We own a Rockwood A126. I'm a female, 5'3" @ 55 yrs. and I have raised and lowered our A frame by myself. Mostly the side panels are a little heavy, but not a strain to fold down or put up and is completely manageable for me alone. We've never had a canvas side, so I can not compare my experience with that.
A few suggestions:
I unlatch
the rearleaver on the door side, leaving the front one latched, before unlatching and lowering the driver side wall (which comes down first). The reason for this is when the driver side is folded down, I not tall enough to reach the rear door side leaver, which is above the microwave cabinet, unless I climb on that cabinet.
It helps to have your partner steady the top half of the door during set up, or fold down, of the door side.
For me, when unlatching the roof at the peak, to lower the top, it's easier if I stand on the extended door step to get better leverage. I stand on the step to "snap" the top peak in place during set up too.
In the end, being a team player, I mostly
assist Gary as
he sets up or folds down our A frame.
I agree with "backpacker3" suggestion to find one and try it out. Any of the A frame style models will do, they all fold down basically the same. In the spring I'll bet there will be at least one model on the dealer's lot. Even if it is sold, it would be in the salesman's favor to demonstrate the procedure in order to keep you interested.
We drove 4 hours to a dealer because they had several styles of A frames to view in their inventory. Make no mistake, I searched the internet and made several phone calls before taking the drive. Our 2012 Rockwood A126 listed for $13,900. After much wheeling and dealing, the total amount, with taxes and license, was under $10K.
What happened to get such a drastic price reduction? I'm guessing that even if they didn't make
as much, they still made
some money off the sale. Other positives for the business are that by getting their product into a new geo-demo, plus Gary and I bragging on what a "great deal" we got equals basically free advertising. Plus, we purchased last Fall, so there was one less camper left in their winter inventory.
For just the two of us, an A frame is the perfect choice. Gary and I
do love our camper, we are excited to use it again and both agree that we did get a good deal.
Deb