Quick setup feasible?

We're considering a TrailManor and went to look at one last Saturday. The salesman seemed as unfamiliar with TMs as I am, as we stumbled our way through setting it up. Even so it took perhaps 10 minutes start to finish. It seemed to me that, once familiar with the procedure, it would take only a few minutes.

This got me wondering about lunch time rest stops, where you want to spend 45 minutes or an hour and then get back on the road. How does this work with a TM? Do you find it quick & easy enough to set up for such quick stops, or is it more trouble than it's worth?

Thanks in advance,

John Keefer

Your post may generate some discussion here.

IMHO:
For me this is too much work to set-up for such a stop although it is doable.  A "few minutes" to set up and down is a stretch unless with two rehearsed persons in tandem, operating under stop watch timing.  

Up is relatively easy.  Down requires double-checks and diligence to prevent damage.

For us the TM met needs for garability and towability using a mini-van.  It's also a great way to access rustic campsites where larger units can't comfortably go.  Good luck.

In my opinion, a quick setup is very possible.  It all depends on your reason for setting it up.  If you are looking for a table and access to the refrigerator, you can set it up in a couiple of minutes with no problem.  All you really need to do on that kind of a stop is to lift the two ends and join the door.  If you need the "facilities" it will take a couple of minutes longer.  We bought ours last year and after a few trips we had no problem in setting up in 5 minutes.  Closing it up probably takes a little longer.

We seem to cram so much stuff on the floor of our 2619 when we travel that setting it up, moving all of the stuff, then moving it all back again and closing up would be too much work.
We keep a cooler with sandwiches, etc. in the vehicle and use the picnic tables and rest rooms at the rest stops.
But we like our TM!
Dick_B

[arknoah]

I’m something of a “Type A” personality, so one Friday when I set the unit up in front of our house in preparation for a weekend trip, I timed myself setting up the TM by  myself.  I started by leveling side to side and then front to back, then unhooked the unit.  Next, I put down the scissor jacks.  My thought was that I was getting the unit ready for set up in the same way that people might set up a pop-up or Hi-Lo.  (Clearly, at that time I needed to “get a life!”) From that point on until I had the top up and locked, beds locked, flaps down and bathroom set up took 4 minutes by myself.  So its really easy to set up in short time, especially when you don’t have to worry about leveling or unhooking the unit.  Having said that, we don’t set up the unit when we’re traveling, preferring to stop in fast food joints along the way.  Part of the reason is that the long trips we take are between 6 and 10 hours of driving per day, and our philosophy is that when we stop for a meal, we want the kids (6 and 3) to get out and burn off some energy, like in one of those McDonald’s play places.  

Like “jeober,” we chose the TM for the ease of towing, weight and floor plan, and never really thought about opening up the unit for short stops.  Perhaps if our stops were more off road than near or on the highway, we might open the unit and let the kids run around in the grass, but we haven’t taken that kind of trip yet.  Keep in mind also that if you’re going any kind of distance, you’re likely to have things like lawn chairs, luggage, TVs, microwaves, etc., on the floor, so while you can open up the unit, you may also have to move lots of stuff around to use the trailer to the fullest.  

Just my two cents….

[Paul_Heuvelhorst]

Yes, John, it is feasible.  As I understand your question, you want stop along the road, perhaps at a rest stop, to fix lunch and relax.

Without disconnecting the TM from your tow vehicle, you can release the latches and 'pop' the tops up, and move the beds out of the way in a matter of 1.5 to 2 minutes.  There is no need to lower the stabilizers, etc. for this type of stop.  If you desire is only to access the refer, you don't even have to move the beds, just get the tops up.

After lunch, lowering the tops and latching may take a tad longer, but not more than 1 minute longer.  After you do it a few times, you'll establish your own "rhythm."

Don't let an inept sales person dissuade you from the purchase.

Without disconnecting the TM from your tow vehicle, you can release the latches and 'pop' the tops up, and move the beds out of the way in a matter of 1.5 to 2 minutes. There is no need to lower the stabilizers, etc. for this type of stop. If you desire is only to access the refer, you don't even have to move the beds, just get the tops up.

That's just the thought I had while walking through the set-up. We'd arrive at the lunch stop, Mom would escort the kids to the facilities while I pop the top and fetch eats from the fridge. No need to set up the bathroom. I suppose I'd have to slide out the forward bunk if we needed the dinette, but I don't think I'd need to touch the aft bunk. Can't see how stowing the trailer could possibly take more than a few minutes.

Dick_B did make an excellent point -- like him, we would have various stuff stowed on the floor that I'd have to move out of the way. Add another minute of fussin' and cussin', but only a minor nuisance I think.


Don't let an inept sales person dissuade you from the purchase.


The dealer in this case is well established and (from what I can tell) well respected in the area, but they began selling TMs just a few months ago, so I don't fault their staff for being less than experts. This is a fairly complex machine.

Paul, thanks to you and the others who responded for your courteous and well-reasoned responses.

Regards,

John Keefer