Single dad says setup by yourself w /kids?

[pwong5]

I"m recently separated and will be buying my first popup after renting for years.  Ordering a 2007 fleetwood santa fe...same thing I usually rented.  Question I have is...some of the sites I get to I can't back in the pup to get it in just the right spot due to trees, rocks etc.  So, usually I would have the wife work with me and we would push it into position.  Is there an easy way to do this with one person w/ kids in the car waiting...so it better be quick

I'll be going to algonquin park in Canada for those who know it this summer.  But probably will go to some local parks more often since I bought the pup.  

It'll be an interesting summer of camping.  Kids love it though so I'm not giving up!

[tinybluetj]

I push ours around by myself all the time. One thing I have noticed:  We bought a new "heavy duty" wheel jack (we bought it because it was a swing up, but found this added bonus).  The bigger wheel and jack makes it a whole lot eaiser to push around.  Just a tought

[trumpet87]

I"m recently separated and will be buying my first popup after renting for years.  Ordering a 2007 fleetwood santa fe...same thing I usually rented.  Question I have is...some of the sites I get to I can't back in the pup to get it in just the right spot due to trees, rocks etc.  So, usually I would have the wife work with me and we would push it into position.  Is there an easy way to do this with one person w/ kids in the car waiting...so it better be quick

I'll be going to algonquin park in Canada for those who know it this summer.  But probably will go to some local parks more often since I bought the pup.  

It'll be an interesting summer of camping.  Kids love it though so I'm not giving up!

As light as a Sante Fe is, it shouldn't be too hard to push around, unless you were trying to push uphill. We have a Seapine (same size, a little heavier) and it is real easy to do. I never help my husband with that part. Hey, unless they are just really small, incorporate those kiddos! We started camping when my youngest was 3 and he always felt proud to be helping Daddy. Hope you have lots of fun with your new camper. The kids will love it  

[flyfisherman]

They say that practice makes "perfect" ... however, that can lead to a little over-confidence, which then leads to a rude awakening as you back into or rub  up against something!

A lot of times I head out to places alone (sometimes, depending on the company, I wish I were alone!) - anyway, what I try and do is when arriving at the selected site, I get out an look things over, deciding just where I want the the camper to "come to rest".  For me, I do best when backing in to have the outside "loop" of the turn on the driver's side ... can do it the other way, too, if I have to, but it never is as smooth as the first way. If I happen to have someone with me, I will use them as a "marker" ... i.e., I'll have them stand right where I want to begin the turn-in to the site; and after the rig gets aligned to back straight in, I'll have them stand right where I want the  driver's side (rear) of the camper to stop.  Should I be alone then I'll use some object for these marks.  When arriving at or just after dark (I hate to pull in after dark!), I have one of those battery lanterns I carry in the truck and I'll turn that on and use it for my marker. When backing in at night, I'll have the lantern on, turned inward to the center of the site, and right where I want the camper wheel to come to rest.

Reminds me of a time when I drove all day and part of the night to get to a remote little campground in Michigan's Huron Nat'l forest ~ the plan was for three or four of us to meet there and I happened to be the first arriving. Anyway, it had been pouring down rain the last 50 miles of the trip ... along with thunder & lightning, and when I pulled into the little remote C/G, I was the only one there and it was still storming as much as ever. Between lightning flashes I could make out the site I wanted to back into ... and I did. But no way was I going to get out of the truck in that downpour and popup the camper! It was about midnight, so I simply made myself as comfotable as I could right there in the truck and laid over on the seat and went to sleep. The next morning I awoke to birds chirping and morning sunshine; got out of the truck to see where I came to rest the night before and would you believe ... I had parked perfect. I mean all I did was un-hitch and set-up the camper right where it was! Rarely have I ever DONE that even in the middle of the day!


Fly

[batsignal2]

I push ours around by myself all the time. One thing I have noticed:  We bought a new "heavy duty" wheel jack (we bought it because it was a swing up, but found this added bonus).  The bigger wheel and jack makes it a whole lot eaiser to push around.  Just a tought

I was thinking the same thing, I think the larger wheel helps out a lot also.  I push ours around by myself with just this and have no problems.  And my kids "help" me so they feel involved with the set-up process.

The only other thing I could think of is if you have some sort of medical condition or just can't do it alone, you could get one of these:

//www.powerwheel-usa.com/products/powrhitch.htm

You would need extra space in the TV or somewhere to bring it, save weight in the TV to bring it, and a nice sized bank account to afford it.....

Jeff

[pwong5]

thanks for the idea of the bigger wheel.  I actually went and changed the model today...thought about it and I got the sun valley...a few extra feet but the couch was worth it i think.

We'll see how it is to push.  Yeah, the last few times was hard because the ground was uneven...getting it up over tree roots.

backing in..yeah I suck at that!

[CajunCamper]

I made a mistake one time of unhooking my Santa Fe from the back of my SUV before checking out the site. Well the site was not level and as soon as I unhooked, the camper started to roll backwards. I grabbed the tongue of the trailer with both hands planted my feet on the ground and it still managed to pull my 240lb body along with it. Fortunatly, my wife and kids were near and were able to grab a rock and a branch and put them behind the tires and things came to a stand still.

I would hate to see that happen to you by your self. Block the wheels with something before you unhook, or at least check out the site to make sure its level.

Never made that mistake again.

CajunCamper

[Kelly]

This will be my fourth season camping alone with kids.  It can be done.

I'm not very good at backing up yet either ... I understand practice makes perfect ... I don't think I'm getting enough practice!  (Thankfully I camp with some really nice people who take pity on me and will even back it in for me sometimes! LOL)

Anyway ... my only trick is to use one of the kids as a marker and fly beat me to it!  I don't get help where I have to begin the turn, but I do have my oldest (12 year-old) stand where I want the rear driver's side of the PU to end up.   He even knows to just hold his hand up to tell me when I'm there instead of yelling "STOP!!" in his loudest voice!

My kids are old enough now that I don't have to leave them strapped in the car.  The younger 3 sit at the picnic table and have a snack while I back in and then everybody has jobs to do.

You'll find all the tricks that work for your family.  They will just be happy to be camping with their dad.  Congratulations for not giving up.

[crazymommaof4boys]

This will be my fourth season camping alone with kids. It can be done.
 
I'm not very good at backing up yet either ... I understand practice makes perfect ... I don't think I'm getting enough practice! (Thankfully I camp with some really nice people who take pity on me and will even back it in for me sometimes! LOL)
 
Anyway ... my only trick is to use one of the kids as a marker and fly beat me to it! I don't get help where I have to begin the turn, but I do have my oldest (12 year-old) stand where I want the rear driver's side of the PU to end up. He even knows to just hold his hand up to tell me when I'm there instead of yelling "STOP!!" in his loudest voice!
 
My kids are old enough now that I don't have to leave them strapped in the car. The younger 3 sit at the picnic table and have a snack while I back in and then everybody has jobs to do.
 
You'll find all the tricks that work for your family. They will just be happy to be camping with their dad. Congratulations for not giving up.

Ditto what Kelly said, I have a 3, 5, 7, and 9 yr old... my oldest usually keeps the younger two amused and my 7 yr old who is my helper, helps me back in which I have to say I've gotten much better at....I just tell him where I want the back end and he directs me using hand signals (he also helps me hook up when we are ready to leave)...  get the kids to help out setting up, each of my boys do...the 7 yr old even cranks the trailer up for me!

[zamboni]

You can also get cheap wireless cameras now.  I saw one at costco about 6 months ago - about $90.  Put one on the back of your PUP so you can have fine control.

Or, another way is to put a hitch on the front of your truck.  It is very easy to "drive" a camper - especially a PUP you can see around.  You'd be able to easily wiggle it into just about any spot.

[Recumbentman]

pwong5
your original posting stated buying a Santa Fe which is a 10 ft box, which you could move around fairly easily on flat level ground, but you would need something like this  Trailer Dolly for un-leveled ground. But I got to say moving on up to a 12 ft box (the Sun Vally) you will have to have a trailer dolly and even then you are going to have a hard time my yourself.
Good Luck

[wavery]

Replacing your stock trailer jack with this one would help a lot:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92372

[Rawhide Kid]

Replacing your stock trailer jack with this one would help a lot:
 
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92372

Wavery - I wish those trailer jacks had brakes on those little wheels. I guess If I chock'd the trailer wheels sufficiently, I wouldn't need to worry about it.
 
$30 is pretty cheap and easy way to go.

[tlhdoc]

Instead of trying to push the trailer into place, practice backing it into place.  Stop often and get out and look at where you are and where you want to be.  Put you hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and which ever way you move your had the back end of the trailer will go that way.  There is a lag time between when you turn the TV steering wheel and when the camper starts to turn.  Practice going slow and wiggle waggle you way back into the campsite.  I don't think I have ever gone straight back.  I do very tiny turns the whole way.  That way I learned how much to turn the steering wheel to get the trailer to turn the way I wanted it to.

[bmbkamp]

I made a mistake one time of unhooking my Santa Fe from the back of my SUV before checking out the site. Well the site was not level and as soon as I unhooked, the camper started to roll backwards. I grabbed the tongue of the trailer with both hands planted my feet on the ground and it still managed to pull my 240lb body along with it. Fortunatly, my wife and kids were near and were able to grab a rock and a branch and put them behind the tires and things came to a stand still.
 
I would hate to see that happen to you by your self. Block the wheels with something before you unhook, or at least check out the site to make sure its level.
 
Never made that mistake again.
 
CajunCamper

The first time I unhitched the PU by myself at a campsite the exact same thing happened.  I was trying to get everything set up fast and get back to pick up the kids from school.  Luckily, there was a huge log at the end of the pad, and I was able to guide the PU into the log.  Scary as heck.