Set up Question for Pop Up Owners

[Praise2Him]

How long does it take you to set up?

The main thing I don't like about our pop up is that it takes so long to set up and take down.

We went camping this weekend and timed it - it took an hour and a half to set up.

We've had our pop up for 10 years, so we have it down to a science now. It used to take much longer.

Is this about average for most people? Or are we just slow?

 

[akamom]

To pop it up, 20 minutes...a little longer if the ground is unlevel. Tear down is a little more because you need to repack everything.

ETA: This number doesn't include the awning. We went camping with MIL, they have a Viking and it took them so much longer for them to pop up and down. This was our first time camping with our PUP and we were done before them.

 

[magicforever]

It depends. To pop it up and get it ready for use, 30-45min. To put everything the way I want it, 2hrs.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

We're new to this, so it takes us a while. To pop up and get everything set up (awning, screen room) and ready to be used, it takes about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. That's why we are thinking about getting a TT or a hybrid in another year.

I think pop-up is the wrong name for it. It should be called crank-up and pull-out, but definitely not pop-up. Too bad they don't come with that EASY button.

 

[drewc]

Wow, those times seem very long to me. We usually set-up and tear down in about 20 - 30 minutes (each). Maybe 45 minutes if we have a lot of stuff for whatever reason.

1 1/2 hours just seems excessively long - maybe there are a few steps that could be done prior to departure that could help the set-up time?

 

[VAN]

I would also say 15-20 min for my DH and I to pop-up with our Viking. The awning does take an additional 10 min and then I'll fuss around for another 1-2 hr to get everything placed where I want it.

If we were doing just a quick stop for the night, I'd be skipping a lot of stuff and could have it ready for habitation in 15-20 minutes.

I think the key is to have two people working together, but it does get easier each time.

 

[fourgonefishn]

Popping up seems to go faster when your near the play area adn the little one s are there and within eyesight.


fourgonefishn

 

[MALE*RN*777]

The actual Pop-up time is about 20 mins. Me doing the outside work and the wife doing the inside work. It takes about another 30 mins to 1 hr for all the extra things we bring and we bring alot.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Organization is the key. When we had the pop up, everybody had a job and got to it right away. I also perfected the Quickie Set Up when we moved from California to Pennsylvania and camped all the way across - I could set up that pop up in 15 minutes (skipping non essential overnight stay steps).

I have found the hybrid much easier to set up, but now the kids are grown so there goes half of my labor force, and the last trip to FW I made the mistake of plugging in the electric and turning on the air first. FWgirl was no where to be found - she went inside and started to take a nap!!!! There goes another 25% of my labor force. Now it's FWguy and FWdog (who offers little more than moral support). I can still do a complete set up of the hybrid including awning in about 20 minutes alone.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

When we had the popup it was 1 to 2 hrs. Complete set up 2. Trailer, dining shelter ,awning ,beds . The problem with popups is the floor is packed solid. This is one reason we went HTT. But thats another story.

 

[terri01p]

Organization is the key. When we had the pop up, everybody had a job and got to it right away. I also perfected the Quickie Set Up when we moved from California to Pennsylvania and camped all the way across - I could set up that pop up in 15 minutes (skipping non essential overnight stay steps).

I have found the hybrid much easier to set up, but now the kids are grown so there goes half of my labor force, and the last trip to FW I made the mistake of plugging in the electric and turning on the air first. FWgirl was no where to be found - she went inside and started to take a nap!!!! There goes another 25% of my labor force. Now it's FWguy and FWdog (who offers little more than moral support). I can still do a complete set up of the hybrid including awning in about 20 minutes alone.

This is so true, organization is so key, we had a jayco pop-up for 11 year while the kids were growing up, they knew what there jobs were, now that the kids are grown we ended up buying a tt, it's still work but not quit as bad on the back.

 

[Rachie0507]

The actual "pop-up" process takes about 15-20 minutes for us. Adding in the time it takes to make the beds, put up my organizers, set up our cooking table outside, etc. adds on another 20-30 minutes. Depending on where we are and how long we are there, we don't always do the setting/unpacking right away. It is getting easier now that the kids are older. They just jump in and do things now without being told.

We are looking to trade our pop-up in for a Hybrid in the next year or two. I love the idea of packing all of our stuff in the camper rather than the truck.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

Wow, those times seem very long to me. We usually set-up and tear down in about 20 - 30 minutes (each). Maybe 45 minutes if we have a lot of stuff for whatever reason.

1 1/2 hours just seems excessively long - maybe there are a few steps that could be done prior to departure that could help the set-up time?

It only takes you 20 minutes to do EVERYTHING? I must have alot of stuff.
Our actual pop-up time is about 15-20 minutes. The rest of the time is for setting up the awning, the screen room, unloading the van, making the beds,
and just getting everything organized. There's nothing we can do prior to departure except make the beds. Everything else has to be done on arrival.

 

[bumble73]

We just bought a new pop up a few months ago and it has an automatic lift. (yes there is an easy button! lol) It saves us from all that cranking and our set up time is only about 15 min. I will never go back to cranking

 

[jennifer293]

How funny that you post this thread because we went camping this past weekend too and DH was complaining about the set up time of our TT (30 minutes) and he said we should had just bought a pop up because it would had taken less time to set up... Most of the time for him is getting it level and those campsites were just not level at all. There were some people that had their jacks on a rock then a board and then another rock...It was quite scary!!!! I was very sick when we got there too or I could had cut some of that time in half by helping him, but I was asleep while he was setting up!!

 

[Escape Artist]

How long does it take you to set up?

To me, it's directly proportional to how long we're staying somewhere. Quickie overnights we can do in about 15 minutes. Weekend trips take a bit longer 'cause we've gotten more stuff out. By the time we leave FW after 11 days, I expect it could take us a couple of hours!

Sue in Texas

 

[rbork]

lol cute thread.
My initial reaction was OMG 1.5 hours!
Okay, I am a neat/clean/clutter free geek. DH and I "pop up" in 18 minutes flat. This does NOT include getting into the site or leveling. That arguement (sorry, shhhh "discussion" takes longer depending on our moods and how right I am! )
P.S. The first thing to get working is the AC! Makes me work much faster!
Tearing down takes longer no doubt.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

Like I said, it doesn't take us an hour just to crank the thing up. The one hour thing includes:

pulling into the site
unhitching the pop-up
leveling
cranking it up
pulling out the bunks
unloading the pop-up
unloading the van
putting the awning out
setting up the screen room
making the beds
hooking up the water and cable
plugging in the tv and microwave
and anything else that needs to be done to make it livable

Now, if all that can be done in 15 minutes, please tell me your secrets!

 

[surferrat]

When we had our pop up it seemed to take forever...pop up, leveling, awning, screen room, grumble at the kids for the looks of death they gave me because it was taking to long.....how long do I have to walk the dog questions....blah blah....then it went from forget the screen room it takes too long to set up...while other campers were enjoying their beers I was frantically trying to get it set so dw could get the inside set up...then ok forget the the awning.....ohh lord...I was not one to get the timing of the pop up up...then we went to the hybrid which was much better...then our TT which the only issue I have sometimes is backing it into the lots....Wow a pull through would be nice is the only thing I hear now...hahahaha....

Hopefully you can get a system down that will speed up the process...just eliminate the things you really dont need....screen room...weather is nice so you don't really need it.....awning....if the winds are blowing hard, you really don't need it either...

Just plan ahead and you will have a system down that suits you...