I would video us putting ours up - but I don't think the batteries in the camcorder would last long enough... plus it would probably have to be rated an 18 due to the use of inappropriate language which usually comes out once we get into our second hour of it not doing what it should :)
Levelling out properly before opening out is vital for ease or setting up. Get that right and everything else is just tweaking.
I fit a rope or cable through the bars on the nearside of the trailer top , just like a pair or reins and pull on them at the same time as treading down on the foot bar. It come up very easily as you then have the leverage. You can then 'lose' the cable/rope under the caravan until foling back. Making sure, of coure that it doesnt get trapped between the bars and the floor thereby messing up your carefully leveled basework. I personally use the old cable from a scrapped flymo lawn mower in bright orange for visibility. It also stays in place under the cover when unit is packed away.
------------- Mavericks don't get to lead the herd - not that they want to!
just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the advice offered which really helped - we have just got back from a nice trip to mother ivey's bay in cornwall - and i'm happy to say we did get the caravan up within half an hour without too many tears :)
thanks again to everyone... we took the spirit level and levelled everything, (including using jockey wheel which we'd never done before - and leaving the wheels on the floor), and it wasn't too bad - not perfect - but not too bad :)
Kris if you read this - I hope it all works out for you - all we did differently was level everything - and that really helped :)
Happy to hear it worked out for you and that you had a great trip.
I thought we were levelling everything but perhaps we were doing it in the wrong sequence. We bought a giant spirit level and two smaller ones to augment the ones we already had. We will get it level if it kills us. I printed out the replies and it is in the folder to go with us next trip. We will see how it works out then.
Kris
Excellent news Sarah glad it went up ok & you had a nice time away. With practise you'll wonder what all the fuss was all about. Hopefully now I've fitted the new tyres on mine we're going to be videoing us setting it back up again tomorrow.
See you are in Devon. I am in N Devon. I could take you through putting it up if you still need, either you visit me or I visit you. Wife an I put up our RecordMmatic without too much trouble. I sounds like you have now got the idea that you level trailer, before unfolding, but at the same time you must bear in mind that the arms that fold out need to be on the down hill side otherwise you may find that the bits on the end will not fold down before they hit the ground. When packing away it is imperative that you put down the kitchen sides of the van first and the door sides go down last or damage occurs. At the edge of each of the 4 sides that meet the ends there is a groove. At the edge of each of the 2 ends there is a vertical aluminium extrusion like an F which has a short bit sticking out that fits into the groove on the side end while the longer outer sticking out bit sits against the outer face of the van side. A letter F where the lower leg of the F is the bit fixed to the back and front end panels. When putting up you need to make sure that the end of the van is pushed back (using the roof you are holding) so that at the bottom corner the side comes out against the end aluminium vertical side piece while there is still a big gap between side wall and end wall at the top. The danger is that if the furthest (top part of the F) sticking out bit gets pushed against the edge of the side panel it can easily get pushed between the outer alloy skin and the ply main structure and eventually tear the skin away......so begins a leak and mushroom farm!
I am coming across for the Clasic Le Mans, setting up camp at La Suze sur Sarthe on 9 July. If you are able to get there you can see us erecting the van....leaving 14 July. There will be a group of Scimitar cars on our site.
Thanks for the kind offer of helping us try to set the caravan up - i think we are feeling more confident now - though may well be back in touch!!! :)
Thanks also for the tips on how to set it up - I will print them out and take them with us next time - hopefully it will go even better then... well fingers crossed anyway!
just realised I gave WRONG INFORMATION on folding. It is the DOOR sides that must go down first....the sides on the tow bar side. I cant see any way of altering my post above. Sorry if you have printed it out.....it needs to be altered as it is important. I suspect that is why my window got a bet crazed on the rear non door side...when I bought it the previous owner seemed rather uncooperative and I did not know enough to stop him folding it wrong after the inspection for me to tow it away.
Hmm I wonder if that's the same with Exports? Mine has a door on either side. I've noticed that all the small plastic pieces that were on the ceiling have all gone (probably due to ham fisted previous owners) But not sure what would cause that unless it's had to much stuff crammed inside it in the past.
I thought so I always do that side first anyhow when I fold it down it's just got to be force of habit now. It's just the plastic pieces that were on the ceiling that have disappeared I've seen loads that do have them mine only has the holes there where they used to be. Only thing I can put it down to is it having had to much stuff crammed inside it in it's past.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: rapido confort matic
that it doesnt get trapped between the bars and the floor thereby messing up your carefully leveled basework. I personally use the old cable from a scrapped flymo lawn mower in bright orange for visibility. It also stays in place under the cover when unit is packed away. 
