent size chocks!  And the eye bolt could attach a big chain the trailer when parked.

Quite like this idea actually. Found a tirfor on  toolstaion that's reasonably priced, I could attach it to an eye bolt in the garage floor and winch straight up the drive. Though I'm struggling to find an eye bolt that is rated to take the 1000kg of the folding camper. The tirfor goes up to 4000kg. 

Many years ago we did something similar at the rear of our house using a Fairey Winch. It made the whole caravan parking thing more secure in that the van couldn’t take off down the garden and intrude on the neighbours down below us.

Ratings on eyebolts are usually given for a straight pull.  You would be pulling at almost 90 degrees to a straight pull so that will be greatly in your favour.  I'd think more about the strength of the floor!  You could always use two and a bridle.  The anchor bolts for motorbike security are high capacity.

I'll continue to do some research. It's definitely a good idea. Thanks. 

Veldron, just to throw a couple of spanners into the works. We have owned three folders in the past, Conway Cardinal, Pennine Pullman and Camplet. The later was a wonderful thing and at 250kg empty and 500kg full gave no issues with payload. I could pitch it in less than 10 minutes, get over 40mpg towing and storage was not an issue. Two double beds, a wardrobe, kitchen area with sink and hob along with large area under canvas were great. The only problem I found was reversing. It was so short I could not feel the trailer, so I would simply unhitch and pull/push into place.

Have you considered a pop top van such as an Eriba. Weights are low but unfortunately prices are high.

Colin

I've looked at various light weight vans. For various reasons a folding camper is absolutely perfect for us right now. Also I find something really quaint about them and I really, really, like them. 

The pathfinder we're looking at is 4.88m long ex works weight is 840kg total permissable is 1000kg. So I'm hoping I'll feel it on the back. The instructor I was out with yesterday said I'd probably find it'll respond very quickly to not much input when reversing. You can bet I'll be in an empty car park with it, practicing. 

We'll see I'm game for trying. At home this winching suggestion is something I'll adopt I think. On sites if I really struggle to reverse it I'll push it myself. Or get a motor mover fitted! 

Don't skimp on the winch rating if you go that route. I stripped the teeth off one some years ago when pulling a previous Eriba into the garage. A mover is a wonderful thing and well worth it if funds allow. Once you have had one you will never go back to a van/trailer tent without one.

Colin