Quote: Originally posted by bridgeywidge on 18/8/2015But, is taking it out of the car once home that's the pain... I try to do it quickly, rather than sitting down and then doing it, or leaving it hanging around for days.
That is probably the worst task for me too. I don't have a driveway so the car is parked on the road. I have a long path to the door and a spring on the gate, so the gate has to be wedged open and the dog confined while I trek backwards and forwards with what I can carry...I might invest in a trolley!
We are in a similar situation in that we don't have a drive but live in a small cul de sac with car park that is the equivalent of 3 or 4 houses along from us. The trailer is narrow enough to walk up the path to the front garden with however it is slightly uphill from the car park but we still have to carry the gear that is in the car to the house other than the basic kitchen bits that I leave in for speed of packing and picnics.
Once unpacked the pillowcases and duvet covers are removed and put in the wash, the duvets are hung on the washing line or banister to air and laundry is sorted into the home laundry baskets (although I try to do laundry whilst away and only accumulate 3 or 4 days worth of clothes to take home dirty). Remaining gear is put in its various storage places.
The tent is erected in the front south facing garden the following day regardless of pack up weather to ensure it is dry.
hate hate hate packing up - always seems to take ages no matter the time weve been away - were the same as you, 2 adults and 4 children, so I feel your pain!
Its the making the check out time we find so difficult to meet, sometimes we make it with no bother, but often were about 10 mins late :/ mega stressful :/
------------- June 2015: seaview international 2 nights
July 2015: little winnick 2 nights
August 2015: lower polladras 5 nights
august 2015: tollgate farm 5 nights
august 2015: oakdown 3 nights
September 2015: tregarton park
family of 6 with young children
Well today I came back from a couple of nights away with the children (hubby at work).
I packed the bedding, SIMs and camp beds down before breakfast and it took just over 30mins.
After breakfast I packed down the hago kitchen stand, table with separate stools and my directors chair loaded it all (with beds etc) in the car, then folded the carpet and loaded into the car then finally the tent and footprint taking an additional 1.5 hours so total 2 hours with most of it done solo!
Quote: Originally posted by Tynxuk on 24/8/2015
Well today I came back from a couple of nights away with the children (hubby at work).
I packed the bedding, SIMs and camp beds down before breakfast and it took just over 30mins.
After breakfast I packed down the hago kitchen stand, table with separate stools and my directors chair loaded it all (with beds etc) in the car, then folded the carpet and loaded into the car then finally the tent and footprint taking an additional 1.5 hours so total 2 hours with most of it done solo!
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Thanks for the update.
I honestly don't know if I'm brave enough to go away for the weekend without my OH as my kids would have me a nervous wreck by the end of day one.
Those solo pack up times are pretty impressive.
We're away this weekend for three nights so only taking minimal stuff so it doesn't usually take too long to pack away.
Thanks,Andy.
Although no kids so only the 2 of us, because the dragon is disabled and cannot assist with anything really, I had to do it all by myself. It used to take me so long and used to get me so knackered by the time I'd got everything ready, packed everything into the car, driven to wherever, unpacked and set up camp (erecting frame tent on my own), and then had to face doing all the camp cooking myself too, and done the same at the end of the trip, putting everything away at home, that's the reason we gave up camping because I just couldn't face doing it all any more.
I used to look enviously at the people who were up, packed up and away off site early in the morning. No matter how much I pre-packed the night before, we still always struggled to be off site by the designated vacating pitch time. And I was so worn out at the end it took away all the pleasure from camping in the first place.
Of course its much easier now we have the motorhome.
This is why I intend to keep things simple by not having too much stuff, just the essentials; tent and a chair. Using two large plastic storage boxes for tables, one containing food and cooking bits the other, camping bits. And two funky jumbo bags for clothes and bedding.
It used to take us three hours when the kids were small, OH would take them away for a couple of hours and I'd pack everything but the trailer tent, then he'd come back and we'd do that bit together.
As the kids got older though they could do more and more to help so I got them trained to do various jobs, starting with simple things like packing their own toys and stuffing their sleeping bags in the stuff sacs. Last time we were out in the full rig the pack up was down to two hours, kids are teenagers now and DS considerably taller than me so he and OH do the tent, DD and I do the equipment. So my advice is to get the kids involved as soon as possible, every little helps.
The other thing that helps is to take less, of course, but there's only so far you can cut down.
I'm tending to lean more and more towards my backpacking set up (Backpack+trolly) for weekends away rather than the big tent tables and chairs etc etc etc as I really cannot be doing with all the tooing and froing up and down from my flat carrying all the stuff....The trolly holds most of my gear in one of those large flight bag thingies plus my small tent and S/bag and leaves the backpack relatively light to carry with just a change of clothes and wet weather gear and the odd extra luxury item.....
On the occasions when I hire a van and take stuff like the cooker/campbed/chairs/tables etc I have started taking a small carp bivvy that just holds my bed and a chair for my clothes at night and try and keep things as simple as possible....
I am able to do this due to the good graces of my camping buddies who when they know I am attending will pack a spare chair etc for me...
Funnily enough I have no problem with the actual setting up/packing away on site it's just that bit at home fetching and carrying back and forth that does my head in...
Should add...I do from time to time repay my buddies goodness to me by packing a load of stuff for them to use as and when they want...As I am very conscious of their kindness in this direction.....
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: How long?
