Hit the fast forward button
The best trick I can give you is to not take as much stuff. I have started thinning out what I bring and as a result that speeds up the setup.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
If you get it out, put it away when you are finished with it, don't wait till tear down to put everything away. For example, Once the last meal is done, wash and dry dishes and put away. Once out doors is done, fold up and store chairs and tacky lights. The evening before leaving a CG we put away and pack anything we do not need for the am. I sometimes even put last of food in ice chest, turn off fridge and wipe out. THen all I have to do at home is open door.
I'm with everyone else; less=more! And a routine helps immensly! With four kids each of the older kids a few tasks, the younger ones gather garbage and clean up the site. On the day of pack up we start when we wake up with our closing up of shop.
I try my best to pack up as much as possible the night before also like thingette 1s sister. Camping for me is kinda like being at home, I'm constantly picking up 😀
Along with the less is more train of thought, which is a great recommendation, just getting a routine is the best thing we've found. DW and I work together to get the PUP leveled, roof up, stabs down and awning set up. After that, we each have our own areas; DW handles the interior and I get the outside work done.
We also start to put some things away after the final use the night before/morning of leaving. That helps a lot, since it then doesn't seem to be quite as much to do all at once.
John
[quote author=camphappy link=topic=1759.msg14722#msg14722 date=1342535965]
Are there any tricks that can help to shorten the set up and break down time? I don't mind the work but isn't my favorite part of camping.
I got an expensive solution .... 🙂 buy a hybrid or travel trailer .. ;D saves lots of set up time ...
Let's face it .... setting up and taking down a popup camper requires work and time. I've timed myself in the past to see just how fast I could do either; and this can be important especially when it comes to performing either in the rain. But more importantly, at least I think so, is doing either correctly and efficiently. Finally I had a polished procedure that required a certain amount of time which went into the planning of arrival or departure. AND ... (since I can be forgetful) ... had the procedures typed up on a 3" X 5" card that i went over before (and sometimes during) the procedures.
We we own out pop up I use to go from start to finish with out stopping. Over the years of setting up and tearing down I learned...."Hey, what's the damn hurry!". We would go in spurts of 10 to 15 minutes then sit down for awhile and just kind of eyeball the situation then get up and go at it again. Sure made set up and tear down a lot less painful 😀
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