Now I've seen enough GNs to know you pretty much all have air-conditioned big rigs, but are there any other fools like us out there struggling with camper trailers? I'd love to get some tips and tricks from other MDC owners.
We have the MDC-01 with just the main tent and annex (I think, bought it second hand and haven't figured out everything yet). We watched the setup video and have used it twice now, but I don't think we're really doing it right.
In the setup, I found myself dropping and re-tensioning the inside adjusters several times before I was happy with the setup, and even then it wasn't close to "square". I struggled for an hour with the two "#1" annex poles trying to find the holes in the top of the frame through the "boots". Nearly went mad. Even the main tent posts that come down from the bed into the boots on the floor seem very clumsy and prone to problems.
In the packup, we really couldn't figure out what to do with the annex and when to fold it back (before or after folding over the main tent). We left the main tent doors unzipped to allow air to escape, but I think that was a mistake as it did not pack up very neatly at all.
My inclination after this experience is to remove the annex and pack it up. Buy a tarp a little wider than the trailer and twice the length and use that as an annex with poles and springers. Just seems a lot easier. Also, I'm thinking about not pegging down the main tent floor when we only stop overnight. Is this unwise?
Any advice (other than "buy a caravan") most appreciated.
Tony
Snail said
02:01 PM Jan 12, 2015
Hi Tony
You will love your camper. You will be able to go places you can never go in a caravan. I bought one back in 1987 and my parents borrowed it for a holiday, for years they had been travelling around Australia in their old Millard behind the XA Falcon .Dad got one of the first GQ Patrols and they set off. Five months later they returned said it was the best holiday they ever had.
I have a caravan with all the bell and whistles. Last year I went away four times, once in the van with the family and three times on my push bike camping along the way. Last trip on my bike it rained so hard I stayed in the toilet at the footy ground in Skipton. It didn't make any difference, I was on the road and enjoyed myself.
On over night stops I just throw bags in the corners.
Snail.
-- Edited by Snail on Monday 12th of January 2015 02:07:08 PM
Travelling_Gilberries said
02:59 PM Jan 12, 2015
Thanks Snail, at least I shouldn't have a queue behind me on the road. Been there, done that. We had an old motor home back in the late 80s which looked like a gypsy caravan inside and like an ice cream delivery truck outside. But we took it everywhere and could never go much more than 80km/h as it only had a 2L 4 Cyl motor. We called that "the snail".
For overnight stays I am thinking we'll only throw the tent over, push out the tensioning poles, open the windows and climb into bed. I even toyed with taking a swag and laying it on top of the trailer for short stops, but I'm worried one of us will fall out!
Tony
jetj said
08:34 PM Jan 12, 2015
Hi Tony, There is a campertrailers Group on Facebook, also have a forum and yahoo mail group. They have a fairly comprehensive website with lots of information at http://www.campertrailers.org
jules47 said
08:44 PM Jan 12, 2015
Had a soft floor camper trailer for ten years - it went just about everywhere, towed by 4WD. If you look after them they are fantastic, for overnight stops, our bed was always made up, and we would just put the tent piece out, very easy to do, two ropes to the ground to make it stable, as for pegging the floor, couple of boxes, or esky did the trick.
The one we had was a very basic model, as we had piles of camping equipment we didn't choose to get a kitchen, we had things under the bed, accessible from outside as well, boxes with wheels, and we put rope handles through the sides, put a large cup hook on the end of the broom to pull them out with. The most used stuff was packed at the opening end of the trailer.
We could put ours up and be in bed in probably ten minutes, the inner frame didn't need to be touched, when you pulled the tent part out, it just all fell into place.
Don't know the brand MDC got a photo?
cultana said
11:59 PM Jan 12, 2015
Tony,
Sent PM.. enjoy the info..
Travelling_Gilberries said
10:48 AM Jan 13, 2015
This is the MDC-01 packed up
And this is it set up. Also has an annex which can be set up as a canvas room.
Travelling_Gilberries said
10:50 AM Jan 13, 2015
Yes, I had read this already. Seems a bit harsh. You get what you pay for and as we only paid $4000 (used) for this trailer (with lots of gear too) I think it's pretty good value even if a bit clumsy in places.
Tony
tonyd said
12:43 AM Jan 14, 2015
OK, Rule #1 for camper trailers is: don't set up the annexe.
Rule #2 for camper trailers is: See Rule #1.
Your thinking about a tarp is very good and will save your blood pressure!
Now I've seen enough GNs to know you pretty much all have air-conditioned big rigs, but are there any other fools like us out there struggling with camper trailers? I'd love to get some tips and tricks from other MDC owners.
We have the MDC-01 with just the main tent and annex (I think, bought it second hand and haven't figured out everything yet). We watched the setup video and have used it twice now, but I don't think we're really doing it right.
In the setup, I found myself dropping and re-tensioning the inside adjusters several times before I was happy with the setup, and even then it wasn't close to "square". I struggled for an hour with the two "#1" annex poles trying to find the holes in the top of the frame through the "boots". Nearly went mad. Even the main tent posts that come down from the bed into the boots on the floor seem very clumsy and prone to problems.
In the packup, we really couldn't figure out what to do with the annex and when to fold it back (before or after folding over the main tent). We left the main tent doors unzipped to allow air to escape, but I think that was a mistake as it did not pack up very neatly at all.
My inclination after this experience is to remove the annex and pack it up. Buy a tarp a little wider than the trailer and twice the length and use that as an annex with poles and springers. Just seems a lot easier. Also, I'm thinking about not pegging down the main tent floor when we only stop overnight. Is this unwise?
Any advice (other than "buy a caravan") most appreciated.
Tony
Hi Tony
You will love your camper. You will be able to go places you can never go in a caravan. I bought one back in 1987 and my parents borrowed it for a holiday, for years they had been travelling around Australia in their old Millard behind the XA Falcon .Dad got one of the first GQ Patrols and they set off. Five months later they returned said it was the best holiday they ever had.
I have a caravan with all the bell and whistles. Last year I went away four times, once in the van with the family and three times on my push bike camping along the way. Last trip on my bike it rained so hard I stayed in the toilet at the footy ground in Skipton. It didn't make any difference, I was on the road and enjoyed myself.
On over night stops I just throw bags in the corners.
Snail.
-- Edited by Snail on Monday 12th of January 2015 02:07:08 PM
For overnight stays I am thinking we'll only throw the tent over, push out the tensioning poles, open the windows and climb into bed. I even toyed with taking a swag and laying it on top of the trailer for short stops, but I'm worried one of us will fall out!
Tony
Hi Tony,
There is a campertrailers Group on Facebook, also have a forum and yahoo mail group. They have a fairly comprehensive website with lots of information at http://www.campertrailers.org
The one we had was a very basic model, as we had piles of camping equipment we didn't choose to get a kitchen, we had things under the bed, accessible from outside as well, boxes with wheels, and we put rope handles through the sides, put a large cup hook on the end of the broom to pull them out with. The most used stuff was packed at the opening end of the trailer.
We could put ours up and be in bed in probably ten minutes, the inner frame didn't need to be touched, when you pulled the tent part out, it just all fell into place.
Don't know the brand MDC got a photo?
Sent PM.. enjoy the info..
This is the MDC-01 packed up
And this is it set up. Also has an annex which can be set up as a canvas room.
Yes, I had read this already. Seems a bit harsh. You get what you pay for and as we only paid $4000 (used) for this trailer (with lots of gear too) I think it's pretty good value even if a bit clumsy in places.
Tony
Rule #2 for camper trailers is: See Rule #1.
Your thinking about a tarp is very good and will save your blood pressure!
Cheers, TonyD