I have found a good price on a 8.1 in Phoenix, AZ and I am wondering how much more difficulty it would be with the larger bed in the 8.1 to setup by myself, thanks for your help.
Recommend you watch the set up instruction video (located at the Livinlite website), we have a 8.0 which has the slightly smaller beds and I can set up and take down the camper by myself though I would recommend another person assisting with set up and closing.
[quote source="/post/10043/thread" timestamp="1430145744" author="@aznighthiker"]Recommend you watch the set up instruction video (located at the Livinlite website), we have a 8.0 which has the slightly smaller beds and I can set up and take down the camper by myself though I would recommend another person assisting with set up and closing.[/quote]Thank you, my question is not how to setup the camper but how much heavier and more difficult would it be setting up the larger bed on the 8.1 over the smaller bed on the 8.0 over the smaller bed, I also know 2 people are recommended for setup but that may not be an option for me.
I setup the 10.0 by myself on a regular basis. However I'm also what most would consider to be a youngster so I dont find it to be an issue. Without any physical restrictions I dont see why the average person would have trouble with the 8.1 beds. Unfortunately the only person that can tell you for sure is you.
I'd say its worth looking at, and testing it.
-Sean
[quote source="/post/10056/thread" timestamp="1430168555" author="@admin"]I setup the 10.0 by myself on a regular basis. However I'm also what most would consider to be a youngster so I dont find it to be an issue. Without any physical restrictions I dont see why the average person would have trouble with the 8.1 beds. Unfortunately the only person that can tell you for sure is you.
I'd say its worth looking at, and testing it.
-Sean[/quote]Thank you I found an 8.0 locally and went to check it out today, no salesman around and it was setup. So I took off the support brace inside, unhooked the bed supports and tested lifting and supporting it while I put the supports back, it was a little difficult but doable. I of course don't know how hard it will be to fully lift the bed fully upright and down again, maybe use a brace of some sort or just get someone in the campground to help. 8-) Anyway the 8.0 here in Tucson is $9,998.99 and the 8.1 140 miles away is $2000.00 less and comes with a lot more. I am leaning towards the 8.1.
[quote timestamp="1430141200" author="@keeponhiking" source="/post/10040/thread"]I have found a good price on a 8.1 in Phoenix, AZ and I am wondering how much more difficulty it would be with the larger bed in the 8.1 to setup by myself, thanks for your help.[/quote]We've had our 8.1 since 2010. I am 73 this year and not in shape. I have set the rig up by myself often. I admit to not having much upper body strength (bad me!) but I can do it. It gets easier as the season wears on and I develop some muscle. The big bed is, of course, a lot harder to bring over. The little one is very easy. The big one does weigh a lot. I don't have the mattress bungeed in so I don't have to lift that additional weight, but a lot of folks have thicker mattresses and such and often bungee the mattress into the bed frame. I don't think I could lift that extra mass alone, but I can bring the big bed frame over alone. I alway use a pair of gloves with slightly sticky silicon on them that way increase my grip (my hands are very dry). I "walk" the frame up to vertical, step to the outside of it and "walk" it down. If there's a wind that may be tricky, depending on the wind and direction, but obviously the trick is to keep the thing under full control all the time. I did drop it once, not very far, but it put a hecka strain on the hinge but there was no damage. Still, resting the full load on the hinge is not recommended. When I get the frame horizontal I use my foot to lift the bed brace to where I can reach it with one hand while supporting the frame one-handed with the other. I think that once you get the hang of it it's easy. I can raise the tent alone as well. Where I really need some help is on takedown, because it's important for the tent to be held away from the bars as the bars come down so the thing folds nicely into the box, but that's a separate issue.
@keeponhiking, I'm a sucker for a deal and it sounds like the 8.1 (even with the added distance) is a deal.
I also like having the larger bed, especially if camping as a couple. Dont get me wrong, I love to be close to my wife, but in the summer its nice to have a little room to spread out.
Chuck and Sean, I am proud of you guys. I can not put this up by myself. The beds are not a problem but pulling the tent up and over is. If I could get in the middle of the bar and pull it over I would be alright but to pull it from the side? No way.
Ron
[quote source="/post/10101/thread" timestamp="1430234908" author="@ron10"]Chuck and Sean, I am proud of you guys. I can not put this up by myself. The beds are not a problem but pulling the tent up and over is. If I could get in the middle of the bar and pull it over I would be alright but to pull it from the side? No way.
Ron [/quote]Hey, Ron! I think (think!) I manage to do it singlehanded by reaching as far up the bar as I can reach (for leverage), then putting my back into it and walking it back. BUT I have the advantage of being 6 feet (I used to be taller even). I also grab a handful of tent as soon as I can and haul on that. I used to worry about the unequal strain on the bar but after surviving some just WILD windstorms, one last year that I just knew was going to destroy her and did not, I know those bars are very unlikely to bend. Nevertheless, I have wondered what would happen if I took a piece of light nylon line, no more than 3/8", and tie it to the top center of the bar with a clove hitch (very easy to tie and untie, will not slip under load). The line would only have to be long enough to reach over the horizontal bed frame and take one wrap around one hand and haul. There would be some resistance right at first but once overcome she should come right up and over. I have never tried it, but I should. I think the "lifting line" could just stay on the bar, but if not a clove hitch is very, very easy to untie. I really have to try it and see if it works. We have not been out this year yet, but we're pretty close.
Thanks, I'll give it a try in two weeks. First time out and I am ready. I bought a TV from best buy, a 24" for 70.00, lol. Dynex, but for the camper it will be fine. I took out the benches to make more room and just use my folding chair. Don't need the table and bench. I am thinking of mounting it on the wall next to the sink. I have to get some pics of the things I have done to this and post them.
I agree with Ron10. The beds aren't a big deal...once you get them up and over a certain threshold its not too bad, but raising the tent is a little more difficult as well as having one person on either end to ensure its equal on both ends. If you crank down one side all the way its almost impossible to get the other side especially when its chilly outside (that canvas is tough stuff and not too forgiving). It can be done and i've done it many times by myself, but having two people would be great no matter the size of the unit. I would say go for the 8.1 because you get a Queen sized bed as well as a twin with another full length twin dinette bed right beside it!
Set the camper up today in the drive to check things out and to replace some camping equipment. I can set the beds up by myself but had the Camp Commander (the wife) assisted me with raising the canvas which is much easier with two.