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To drop the main canvas on our pullman takes about 5-10 mins. What takes the time is packing away and stowing all your equipment including the awning, sink and cooker, table and the filling up of the nooks and crannys where all your bits and pieces need to be stored.

Hope you enjoy your camper. we also took a step up by getting a folding camper after spending years in a tent and have never looked back.   Steve.

We keep most of our stuff stored in the camper throughout the year so that most if it is packed and ready to go. So packing away does not take too long and when we get home we just run the hove round and a wipe around if we have not done it on site.

We too have moved up the scale from a tent to a trailer tent and now a folding camper, will never look back now as it makes a big difference with young kids and the weather.

Karende

Quote: Originally posted by jojojoy on 26/7/2007

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mm think that was wouldn't change it

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hi

yep you're right to question the time.  15-30 mins seems too good to be true.  we had a frame tent for 5 year before getting a folding camper.  i'd say it still takes roughly the same amount of time to pack away.  as everyone else has said it's tidying stuff away and cleaning out that takes the time.  normally we're about two hours if the awning has been up.  makes life easier though coz it's all packed ready to go the next time, and that just makes it so much more tempting to fit another weekend in. 

We also take about 15 to 20 minutes to set up absolutely everything, bedding, too, but just not including awning, but much longer to put away as we also clean as we go.  Don't rush it, just do it methodically so that you don't forget anything (like not putting the seating cushions back down one time when I opened it at home to air it!).

I agree about packing it away well so that you can go away more easily next time.  I'm trying to keep a list of exactly what's in there, including tins of food to make life easier.

We actually make the beds before we go so that all we have to do is release the straps and throw the pillows on.

Karende

It all depends what you mean by putting away.

We saw a demo of a Pathfinder at Tony Wilds and timed it.

Two of them took the Pathfinder from "fully up" (that's with the legs down, all curtains, beds, the table, toilet, wardrobe sink & hob in place but without awning, gas or water attached and no luggage or extras) to "cover on ready to hitch up and drive away" in just under 9 minutes.

I think the couple who'd asked for the demo bought one on the spot! 

Unpacking and packing depends on the amount of stuff you also take with you in the camper and the things you leave clipped up when you fold. We don't leave teh roof lining and bed tents clipped up cos it stretches and snaps the elastic but many owners do. However we do leave the sleeping bags on the beds. Mrs Wader and me can have the kettle on in 20 mins after getting the legs down, the key thing is to work together on different bits which compliment each other, this takes time to develop. Tip with the pennines is to use the underbed storage areas. After the unfold and sides come down which works better and faster with two people doing it, put down the little groundsheet and everything that comes out of the camper goes onto the groundsheet under the bed end and the skirt goes round it to keep the weather out. Mrs W works on the inside while i work on the outside. Weather also can slow down/ speed up the process. Important that you get it back up again quickly after packing away wet though.