Trouble folding up our AORC hard floor camper

[krisandkev]

Hi all.  We have sold our soft floor and bought a 2006 Australian Off Road Camper (AORC), a Odyssey Export model. We will be heading off for 6 to 9 months after Easter and wanted the extras a hard floor offers, ease of setting up, extra fridge, clothes stored in camper rather than on the cruiser’s back seat, built in hot water etc etc.  (Yes, getting a bit soft) We then took it back to AORC and had retrofit a Ezy overnight awning.  Our problem is that we are now having big problems trying to fold the camper up with the awning fitted!    It is designed to leave the awing on but we must be doing something wrong. Any hints would be appreciated. Thanks, Kevin and Kris

[Bird]

spoken to AORC about the problems, they might have a few hints and tips... or take it back and get them to show you how to do it.

if your going away for that long, it would be worth getting a live demo....

[krisandkev]

when we picked it up after getting the EZY (got that wrong) overnight awning fitted, we hinted VERRRRY broadly that we would like a set up demo, but to no avail......please if there is anyone out there with the magical answer.....we really need it....opening the second bottle of red does not seem to be helping us to find an answer 

[krisandkev]

we have watched their video mannnnny times

[Bird]

when we picked it up after getting the EZY (got that wrong) overnight awning fitted, we hinted VERRRRY broadly that we would like a set up demo, but to no avail.

Hinting is for finding out if your neighbours are swingers..

Did you say We just spent a **** load of cash with you for the second time after buying the trailer, FFS show me how to fold it... sometimes you need to be blunt with the Deaf.

[Jason B]

If its similar to my KK I can fold it up with the small awning on 1.8m wide x 6.7m long (full length). It is tight but do able.

With mine you need to make sure the awning is neat and sitting square when laying it over onto the camper roof canvas. I actually tie it over with some lite cord. Then you just fold the camper up as normal ensuring that the additional layer of canvas folds with the roof and doesn't get bunched up.

I am pretty sure the AORC and KK are similar in this regard. I now usually take my annex off as I don't use it for overnight stops, so I found it a pain in the end.

You have a great camper and I am sure you will sort it.

Happy camping

Jas

[GeoffA]

............sometimes you need to be blunt with the Deaf.

What??

[Bird]

What??

have you measured up my Geoffy Stoneblocker yet?

[LC]

Is the bed made up? If it is you may have to reconsider where things like your pillows etc go. With our KK we put our pillows on the end of the bed so that the poles / bows fold around them. Apart from that its as Jason said.

[GeoffA]

have you measured up my Geoffy Stoneblocker yet?

I've tried, but my tape measure won't stretch from Werribee to Langwarrin..........

[Pipeliner]

Assuming your overnight awning is like the one on our 2007 Export Signature:

Unzip the Velcro join over the kitchen
Fold the front (smaller) section over the roof covering the front box, roll up the two together and stow in front of the mattress.
Fold the larger part in half and secure with the Velcro patches.
Then just tuck it in with the rest of the canvas as you fold the tent. (Can't say exactly as that is SWMBO's side!)

Another hint:  when switching between the Ezy and full awnings, don't bother dropping the central bow to access the zip.  Just hook the end of one of the bracing poles into the zip pull.

[krisandkev]

Assuming your overnight awning is like the one on our 2007 Export Signature:

Unzip the Velcro join over the kitchen
Fold the front (smaller) section over the roof covering the front box, roll up the two together and stow in front of the mattress.
Fold the larger part in half and secure with the Velcro patches.
Then just tuck it in with the rest of the canvas as you fold the tent. (Can't say exactly as that is SWMBO's side!)

Another hint:  when switching between the Ezy and full awnings, don't bother dropping the central bow to access the zip.  Just hook the end of one of the bracing poles into the zip pull.

We saw that on the AORC video they unzip/velcro the front, but on our awning the main zip ends on that end, so to unzip we would have to remove the full awning!  The main problem is that the awing is bunching up when we are trying to fold up, so we need to try and fold it in better.  We were hoping when we picked up the camper after AORC made and fitted it that they would do a demo on folding it, but they (Steve) seemed in a bit of a rush and did not spent too much time with us.  I know we did not buy the camper from them, but getting the awing was expensive and we were thinking they would be a bit more helpful. I suppose they are busy now and selling a wide range of vans and like I said, we did not buy the camper from them.  It is really up to us to sort out.   We will get there, it is a brilliant camper and has everything we want.   Kevin

[cm4x4nut]

I know with our KK, it seams I pack it up a different way every time we do it somehow. Sometimes it is easy, other times not so easy.....even though I think I have done the same thing each time 

I get to the point now where when we are doing the final close, I stand on the top of the camper, rather than pulling the lid down and this helps alot. It is getting better as the canvas gets older.

[Oddy]

Hi.   When we picked up our 2012 XR Odyssey at Caloundra, a lady (Kathy I think) gave us a thorough demo and practice run over nearly 2 hours.  I'm surprised you got treated as you did.  The first few times we packed it up were tough - once SWMBO even stood on the camper lid to get it down! But either (or both) our technique has improved, or the canvas has become more malleable, and we now have no trouble - the last time was this morning when we packed up at Burrum Coast Nat Park to return home and escape the Easter madness.

Before closing the camper, pull the bed back about 6" to leave a space at the front to push some of the awning into. The front awning is rolled up a bit and the rolled part stowed in front of the mattress with its two poles. We unzip the front portion of the EZY awning as far back as the camper body and fold that front part around to the front and push into the front section over the rolled up front awning and front awning polls. We then push as much as possible of the awning down the passenger side of the mattress as we pull the floor up and over - this reduces the amount of canvas that must go in over the mattress - that is very important.  The folds of tent in the front have to be pushed back as far as possible into the camper as each "wave" comes down,  and the remaining EZY awning is pushed from the side as far into the middle as possible while closing the lid.  When the lid is almost completely over, you can look under it and see if there are any lumps in the canvas which might make shutting the lid difficult and smooth them out and push material into the middle area. A final check is needed to make sure no bits are sticking out the edges before closing the camper.  The order of closing the latches is important: start with the driver's side back and then the passenger side back and then (order not so important) the passenger side front and finally the drivers side front.  The other person will have to pull down on the front of the lid for the first two latches, but now we only need moderate effort (SWMBO can manage it). 

I hope that adds a few more clues.  You'll get there.  It took us about 15 minutes this morning from washing up the coffee cups to being ready to hook up.

Cheers
Oddy

[GeoffA]

Thoroughbreds...........

None of these issues with the Coota..............

[Turbojohn]

Hinting is for finding out if your neighbours are swingers..

Did you say We just spent a **** load of cash with you for the second time after buying the trailer, FFS show me how to fold it... sometimes you need to be blunt with the Deaf.

Near choked on my beer at that one!

[GeoffA]

Near choked on my beer at that one!

He's good at that............

[krisandkev]

sorry all, probably need to clarify, we bought our 2006 Odyssey signature second hand, only spent $1400 on the Ezy overnight awning from AORC.  We are still not getting it right, but head off next weekend for our 6 month trip, so we are sure to get plenty of practice!! 

[griz066]

Seems pretty straight forward. Video

Here	Small | Large

[krisandkev]

 griz066, yep we have watched that video a hundred times and have tried to follow it, but as we said, they can unzip the awning at the front to fold it up, we cannot.  Maybe that is part of the problem.  We will get there. We have just spent out second night in the camper and do love it.  The hot water and shower set up is brilliant.    Kevin and Kris

[TOPNDR]

Caloundra is but a 2 hour detour from Maryborough. My suggestion, don't hint, just ask. They're very nice people at AOR. 

[krisandkev]

Thanks for everyone’s replies.  We got a message from AORC with some more instructions and did a practice close yesterday.  On the second close it went a lot better.  Still had to sit on the top to get the first latches on, but a big improvement.  We think being that the new awning is new it is a bit stiff and bunches up when folding, but this will ease down the track.  Like we said, brilliant camper  and we will get there.  We have also contemplated going to AORC and get a demo on our way through in just over a week’s time, but maybe after a few more fold ups we will be right. Again, thanks and we hope to see some of you in our next travels.    Kevin and Kris

[Puffin]

G'day krisandkev,

Your retrofit ezy awning must be different to ours as it splits in two at the front and the pieces velcro to the front and side.   Always connect the rear clasps first and then the front and it pays to open the kitchen slide slightly before closing which allows air to escape which makes it easier to close.   We're at Craignish if you want to have a look at ours, 2008 Export, glad to help with other tips, send us a PM if you're interested.   They're a great camper and AORC are good to deal with, go to their website and register as a new owner to partake of their forum.

Puffin

[krisandkev]

thanks puffin, we think that is our whole problem, our refit does not split over the kitchen, so have to roll, fold that whole bit together, which causes a bunch up in the corner.....we are getting better at it.....we WILL get it sorted......don't know why we do not have a split, wish we did

[brendaningram]

Have you got this sorted yet? We have a 2006 AOR ODYSSEY ZR with the EzyAwning retrofitted, and we can show you how it's done if you like? We have no problems.