I recently took the Troopy out on my own for the first time … it was a girls trip with my sister Belinda.
It was a great opportunity to put all the setup practice into action – and it went better than expected. Yeah, the girls!
Despite the challenges of a steep, uneven campsite with a large tree in the way, we set up the Troopy, packed it down, and even got the shower tent sorted. Building a campfire was a highlight, and we cooked pizzas in the camp oven that turned out perfectly.
The trip was a good reminder of how capable you can feel handling everything yourself, even in tricky conditions.
It was rewarding to see the effort pay off and to know that setting up camp isn’t as daunting as it might seem. That said, I hope Rafa doesn’t expect me to do it every time!
A new level of confidence
Taking the Troopy out solo for the first time was something I’d been both looking forward to and slightly dreading.
With my sister Bel along for the ride, it was the perfect chance to put all the preparation and setup practice into action – and I’m happy to report it was a success.
When we arrived at our campsite at Davies Creek, just outside Mareeba in Far North Queensland, it wasn’t exactly the easy, flat spot I’d hoped for.
The site was steep and uneven, with a large tree right in the middle of where I’d planned to set up the shower tent. But instead of getting discouraged, we got to work.
Levelling the Troopy on the only flat spot on the site was a breeze, it was getting everything else sorted that needed some thought!
Setting up camp on my own felt like a milestone. The awning went out smoothly, and it was far enough away from the fire, then chairs and table were organised, and I even set up the shower tent – which felt like an achievement on its own because one set of arms of the shower awning were about 1cm from the tree … and if I moved the car forward, it would be uneven again. So that’s how it stayed.
It’s one of those things you don’t realise can be tricky until you try to do it by yourself, usually Rafa just sorts out the rooftop tent, awning and shower tent – and I do the chairs, table, and inside the car.
Building the campfire was another highlight. There’s something incredibly satisfying about lighting a fire, and keeping it burning steadily. It’s such a simple task. Bel looked after it once we got it going.
Dinner was the best part of the evening: camp oven pizzas cooked over the fire. The dough crisped up perfectly in the camp oven, and the toppings melted together beautifully. Sitting by the fire, eating freshly cooked pizza under the stars, was one of those moments that reminded me exactly why I love camping and being out in nature.
Packing it all down
Throughout the trip, it was rewarding to realise how manageable it all was. Even when things didn’t go perfectly, it was easy to problem-solve and keep things moving. It’s amazing how much more confident you feel once you’ve actually done it.
Even packing down was easy. I thought it might take me some time to pack away the awning and shower tent. But it was easy. I did need the step though and Bel’s help to hold the arms in place in case the wind picked up. But honestly, if I did it enough, it would just become second nature.
The shower tent was the easiest and Rafa was surprised when I showed him that I’d managed to pack it up with the floor included. He normally keeps that separate, but it packs up well and fits in the bag, so why not leave it altogether I say!
I’m grateful for the experience and proud of how everything turned out – but I hope Rafa doesn’t expect me to handle every setup solo from now on!
This first solo Troopy trip was proof that with a bit of preparation, patience, and determination, setting up camp alone is not just possible, but incredibly empowering.
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