Tips to Reduce Set-Up and Take-Down Time, Do more gadgets have to equal more time?

[Richard]

I camp with my three kids. It's hard to corral them while I set-up and take-down. I like having all our little niceties, but the time to set them up and take them down seems to grow and grow. Please share any time saving ideas you have for quicker pop-up setup and takedown, even if it's "leave that stuff at home".

[coolbreeze1]

Richard, I don't think there is a quicker way. It doesn't matter if you have a PUP or a 5'er, it always seems to take to long.

Coolbreeze1

[Richard]

My next Mods are going to be designed around speeding up the process. I'm searching for any little ideas. If I save enough minutes, I'll have more time to goof off.

[Richard]

One of the first things I plan to do is stop just putting things whereever they will fit during takedown. If I can get a system designed so that I put things away in specific places (less hunting later) and in a specific reverse order, It should save me time when I get ready to set up. I'll get to the things I need during setup, rather than having to move things around. I'll make a list and post it so others make suggestions or copy/modify it for their own PUP.

If you have such a list already, please share.

I'm also going to try to arrange mods that will make things easier to set-up in the kitchen, but that's another post for later.

Gasp! I may have to leave some of my junk at home. Naaaa. There's just gotta be a way to have it all.

[stacyb]

our tip is buy some portable dvd tv that goes in the van over the seat backs and put a movie in for them to watch with the a/c running. they can watch the movie while you set up the popup then when you start on the inside stuff get one side done and move them inside to finish a movie or watch tv. then take them to the playground and sit and relax

[willy3486]

Figure out some way to keep you family from bringing enough supplies to invade a 3rd world country when you are going to be only camping 3 days. I guess my wife and child heard about the supplies on my father in laws ship in the battle of Midway they used and they think we should have the same. But it makes it too hard to fit that stuff in the scotty. Then when you pack up to leave its like trying to get one of those wooden block puzzles you get at cracker barrel to fit it all in again. So only take what you absolutely need, scope online before the trip to see if there are stores in the area to get what you need if you leave something you may need.

[eandsphotography]

I bet this is a problem for most people. Myself, I believe less is best. I'm willing to bet that half of the stuff you take that is just a "gotta have" doesnt even get used.
My wife is famous for this. She'll take something with her "just incase". Well, you know what, if i need something that bad when i get where i'm going and just cant live a whole 2 days without it, then i'll just go to the store and get it.
The biggest pain i find is loading everything up and then still feeling like you forgot something. I solved a little piece of this problem but not having to bring bath necessities in and out of the house anymore. I bought everything you could need for the bath and just leave those items in the trailer. Soap, shampoo, conditioner, razors, you name it. Its just a small thing but i know that at least nothing in the bath will be forgotten. What i'm working on next is having clothes that will be specifically for camping. This is a little more difficult cause you never know what the weather might be, but as I dont wear a shirt or pants or shorts for everyday use , i put it in the camper for that purpose. When i buy socks, i'll put the older ones in the camper also.
The kitchen is always going to be a problem. While you can stock up on dish liquid and paper towels, there is no way to leave food in it for a period of time. I do have some canned goods in there from my last trip but that's about it. Really not too much you can do in that department.

In the entertainment dept. ,I know i have some games in the trailer that we've never played. I know i should just take them out, but as my wife says, you just never know when you might want to play that one game and then it's not there.
We have some dvd's that we keep just in the trailer. The wal-mart $5 section is excellent for this purpose. Sometimes i'll just pick up a movie and just put it in the trailer. Even if it stinks, at least it's something to watch if it's raining and you cant go outside. I dont really watch a movie more then once so i'll either give it away or just get rid of it and replace it with something else next time i go to wal-mart.

The bottom line is this.... I feel that if you make the camper as much of a seperate place from your home as far as items go, it will make life easier in setting up and packing out. Pretty much all we do when we get to a site is back in,level it up, unhook, throw the patio mat down and put out the chairs. Oh, and hook up the grill.
other then that, there really isnt much else you can cut down on time for.
Then when we get back home, except for the food not used we know that anything that comes out to be cleaned or washed is going right back into the trailer for the next time.

Just my ideas and opinions.

Erik

[SouthWestyKim]

I think your idea of having a basically stocked camper ready is great..Except for food stuffs your ready to take off in a short notice..one other thing to remember is that in cases of emergencys when evacuation is required you wont have to frantically gather up clothes supplies ect..I know we dont have many emergencys here like hurricanes ect but you never know.I actually keep some MRE'S (MEALS READY TO EAT) in my camper for just emergencys...the shelf life is 10 or longer years....I would much rather hook up my trailer and head for the hills instead of trying to find a motel for such emergencys...but thats just me...I guess Im like most females though when it comes to overpacking the "I might need" syndome..ive also camped very near home and made a few trips back home during a campout as well..seems like im either over packed or under packed..eventually though I will get organized , or finally get tired of unpacking all the stuff I never use.....a checklist too that can be copied for replenishing items is a good thing to use as well....Keep those ideas comming in!!

[fisherpal2k]

When we had our PUP we decided to do things a little different than most. I sat down and really thought it out about why we did things the way we did. I made a list of things that we should do first and then I set about making a permenant list for the camper.

I finally figured out what I needed to do step by step and made a check list and taped it to the inside of the door of the camper. Sounds kinda stupid I guess, but it did come in handy a couple of times when I got in a hurry and I would take the time to stop and go over it and then continue.

Like Erik said we also made up toiletry bags for each of us and left it in the camper. We made a list of the things we used the most and put inside a cabinet door. When we got home we would take the time to go over the list and refill our toiletry bags and then we could be sure we was ready to go again. we also left at least one complete change of clothes in a zip lock bag in there for each of us. Nothing fancy, but at least we knew if something happened and we needed to make an emergency stop somewhere we had a clean dry change of clothes if needed.

After I got the TT, I carried some of this over to it. I made a short check list in the order it needed to be done and I follow it fairly close. I had it down to where I could set the PUP up and have it livable in 45 minutes. The TT is a lot quicker. Just leveling it is the biggest thing.

[Richard]

Great Ideas! Thanks. These things seem simple once someone says them. One thing I may have done is to put too many things to "live" in the camper apart from the house. I've got things in there that I would only need for a mountain cabin life. I guess I'm remembering those old wilderness trips of my youth.

If I had less stuff that I never/rarely use, It wouldn't be "like the putting the wooden puzzle back together. I might even have room for things that were actually useful.

I do the movie thing with the kids. Whoever invented those portable DVD players really did me a favor. I may have to tie the kids to their seats to keep them in the truck though. I may try to find a few activities they "have to do" to get camp set up. They could roll out the carpet, etc.

[Richard]

I just did a major reduction of stuff that lives in the pop-up. I'll need at least two more passes at reducing the junk before I make a real dent in it. It's hard to leave that stuff at home, but if I've never used it yet, I probably never will.

[chuck9997]

Great info here.. When I bought the TT.. I immediately discovered so much more room. That means more stuff that I probably don't really need. I am careful to make sure I have plenty.. but it's plenty of things that are useful.. Like.. a can or bottle opener might come in handy.. but do I really need six flashlights??? I bought a small lug nut wrench to keep in the camper.. but do I really need a chain saw?

I also like things that can stay in the camper all the time. I only want to carry clothes, food, my guitar and bike from the house. That's all. I am working on a way to leave the bike in the camper.

When I pull in.. I can level, hook up electric, water.. put out awning, mat, chairs and little table in about 15 mins if I need to hurry.. Most likely it will take longer because I usually move at a more leisurely pace.

I do like doo-dads.. but I can put up the lights, etc later when I feel like it.

[Richard]

A System for Camping:

A loaded mini van pulled in to the only remaining campsite. Four children leaped from the vehicle and began feverishly unloading gear and setting up the tent. The boys rushed to gather firewood, while the girls and their mother set up the camp stove and cooking utensils.

A nearby camper marveled to the youngsters' father, "That, sir, is some display of teamwork."

The father replied, "I have a system; no one goes to the bathroom until the camp is set up."

This just might work!!!

[Dice]

We have a plastic tote that stays outside the camper. It has things that we "may need", like bug spray, hatchet, a water hose, etc. It's ready anytime we are. We don't have to "pack" anything except clothes, we just pick up the tote, and go. But we normally are minimalists, we don't put out a bunch of stuff, so we don't have to put it back up to leave. We also keep a bathroom bag packed, when we get home we restock if needed so that's it's ready on the next trip. We can pack up and go in less than 30 minutes. We usually can be set up at camp in less than an hour. But then again if you left the kids at home, you could probably do it in less time than we do.

[Richard]

That's a great idea Dice, the tote, not leaving the kids at home. If I left the kids you guys wouldn't put up with me. Jon doesn't come if I don't come. If you can't join us camping this weekend, then come by and say hello. I'm next to the playground.