Weird, today i saw risaad and his merchant people outside whiterun, in the usual position when trading. But the TENT is gone. There are no campfires, no tent and no food. Only the 3 npcs. However risaad still sells me items and he is sitting down. What the heck is going on?
And no, mods didnt cause it. I tried reloading w/o mods.

They probably just got there and haven't had time to unpack. I've seen it too. I just wonder where they stow all that stuff when traveling, lol.

As Boxcab said, they take time to unpack the tents and whotnot. You met to them either as they were about to leave or had just arrived, so they didnt have time to unpack their stuff yet.

Ah i see. I slept for a day and the next day their camps are up.
Yes i wonder how the hell they carry all stuff around. I dont see a carriage or a horse or a lorry.

You sometimes meet them walking down the road as well in-between cities. I think the missing camp is meant to similate that they have just arrived outside the town and not yet set up shop.

I see this all the time after finishing the Battle of Whiterun. Their stuff's just gone.

I don't think "unpacking" is it, though. The tents and such stay put at the other cities, even after the khajiit leave. Same for Whiterun before the battle.