streamlining your camper trailer
setup time 

quick overnight setup with no awning

Not all soft floor camper trailers are created equal. Some of the imported models have a multitude of poles & spreaders in an effort to keep the canvas roof tight to prevent rain pooling & creating leaks. It is a good idea before buying a soft floor camper trailer is to check how it is set up, the number of poles & spreaders, particularly the awning & if the awning can be left on the tent when packing up which will cut down on the set up time, climbing ladders & doing zips up.

We have owned our soft floor camper trailer since 1993 & have reduced the setup time through use & experience. When setting up daily or every few days on a trip will help to refine the setup routine. Avoid double handling where you can.

simple overnight camp

When travelling & camping overnight we do not unhitch. Carol & I work together, we each have our own jobs, done without saying a word. Our table & two folding chairs are carried on top under the travel cover & when lifted off they are set up, not just placed on the ground to set up later ie double handling.

The two internal corner tent poles are carried on the bed inside the tent. The tent is unfolded to the side, pushed out & the poles are placed in position. We then roll up one, two or three canvas window covers depending on the weather. Camp is then set up if we do not require the awning overnight on a trip. We are then ready to sit down, boil the kettle on the gas stove or enjoy a cold drink.

quick overnight camps can be made with minimum canvas & two poles

with awning

It takes us 7 ½ minutes to set up the camper trailer from pulling up at a campsite including the awning. Our setting up is streamlined to say the least. I automatically start looking for a flat level spot for the camper trailer when driving into a campsite so we do not have to use a leveling block under a wheel. 

We mostly bushcamp & seldom unhook the trailer when travelling unless we are staying for a number of days in the one camp & need to head off on a sight seeing drive. Thee is no setting up of the fridge. The Engel fridge is carried & stays in the rear of our vehicle with power provided from the camper trailer batteries via an Anderson connector. I have made up a 10 metre 6mm twin core lead if we are unhooked. There is a 90 amphour AGM battery in the rear of our vehicle for day drives.

The awning is permanently zipped on & pulled off the main tent by a rope attached on each corner. The three poles & three spreaders for the awning are also carried on top of the camper under the travel cover. All extra poles are carried in the box trailer beside the slide out ply boxes. The longer apex pole has white paint at the base so it is easily identified. The poles & spreaders are lifted off & laid out in position along with a rope & peg for each. The longer rope is also marked for the longer apex pole.

We use a DIY version of https://www.raawcon.com.au/ on the center awing pole. This makes for a quick & easy setup for the spreader bars on the front of the awning. We start with the center pole & stand it up with the ridge spreader which allows the pole to be self standing. The awning corner poles are then stood up, connected to the spreader bars from the tent & the spreaders from the center pole. Lastly the three pegs are hammered in.

The setting up of the camper trailer tent & awning takes us a genuine 7 ½ minutes with no rushing or asking each other what to do next. It just happens.

The gas stove in our kitchen is permanently connected so we do not have to take a gas bottle from the rack or connect hoses.

we have steamlined the setting up to 7 1/2 minutes including the awning

extras

From there if staying longer we might open the roof supported by two poles, ropes & pegs to allow air circulation &/or add the awning sidewall/s for wind & sun protection. We do not have a awning front wall to enclose it. If it is cold we might set up the Ozpig for cooking & the evening fire. If staying for a few nights the solar panel will need to be placed in the sun the next morning or the shower tent set up for an afternoon shower.

awning with roof open to provide air flow is five minutes extra setting up
one sidewall shelter when needed extra five minutes	plenty of shelter from the heat & rain for the week

make it easy

There is a place for everything & everything in its place. When we are finished with an item it is put back which helps cut down on pack up time. Get to know your camper trailer & how it is set up. I built two six foot long ply boxes that slide into the box trailer so everything is easy to access when needed, we do not need to unload or lift anything. 

If kids are camping with you get them involved in setting up too. There are very important jobs like the pole boy or peg girl, setting up their own beds etc.

easy access kitchen on the road	internal kitchen in camp
pantry	sliding ply boxes without lifting

further reading

our Track Trailer https://www.robcaz.net/track_trailer_eagle.htm
sliding draws https://www.robcaz.net/sliding_draws.htm
packing up the soft floor https://www.campertrailers.org/floor_packup.htm
 

written by Rob

december 2024