jtbeck
Kentucky
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Joined: 04/23/2008
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I'm giving SERIOUS consideration to moving from our PUP to a hybrid in a couple of years so I'm reading everything I can on them. I was combing through a discussion on another site (sorry!) and there were several former HTT owners complaining that the setup took too long on their HTT's.
How can that be?
I know I can have my PUP up and ready with the AAR and everything in place inside of 30 minutes (once it's level). It seems to me that in a hybrid all you have to do is pull out the bunks. How can that be such a chore?
Am I just missing something?
Me (69), DW (69), DD (95), DS (00), DS (01) and 1 camping toy fox terrier (08)
95 Fleetwood Utah, 02 Ford Explorer Limited (V8)
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popere
Denver
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Joined: 01/12/2008
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jtbeck,
It takes me and the DW about a half an hour to level pull the bunks out and set up our carpets. After that I pop a cold one and set up the satelite tv and then we are ready.
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FamilyCamping
CA
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Joined: 08/19/2005
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You guys a great at set up! I've got a travel trailer with one power slide out. Buy the time I back in(being sure room for slide out to clear), put level blocks on one side, un-hitch the truck, store WD hitch bars, level front to back with electric jack, use cordless drill to put down 4 stabilizer jacks, put the slide out, fold out steps, pick the TV up & place on shelf and plug it in..... It's gotta be a good hour till I can unpack a few chairs & finaly sit down & "pop a cool one"!('Honey' arnt you gonna put the awning out??) AAHhhh I'm still not done!
At least I got a few sips before having to unpack & staple down the carpet, & then put the awning out!
I think your fold-up trailers set up faster than a regular trailer.
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Quad-Cab Long-bed Auto 4X4 3.55LS 285/75/16 tires.
2000 30' Layton bunkhouse TT with 15' slide out.
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1995brave
San Antonio, TX
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Joined: 01/24/2006
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When i had my HTT we got it down to about a half hour. Everyone had their own job to do. I would pull up to the spot, daughter would grab the chocks and put them around the wheels. Then she would help me disconnect from the TV and as i pulled away she would start to level, at the same time the wife would hook up water and electric. Then daughter would put down the back bunk as i put down the front, wife would be inside turning on the air and getting us something to eat and drink.
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gestanton
Rotterdam, NY
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Joined: 07/03/2008
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I used to set up my HTT in 20 minutes (including popup Gizmos).
George Stanton
- Anticipating retirement
- Full-Timer wannabe
- Camping with DW of 40 years and three Therapy Dogs (SmallDog, Oliver & Ted)
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jtbeck
Kentucky
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Joined: 04/23/2008
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FamilyCamping you've just about scared me away from a TT!
I thought all you TT guys had to do was back in and grab a beer.
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chilipyro
CT
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Joined: 01/12/2008
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If you are comparing a pup to an HTT, you are probably only interested in the things that are in common and the things that change (re setup time). The things that are in common with pups, HTTs, and TTs are backing it in, leveling, stabilizers, hookups, and setting up camp. Those things will always take you the same amount of time. What is different is the tent bed (or lack of it) and poping up. An HTT has at least one tent bed. Folding it down (if yours does that) is faster and easier than pulling it out and adding the poles, but you are still talking about a minute difference (tops). There is no pop-up, so take those 3 minutes off too. The take down process gives the HTT a few more minutes edge as well (because folding in the tenting seems to take longer than popping it up).
All-in-all, I think you are looking at maybe 5 minutes difference in the setup and take-down of a pup, HTT, or TT. If that is all that you are comparing, then it isn't really a good reason to trade - IMHO.
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FerrisFamilyof5
Niagara Falls, NY, USA
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Joined: 10/20/2004
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Chilipyro hits the nail on the head... it's the packing ease and where things go for travel that convinced me.
Scott
Nights camped in '08 - 14 
1999 Dodge Durango
2000 Palomino Stampede S-21
Me(daHusband)
daWife 
daDaughter 
daSon 
daBaby boy  (ok so he's 5...still daBaby)
daDogs
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agb2529
Long Grove, IL
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Joined: 10/12/2004
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It all depends on when you start the clock and your definition of being set up. Assuming that I'm backed in and leveled, to do the basics of lowering the bunks and stabilizers is maybe 5-10 minutes. The DW can throw sheets on the beds while I'm stabilizing and the kids can bring out the camp chairs. The awning is nothing, a minute or 2. Beyond that it really depends on how much stuff we want to set up for the weekend - lights for the awning, ladder ball game, volleyball net, Coleman lantern in a tree, clothesline, etc. None of that should really go in the trailer setup time figure. The thing that really killed us for time with our popup was all of the stuff that we had inside like a Tetris game that had to be pulled out before anyone could move around inside. That also made it a lengthy process to pack up at the end and I think that was what finally pushed us over the edge (at least the DW). The other big upsides of the HTT over the PU are on the road. Want to stop for lunch? Just pull into a rest stop, go in the trailer, pull your food out of the fridge and sit down at the table. One other thing that we could never do in the PU days was Camp WalMart. On a cross country trip when we're just stopping overnight en route we'll pull in at the back of the parking lot, leave the HTT hitched up, drop the back bunk and pull out the sofa and dinette beds and be set in less than 5.
And why do you guys wait so long to pop that cold one? After a long drive, as soon as I'm unhitched it's time!
* This post was
edited 08/29/08 08:59pm by an administrator/moderator *
The Long Grove Happy Campers -
Alex & Sandi (parental units)
Elizabeth, Eric, & Nicholas (the kids)
Riley, Greta, & Rikki (175 net pounds of canine chaos)
2003 Suburban K2500 6.0 L 3.73
2003 Dutchman 19T Sport
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bob975
maryland
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Joined: 11/13/2007
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gestanton wrote:I used to set up my HTT in 20 minutes (including popup Gizmos). The same here 20 to 25 with Gizmos.
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