I had to stay in Qld for a medical appointment in January so decided to stay at the Esk caravan Park. Which by the way is a well run reasonably priced CP.
I don't really like CP's but needs be.
During my stay there quite a few Caravanners who only stayed for one night passing through.
I saw about five different 'vanners over a couple of week set up. The whole shebang mats table and chairs BBQ's plumbing. Everything set up. Most took a couple of hours at a minimum. One couple arrived at 6PM and finished setting up at 10PM. All left the following day.
Four hours to set up. Imagine my surprise to hear them at 6AM start to pack up to leave. Was quicker to pack up they left at 9 AM.
I thought the idea of a caravan was to be able to stop and stay with a minimum of fuss.
We have a bus and for an overnight stay we do nothing except we place the card table we carry on the bed for outside use gets put on the double passenger seat unless we want to eat outside then it and 2 folding chairs go outside..
I am guessing that all of their gear is stored in their van so before they can use the van it needs emptying out and the best way to do that is to set it up..
If we had to goto that that trouble I wouldn't bother leaving home, or buy a better setup..
Hi all. Don't knock them just think that after all that driving and the several stops for coffee/tea and cream filled scones that a bit of exercise is necessary to avoid having an abundance of obese GNs.
We too like to make it as easy as we can, especially for an overnighter.
If its a free camp o/n there's no power or water to worry about, but if we're early enough for happy hour the chairs and table are out.
I worry about the mat only if we don't have grass, and especially if we have burrs!
As we get older and more experienced, the van has emptied out, and we carry only what we need. These days we can be set up in under 5 minutes, ready for a cold drink or a cuppa.
If we are staying for a while, we're a bit more picky. Might take up to 10 minutes if I'm unhitching the van! and a few more if it has to be levelled (ugh).
It always takes longer in a CP (although we haven't done one for quite a while). You know how it is- gotta reverse in, slowly and not give the neighbours anything to laugh at, and knowing that they are watching gotta get the awning out and tied down, and floor down, and dogs settled, place the chairs just right, windows opened, car parked correctly as required by the managers, power plugged in and hoses connected, sullage draining appropriately as required by management, etc, etc.
Some people are definitely crazy spending more than 10 minutes for an overnight stay we connect Power water and drainage hose usually in less than 10 minutes and we don't drop stability legs or unhook unless essential, in our case the greatest amount of time is choosing which bottle of wine for happy hour which normally starts less than hour after arriving.
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Different people - different strokes. For some people all that unpacking and setting up is part of the ritual and they seem to enjoy it just as much as when it's finished and they can sit back and enjoy it.
Regards
Overnight Bush camped . = Stop get from vehicle to van turning on gas as we go. All Done. Start up = Get in Tug n Go.
Caravan Park One Night. = Put van on site attach power cord and sullage hose. All Done. Start up = Unhook Sullage disconnect power n Go.
Long Stay = Put van on site connect power sullage and water roll out awning set up table n chairs then a cuppa. Start up = Packup most before dark the rest in Morn then go.
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I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
We have a pop-top to put up, but even so, all done in 10 minutes for an overnighter... don't even unhitch if we can get away with it! If we've been in the vehicle for a few hours the idea of more sitting doesn't really appeal, so the chairs don't come out.
Like you, we have watched various set-up routines with interest, and have learned a few little hints too. I felt sorry for the family packing up next to us this morning, they'd been there 2 weeks with 3 little kids, and seemed to have a huge amount of "stuff" to squeeze in.
Overnight Bush camped . = Stop get from vehicle to van turning on gas as we go. All Done. Start up = Get in Tug n Go.
Caravan Park One Night. = Put van on site attach power cord and sullage hose. All Done. Start up = Unhook Sullage disconnect power n Go.
Long Stay = Put van on site connect power sullage and water roll out awning set up table n chairs then a cuppa. Start up = Packup most before dark the rest in Morn then go.
you forgot to turn your gas off after your bush camp
