First Time and mybe last time.

Don't give up!
It does get easier-much easier!
Try it a few more times-thru summer perhaps- and then if you are still not having fun, sell it.
Lot of adventure out there and a TM is a great way to experience it.

[scrubjaysnest]

I wouldn't give up after the first trip. On our first trip or three to get the stirrup latches to work I had to jump from a three foot ladder. Now that I've gotten the old body trained in the closing trick I rarely step into a stirrup.


My wife and I both raise the front shell together, its just awkward with the tongue in the way. DW can even open the rear shell while I get the front latched. She finds the TM much easier to help with setup/brake down then the old pop-up we had ever was. Set up/break down is a 30 min process for us. Leveling doesn't count you have that with any camper. Same thing with shore power if you use it. Backing the trailer in is easier then our 28 foot Outback TT. I'd suggest practicing open and closing the shells at home a few times if you have room.

As others have said it may need adjustment but I would really suggest doing the open close thing several times before you go that route.

[hillbillyhotel]

sorry to hear things went like my first couple times, i could tell you stories that would have you rolling, with things not to do. i kinda think a tm is like and ole muscle car,when you learn about her, she will just keep impressing, give it some time,a voice of experience , got our first tm about 6 yrs ago, is what the dw wanted,went to mich. to get, 10 hrs both ways, went out the first few times, was so upset, i did not like at all, what it was, i did not understand it, did not know anything about the forum at that time, made the mistake and made a quick sale and went through 3 other tt ,looking for what i had already had. all to come back to a tm, i traded down 10 model yrs and am happy now as with any of them,

Sorry to hear about your experience, like the others say, it took us 3 or 4 times to get it all figured out, we can be completly setup in about 20 minutes. I was wondering...you do have the unit pretty level when you open it don't you? A little off, can make a BIG difference in effort required.
Best to you no matter what you do....

I had thought about seeing adjusting the arms becuase even for me it seems a little stiff. We use a 3' level at each piont, front, back bumber and side to side. The TM even has buble levels on it to double check before opening it. Each time I move it and set it up I get better at getting it level.

We have it setup right now in the drive way cleaning her up and going through it. We are having borderline weather to where we need to winterize it, but still can camp in it. Nights are freezing but the day's are warm. Kids are wanting to go out so might try it one more time. But my duaghter still isn't going, thinks it well fall in on her

DW has all of her stuff pack in the TM, pot,pans, blanks and ready to go. I got her all wash up, windows cleaned, roof cleaned, tires clean...looks like a new TM just rolled off the show room.

A good set up and take down check list will help until it becomes second nature. ( you can search here or I will send you mine) A little adjustment on the torsion bars should make the opening and closing easier. Show your daughter it can not close once the pins are in place and interior walls are up. When you have one of these mild days we have been blessed with lately go out and set up and take down a few times in the driveway. When you do finally winterize, search here there are lots of good tips on the little things that will save time and money in the spring. The TM is a great product and once you have a few trips under your belt you will really enjoy it.

[rvcycleguy]

also mention that with the beds in place after opening the roofs, there is virtually no way for the roofs to close again. With the bathroom walls up, there is no way the roof will close due to the bed is in the way and the bed cannot move due to the bathrooms walls in place....

[B_and_D]

Originally Posted by househunterlives

But my duaghter still isn't going, thinks it well fall in on her

When the kids were little, we always camped with them, first in a cabover camper, then in tents, then moved back "up" to a 1960's trailer (I don't know how we fit 4 people in there) and now we've had our TM for over 8 years.

One summer we found a "new" place to camp, beautiful campsites right on the lake in N. Ca. We drove all day, were lucky enough to actually find a campsite, but when DD got a look at the pit toilets, she got back into the Aloha and had a big snit about the toilets and wouldn't come out for a few hours.

Now every year, if she gets the chance, she heads back up to that lake and tent camps with her friends (and uses the pit toilets).

Don't give up yet, all it takes is a good time camping with the family and most likely she'll really start liking that TM.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by househunterlives

We use a 3' level at each point, front, back bumber and side to side. The TM even has buble levels on it to double check before opening it. Each time I move it and set it up I get better at getting it level.

Before long, I think you will decide that this kind of levelling is time-consuming overkill.

When my wife and I pull into a campsite, we eyeball the TM. If we think we will need to do some side-to-side levelling, I put a 6-inch carpenter's level on the frame cross-member near the propane tanks in front, and then pull the TM forward or back onto chunks of board (other members use stackable plastic levelling blocks). Then I chock the wheels, turn the level fore-and-aft on a frame rail, and level it fore-and-aft with the tongue jack. I do all this before opening the shells, then lower the stabilizer jacks to prevent the shifting weight of the shells from disturbing the level position.

Most of the time, we don't even use the little level. My wife and I have gotten pretty good at eyeball levelling, and I bet you will, too.

I guess my point is that the setup time you describe in your first post is way too long, and the use of a 3-foot level to do pinpoint levelling is an example of things that will go away, leaving a much shorter setup time. You will find many operations that can be shortened or eliminated. My wife and I can do a complete trailer setup, inside and out, including levelling, interior setup, and utility hookups, in about 10 minutes. That time is extended by another 10 minutes because we carry a bunch of stuff in the tow vehicle that I need to moved into the trailer - but you might not need to do that.

Don't let your first day out discourage you too badly It might take half a dozen outings, simple ones are OK, to let you know what is really in store. Meanwhile, welcome aboard.

Bill

Originally Posted by Redhawk

Sorry to hear about your experience, like the others say, it took us 3 or 4 times to get it all figured out, we can be completly setup in about 20 minutes. I was wondering...you do have the unit pretty level when you open it don't you? A little off, can make a BIG difference in effort required.
Best to you no matter what you do....

Setting up is quick. We typically have our adult children with us. That is an additional 4 adults. I have found that stuff comes out a little at a time but has to go back in all at once. It is faster to unload 3 motorcycles and 3 ATVs than it is to load them. It is easier to take the Honda 2000 generator out of the truck than it is to put it in.

As I recall, somewhere in the past someone posted that the leave the front of the TM a little bit low to make it a bit easier to raise the front shell and then crank up the tongue to make the rear a little bit low to make it easier to lift the rear shell. Then level it front to back.

Before my wife would by the TM she insisted on testing to see if she could raie and lower the shells. She had no trouble. I can lift then with my left hand only, being right handed. If it is much harder than this then an adjustment of the support arms is in order.