It does get better, but I completely realize where the OP is coming from. In fact, I can confidently say that I've become almost obsessed with the "art" of camping efficiency, i.e. every time I go camping, I continue to look for new ways to stay better organized, reduce time and effort, save money, etc. It really is a science for me, and that's why I love the challenge.
Like most, we store almost everything we'd ever need with the exception of food, clothes, and overnight kits. Were usually out in about 2 hours but that's with 2 young children (6 and 2). Breaking down and coming home is usually MUCH easier and less stressful IMHO. Take the "packing too much" advice whenever you can, b/c that DOES make a difference. We recently went through literally EVERY item in our TT and said "is this a necessity for every trip"? If the answer was no, it got tossed out. I hate unnecessary weight and clutter.
BigSur2
2012 Keystone Bullet 286QBS
2006 Ford F150 5.4 V8
We usually take out things a day or two before we leave after I get off of work or while I'm at work my wife with put in the non perishables. In the morning we leave while she is getting the kids ready, I finish putting the last items in like the pillows, hygeine things we used last in the house and the odds and ends in the truck. Alot of people have 2 of everything, one for the house and one for camping. We don't so it takes just a little longer but we're okay with that. It gets better and you'll learn what you will and won't need each trip.
* This post was
edited 04/20/12 02:47pm by MALE*RN*777 *
03 Ford F150 XLT
Good-bye old friend --- 01 Coleman Sante Fe Pop-up
Hello new friend --- 09 KZ Coyote 23CR Hybrid
Me ,The Wife,The Boy,Girl 1 ,Girl 2
We are Blessed.
Before a trip the ONLY things I take to the RV are perishable foods, clothes and a very few items that serve duel purposes (used in both trailer and home). Those duel purpose items, in my case amount to my computer, my digital camera and my dogs water and food station. The first trip of the season CAN take several hours but after that it's more a job of keeping a good inventory of what's aboard and shopping for replenishment when necessary.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
We keep pretty much a duplicate of everyting in the coach throughout the camping season (May-October). We keep the fridge on all the time. Once camper laundry is done it goes straight back into the camper. We do camper grocery shopping. For us it's like a having a 2nd home that we stay in 65-75 days a year.
Eric
2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral 33SFS (34' 3")
2008 Jeep Liberty - North Edition (4x4 auto)
FQCC/Camping Quebec, KOA, Good Sam, Coach-Net
You'll get it. We had it down to a science. We were both military and on Friday, we would carpool, that way, we would have the 5er hooked to the truck ready to take off. We would come home change clothes, load the dogs and take off.
Use a checklist, if you have kids old enough to help, give them "chores". We could be out the door in 20 minutes. We did spend a minimal amt of time preparing...loading clothes, the fridge and restocking consumables during the week.
2011 Adventurer 910FBS,Torklift tie downs,Fastguns & Wobbl-stopprs
2012 Dodge 3500 DRW 6.7L CTD, 4x4, LB,CC,6 speed auto,3.73 axle, General 17" on/off road
2008 Lund 1825 Explorer Sport,115 Merc,9.9 kicker,Torklift Super Hitch,42" Supertruss
USAF ret E-9&E-7
We keep a couple of outfits for each of us (me, DH, and 2 DD's) in the TT at all times. One is for cool weather, one is for hot weather. We live in the mountains, so the cool weather outfit occasionally comes in handy during July. We have specific "camping shoes" that are left in there and changed out when sizes change for the girls. Jackets and rain ponchos are left in the TT throughout the year and washed when required, then returned.
All of our non-perishables (pasta, rice, flour, canned goods) are loaded into the TT at the beginning of the season, as is our linens, blankets, etc. I have a shower basket for each of us that is also loaded into the TT with all the assorted requirements for showers for each individual. Spices, oils, sugar and other things of that sort are put in pre-season and replenished as needed.
Our TT, which sits beside our house and plugged in; is loaded with mayo, mustard, ketchup, etc. when we load for the year and left there, replaced when needed.
When we decide to go camping, I will gather what food stuffs we need from the freezer, grab the # of outfits we each need in our laundry bags, grab meds, Kindles and laptop and we are off. I can be ready in 30 minutes or less, depending on how long we are going to be gone. If we are doing a weekend, I can be ready in less than 10 minutes.
Kitchen items such as pots/pans, plates, knives, utensils, cups, mugs, etc. stay in the TT all year long. When we open it back up in the spring, I will wash them all, place back in the cabinets and they are ready to go for the season.
I purchased white towels, white sheets, off-white blankets, etc. to furnish the TT when I found them on sale. That way, when they get dirty, I can bleach them clean and know that they belong in the TT. (I don't use whites in the house).
We also spend 60-75 nights per year in the TT, so I don't want to have to carry stuff back and forth.
We kept everything but food, clothing and toiletries, so for a weekend in the rig, all we needed was a backpack (size kids bring to school) for a change of clothes & toiletries. We'd grab enough food for the weekend, keeping in minimal, and stuff for the dog. Could be ready in half-an-hour, then hook-up and go. Pf course, this was a longer process if we were hitting the road for a longer period. Perhaps you may want to think about minimizing what you bring for a short camping trip - less clothes and food - think about what you can coo that's easy. A list might help too, so you don't feel as if you're reinventing the wheel each time.
I can relate to the surprise "time vacuum" with respect to loading! We pretty much load/unload each time. We brought the RV home from the maiden voyage last year and it sat in the driveway while I began to scratch off my ToDoList items but didn't have occasion use it for nearly a month. The girls went girl scouting so obviously the boys were going RVing! We nearly didn't GET out on the road! The fridge wouldn't get cold, so I had to figure out how to disassemble & clean the burner (& reassemble!), making for a huge delay, we had no idea how much time it would take to simply meal plan, assemble groceries & supplies in the house kitchen, tote out to the RV galley & stow...and THEN I had to check tire pressures...may as well see what the motor oil is doing, generator oil...oh yeah airbags...better air up the compressor to get pressures where I want them...we will probably enjoy having water this weekend so let's get the hose out & tank up the freshwater...hoo boy none of that happened quickly after work!
So instead of dinner at the CG we had dinner at the house, did dishes and THEN hit the road finally, not long before dark. That is when I made my first checklist, and it starts a day or two before, checking tire & airbag pressures, oil, tanking up freshwater, driving for propane fillup and gasoline, test firing the generator so I can spend the next 24 hours getting that #$!$ thing operating smoothly again, turning on the fridge, double checking battery charge level. What has been the greatest help is an "all hands on deck" program combined with advance planning, not waiting till right before we leave.
For us anyways, its pretty simple too just take off when ever we choose to. We have always keep all of our past and present RV's fully loaded and stocked and ready to go.
We even have quite a bit of food stuff on board also. The kind that lasts for many years, and no worries about any bugs or critters getting into anything.
Since we use our Motorhome On/Off all year long, we have enough cloths, for all four season on board.
We only have to grab our Meds, as everything else is already loaded permantely.
We also try to plan ahead, so we always have a lot of Freezer type meals made up in advance. The DW grabs some of the Freezer stull, on her way out of the house. The only real thing I have to do, while the DW grabs Freezer items is to hook-up the Toad and we are gone in a matter of minutes.
After every trip, I fill the gas Tank back up and the Propane also. That way, the Motorhome is always Full and ready to go. If you can think of it, its already stocked and on board.
We also have spare Gas on hand for our Honda's, and spare Propane Tanks too. The Toad is almost always keep on Full.
So to answer your question, yes it gets easiler with time and pratice. It also matters, just how well stocked you want to keep your RV all the time.
Thats part of the Beauty of Owning a Fully Self Contained RV in the first place.
We keep our Motorhome stocked just like we mostly do with our house also. After 45+ years as RV'ers, we have it down pretty well by now.
Here one minute, and gone the next minute, its our choice. It also helps to have your RV at Home, in its own Covered RV Port, with Full Hook-Ups. Good Luck. Happy Travels. Dan & Jill
We keep linens, personal toiletry items, non perishable (and some perishable) items, some clothing in the MH. A few days before the trip my wife shops and we put the rest of the perishables in the fridge. The night before we add any clothing we may need.
Then on the day of departure we load personal electronic items (cell phones, Ipad, etc.) meds, reading material, cats, litter box.
Unhook electrical and surge protector. Unhook battery minder.
Position wooden ramps so the motor home doesn't drag coming out of the driveway. Start engine and wait for air bags to fill. Pull out.
Put wooden ramps away.
Hook up toad. Get in motor home start engine, put in gear.
Then my wife goes back in the house to get whatever she forgot.
Put in gear again and pull away. Look at watch because at some point my wife will ask "what time did we leave".
It's worth it, but it's not quick.
Show me your Flamingo Floyd's Mom and Dad
Tom and Lerinda
2005 Fleetwood Providence 39L
FMCA F340565
Rallies: 9 (so far)
Website: Tom & Rindy's Adventures
Offline
,The Wife
,The Boy
,Girl 1 
,Girl 2 
