This is my third query, being a Camp-let newbie, so please excuse this. Anyway the latest is packing it away.
After we our towed our Camp-let Royal home, our first job was to practice setting it up and packing it down; on the first there are some very useful YouTube video's. So getting it set up is relatively easy - though never as easy as the video's look!
Our problem is in packing it away, simply put we can't get it all packed in so as to close the lid; or, if we do it appears to be putting too much strain on the front catch. This is a mystery to us, as when we bought it, it came with a lot of extra gear already inside the shell: a sizeable side awning, tent carpet, footprint groundsheet, all the poles, wheel chocks, and a full set of mattresses'. We have gone so far as to take most of these out, leaving only the bedding in one compartment; my wife has this made up for sleeping, but again we've even taken out the pillows and some small cushions, to see it helps, but unfortunately this doesn't make any difference.
Logically, this doesn't make sense, a Tardis in reverse!? And we know it came with all this gear inside. We would be so very grateful if another kind Camp-let owner could give us some advice on how to solve our problem. We are going away for the first trial run next week so we hope to have it sorted by then.
We had a few problems to begin with so don't worry!
We found that the canvas can sometimes bunch-up when folding down, particularly around the kitchen pole area. This would then sit on top of the items stored in the trailer and raise the frame making the lid difficult to close.Leave as much room as possible around the front and sides to give you more "wriggle room" to get the canvas and poles tidy.
Dont worry too much about pushing down on the lid to get the front latch closed. Providing the frame is not sitting above the trailer edge you are only pressing down the canvas. (We had to do this every time we used it) Close the front latch first as the one by the kitchen has more travel and is easier to line up.
Thanks for the advice - much appreciated. We've had it set up twice now, the next will be before we first take it on four night stay at St Neots. A chap in our village with a trailer tent also advised us to ensure that we get all the air out of the tent, prior to folding it down - will try both, and watch this space.
BTW. there is a video showing how much can be stored in a Camp-let, It does make me wonder though.
I don't know whether this will help or not, as I have a pop top caravan. I had real difficulty closing and fastening the catches on my roof once, and it turned out that it was the van not being level enough. It's a simple thing but made all the difference that it was level.
Thanks for the advice. We've had another trial and found that it does help if the area near the side away from the hinge is kept as free as possible. Also, using a level tarmac section, rather that going further onto grass - which was not a level surface.
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Topic: Packing away a Cmplet Royal
