How hard is it to open and close?

Hi, I'm 65 and thinking of buying a travel trailer. I love pop up tent trailers, I've owned 3 over the years. However, I'm looking at Trail Manors. I like the solid walls, full set of features. They look great. I have yet to step foot in one.

My question is this, I'm 65, how physically demanding is it to set up by myself? I saw a video. It looks toooooo easy.

It certainly looks far less complicated than my big Jayco, crank forever, then so many other tasks to get it set up.

[mcgyver210]

I'm not 65 but I can tell you when I had 3 cracked ribs I was still able to set up our TM & only trouble I had was a stuck leveling jack before we left. Our TM is set up all the time so we have to take it down before travel.

I've sometimes cracked wise with my wife about getting too old for this but the difficulty is in the number of steps involved but not strength, necessarily.

If it is adjusted well, none of the movements are anything more than a person of average strength and height could handle.

Things that make it harder include:

Moving cabinets being too full of heavy items (fixable)
Hot days (or possibly rainy days)
Stabilizing jacks - use a lithium-based drill - too many cranks in an awkward position!
Tongue jack - I keep telling myself I will get an electric one.

At risk of sacrilege, since you are in buying mode, have you also considered the A frames? Chalet, Forest River, Aliner. If it were for a single person (or two), those are a great consideration but the TM definitely has more stretch room.

[hoverlover]

I'm 65 and find it quite easy with my 2619. It takes me about 45 min. for a complete set up by myself. But it would certainly depend on one's health and physical capabilities.

[rvcycleguy]

In my mid 50's and I can set my TM up in 20 minutes to include water, shorepower, bathroom, and leveling jacks. In my opinion, it is that easy...

I am 69 and can easily do it with one arm, but that has absolutely nothing to do with you. This is the sort of question that can be answered only by you trying it yourself. Everything else is a serious upgrade from a tent trailer, in fact many of us have made that move. Closing the TM IS easier and faster than a tent trailer.

I am 67 with bad back and do it by myself. I do cheat, I have an 18 volt drill with a rod that hooks to my stabilizer jacks, no cranking, just hit the trigger. It is not hard if properly level, you can even cheat and lower the tongue to pull the front section, then raise it high for the back section, letting gravity help a little, then level your trailer front to back. Closing is the easiest, no problems at all. The secret is having the roof properly adjusted, and there is a terrific section that walks you through that, once you are a sponsor.

Dave

[mcgyver210]

WOW I feel young for some reason now.

[scrubjaysnest]

Originally Posted by Drews60

Hi, I'm 65 and thinking of buying a travel trailer. I love pop up tent trailers, I've owned 3 over the years. However, I'm looking at Trail Manors. I like the solid walls, full set of features. They look great. I have yet to step foot in one.

My question is this, I'm 65, how physically demanding is it to set up by myself? I saw a video. It looks toooooo easy.

It certainly looks far less complicated than my big Jayco, crank forever, then so many other tasks to get it set up.

A little late in responding but we switched from a pop-up to the TM in 2010. At 67 I don't miss all the back breaking work of setting up the pop-up. The TM is a breeze and yes they are on the pricey side but a lot nicer for 6 to 8 months on the road with moves every few days.

As luck would have it, a 2008 TM is for sale 40 miles from me. I drove out this morning. The owners were kind enought to talk me through the set up process, letting me perform the tasks.

Unbelievable, it was very, very easy to swing the ends up, out and into position. The interior set up took just minutes. Take down was a breeze. Just step on the brackets to snap them into the locked position.

Good bye pop up tent trailers. Now I just have to wrap my head around the prices TM's command. This one is priced at $15,900, triple what I originally planned on spending for a used pop up.