Hi there
Fellow mum and Camplet owner here.....we have used our Apollo far and wide and I have used it alone with 2 small kids in various places. That was really why we bought it, dead easy to erect with one grown up and two toddlers, which is what they were at the time.
Tips:
Identify a safe place for the key pole, the winder and the legs and have a BIG golden rule that they are returned there ASAP - we keep ours under the passenger seat -if you lost any of these when on the road it would be difficult
Think about the orientation of the trailer before you start to pitch it - the tow bar is at the back when it's up so take care that you are not back to front!
Invest in a spirit level and keep it with the stuff in the golden rule pack
Spend time faffing with the legs (both the wind down ones and the ones you insert in the roof of the trailer) to make sure that the trailer is level before you do the rest. The tent pegs out much better and the beds etc don't wobble if you get this bit right.
Pull the pram hood bit out and peg lightly then zip on the skirting before pegging(already mentioned)
Put the groundsheet carpet down over the flappy bit of the skirting first too - just guess where the walls of the tent will be, a few inches out doesn't matter and if needs must you can peg through it
Put tent up!
We invested in a small bar with hangars which fits on the front bar of the tent and is great for towels, toilet bags, keys etc. Best £2.99 I spent!
The tent will withstand a gale - but it can move around a bit and the bed poles shift and groan which my kids found quite frightening - we have, in the past, wedged the front corners with pieces of wood to make the tent more secure. It is worse if the wind is coming from the front (Mental note to self re camping on cliff tops!) This just makes it feel more secure!
Keep as much as you can in the under sink cupboard and in the trailer when you pack it - you'll be suprised how much it will actually take with no impact on towing. We have bedding (duvets and pillows), two chairs, a table, a wind break, the awning, all crockery etc, lights, food & toiletry staples all in there. The only thing I need to pack if it's sunny on a Friday are clothes, sheets, tea towel, towel and dish cloth. Gas bottle is in the front box, which is a good place to keep wellies etc when tent is erected, so we are set to go.
It's the best thing I ever bought! Oh, we put the kids in the right hand bed nearer the sink coz it's smaller and they can put all their bits (stones, money etc) in the pockets - don't forget to empty them! Then you get to sit on the bench with a book and a glass of wine!
Only negative is that the awning is a silly shape and collects water so we usually don't use it.
Hope this helps!
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ValS
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Topic: new to camping - just bought a camplet
