Not ever being around a PUP prior to dragging mine home in Feb.'07, I've had to learn by doing, and from all the great advice from you guys here.
I continue to experiment with the best way to fold in the canvas as I pop down and was wondering if there's a "correct" way or if people just make it up as they go......or use a method that's tried and true.
What I've been doing is unzip the bunk sides about 3/4 of the way up, push the roof material in as far as I can...and continue to push it straigt in as the roof comes down. I fold then fold the bunk sides inward over the top of the roof, sort of like making a paper airplane. Then the side canvas goes straight in and winds up being on top of the roof material......if that makes sense.
Am I doing it right and what do you do?
fold :confused: don't ya just cram it in there anyway you can? :J
actually when I had my Niagara I would undo all the stuff and crank it a little more than half way down, being a height callenged person I would take the brush end of my broom and push the canvas as far to the center as possible all the away around, then I would crank it almost the rest of the way and make sure it's not sticking out. I found the broom method got more of the canvas distributed across the whole PU and it laid much flatter. I wouldn't use the handle end in fear of poking a hole in something
Quote from: Dee4jfold :confused: don't ya just cram it in there anyway you can? :J
actually when I had my Niagara I would undo all the stuff and crank it a little more than half way down, being a height callenged person I would take the brush end of my broom and push the canvas as far to the center as possible all the away around, then I would crank it almost the rest of the way and make sure it's not sticking out. I found the broom method got more of the canvas distributed across the whole PU and it laid much flatter. I wouldn't use the handle end in fear of poking a hole in something
Hahaaaaa.....we did it this way too except I used my husband as the broom.....It's good to have a DH that's 6'5"........
Quote from: austinado16Not ever being around a PUP prior to dragging mine home in Feb.'07, I've had to learn by doing, and from all the great advice from you guys here.
I continue to experiment with the best way to fold in the canvas as I pop down and was wondering if there's a "correct" way or if people just make it up as they go......or use a method that's tried and true.
What I've been doing is unzip the bunk sides about 3/4 of the way up, push the roof material in as far as I can...and continue to push it straigt in as the roof comes down. I fold then fold the bunk sides inward over the top of the roof, sort of like making a paper airplane. Then the side canvas goes straight in and winds up being on top of the roof material......if that makes sense.
Am I doing it right and what do you do?
That's pretty much the way I do mine. However, maybe there's really two ways, the way you kinda out lined and then there is the "it's going to start raining (or it is raining!) and get it down ASAP!
I like to take my time. Now, I only unzip the four corners maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the way up, tuck the ends in as far as they will go, drop the roof maybe 1/3 of the way and then attend to the awning. Trying to secure the awning while the roof is all the way up is a hassle ... so much easier down where I can reach everything. After the awning is secured, I'll re-tuck the bunk ends in further, drop the roof maybe another 1/3 of the way, rr-tuck the ends again and this time do the sides making sure they are on top of the bunk end canvas. Should note here, too, that when I do the bunk ends and push the top canvas all the way in, I do a sort of "hospital sheet fold" for the bunk end sides so they are neatly tucked in. Just before I drop the roof completely ... maybe three cranks from the end, I'll go around and do a final tuck end of anything that's not inside the roof top, finish dropping the roof, secure the latches, remove the crank handle (goes into the storage area from the outside access door) and I also turn the roof socket (that the crank handle fits into) finger tight. My maanual says there should be no slack in the cable when set to tool on down the highway.
Fly
Yes, I also am height challenged, so I do it about 3 stages. Forgot to mention that. I like the broom idea alot. Thanks! I've been leaving the door open, and then I'll stand in the opening with the roof about 2' from being closed, reach in and pull the canvas in further and make it flatter, get the curtains all out of the way, etc.
I also wind the winch backward (in the closing direction) until it's snug.
I think we just push the bunk ends inside as far back and flat as we can while trying to fold in both sides in like an envelope then as DH cranks the top down I walk around it stuffing anything thats hanging out.
There must be two kinds of pop up campers! We are crammers and never thought there was another way! It works and the curtains and canvas always pop back into shape when we set it up the next time.
Quote from: kaceeThere must be two kinds of pop up campers! We are crammers and never thought there was another way! It works and the curtains and canvas always pop back into shape when we set it up the next time.
LOL....I should start a new pole: Are you a crammer or a folder?
I started folding because I was thinking, "Canvas and vinyl windows from 1987...how many more times can they survive being wadded up and crushed down by the roof before I'm shelling out a grand for new?"
Quote from: austinado16LOL....I should start a new pole: Are you a crammer or a folder?
That's funny..thanks for the laugh
OK OK OK... I confess, I'm a folder!
Here is my process (http://he-ruide.smugmug.com/gallery/3682632_bhKbu#226345341_MLBTd). The one thing that is not shown is that before the bunkends are pushed all the way in, I will sometimes go inside and pull at the ends of the canvas so it is all the way in.
Ruide
Quote from: He RuideOK OK OK... I confess, I'm a folder!
Here is my process. The one thing that is not shown is that before the bunkends are pushed all the way in, I will sometimes go inside and pull at the ends of the canvas so it is all the way in.
Ruide
If I had an E3................ I'd be a folder too ;)
I delicately fold the canvas around the bed rails to avoid any sharp edges that could damage the canvas. Other than that, it goes in any way it can. I guess I'd be considered a modified crammer.