Awning Advice Please

[Southdowners]

We're picking our MH up this Friday and will be taking a long weekend to test it out )!

It doesn't have an awning and we're unsure which to buy, if any. The guy at the showroom said that a lot of folk don't use them at all. Is this true?

We're looking at possibly getting one of the drive away ones but we're really not sure. Can anyone offer advice/experiences of the differing types please? We have some mesh type Jormax windbreaks so I'm wondering if it might be best to have one of the pull out types (if that's the right description) .

We don't have children but we do have a dog and think an awning of some sort would be good.

 

[sdc77]

Jormax windbreaks are excellent..
Does your van have a wind out awning..
Lots of people don't use awnings but the new airbeam type seem popular and there are posts on here about them.. Kampa is a very popular make.
Others only use a small porch type awning. If you want these to fit to your van then you would need an awning strip.. If you have a wind out awning then the strip is incorporated...

 

[BwB]

Try a few outings before you do anything. See how you get on.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Don't use one. We like to sit outside if the weather's nice and we sit inside if it's not. There's plenty of room in the van and I don't see the point of faffing around with an extra "room" we don't need. We have a wind out canopy though.

We have the Jormax bits to make an enclosure for the dogs (2 windbreaks, gate and van skirt) which they love. They prefer being outdoors so an awning would be no good for them.

 

[peterc10]

When we were looking for our first motorhome we thought an awning was very important to have. And sure enough in the first couple of outings we used it a lot. All change now. On our recent month away in France, Spain and Portugal we used it for one day only. Mind you we were using it mainly on Aires rather than camp sites.

I would try your motorhome for a while to see if you need it.

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[irnbru]

We have a safari room but its too much hassle to put up and down for a few nights. We mostly wild camp anyway so it doesnt really get used.

 

[Mel]

Same as above had a Safariroom never used it.
Bought a vally lodge drive away.(use it in Spain staying for 2 weeks)
Have a windbreak from Prostore on one side of the windout now.

As peterc10 said try first.
Enjoy whatever you buy
Good luck

Mel

 

[Neilfg]

We only use the drive away awning when the weather is wet, and stsying somewhere for 2 or more nights. It is very useful to sort out the dog rather than mucking up the van.

When dry we rarely use it, PIA to put up and pack away, if we did'nt have dog doubt we would ever use it.

 

[MikeandCarolyn]

Fiamma windout was the first thing we added to van-it gets used a lot !
Next was a driveaway-used it twice,sold it. Then Lilypad windblockers-used a few times,still in locker but not used often.
A cheap porch awning lasted one winter at Marjal and ended up in their skip when we left. Currently have a Kampa Rally Air-only take it with us if we know we'll be in same place for more than a week or to a Meet were the extra room will come in handy if it rains a lot.
I found the attaching an awning to the slot in the Fiamma a pain and awning ends up the depth of the Fiamma away from the van-a separate awning rail just below the Fiamma serves us much better.

 

[Southdowners]

Thank you for your replies.

I think we'll take the windbreaks and try those first. I did wonder why the person who bought the MH new didn't have one added as he had quite a few other extras fitted. We've been caravanners up till now and I know putting up an awning isn't fun... and ours is an inflatable one, so probably quicker than others to erect. We're getting really excited now - roll on Friday!

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[peterc10]

You will really enjoy motorhoming then. Set up on site in 10 minutes and sit with a nice glass of wine watching the awning arguments of the caravanners around you.

 

[magicsurfbus]

We use the van as a windbreak - never felt the need for anything else.

Awnings are handy for keeping the sun off in southern Europe when you need a bit of outdoor shade, or on summer days in the UK when it's (usually) raining and you'd still like to sit outdoors. The factory fit Fiamma f45 canopy does the business for us - just be careful if it gets windy.

Also, keep an eye out for Vietato L'Accesso signs in Italy, as this Italian MH owner didn't.

Broken Link Removed

 

[ABZSteve]

We bought a Vango Kela Airaway a few weeks ago. I have only had it up once for three days but will use it more on longer trips and will gauge requirement on shorter trips. I would never dream of putting it up whilst it is raining but hopefully our choosen weekend trips away are dry

A few reasons it works for us:-
1. Cleaning dirty/wet dog prior to entering Moho. He doesn't get past the hab door area (covered up) until he is clean and dry.
2. Removing dirty footwear before entering the van. We don't get past the hab door area (covered up) until we are clean and dry.
3. Wind break barbie area if required.
4. We want to cook fish but not in the van so the awning will be the fish kitchen
5. Last but by no means least, my wife is not good in the sun after radiation treatment. If this was the only reason, it is reason enough for us.

So, I guess what I am saying is, try without first then think of the reasons you may need one. If you are happy to spend the money and not use it 100% of the time then that is fine; it works for us.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

The factory fit Fiamma f45 canopy does the business for us - just be careful if it gets windy.

The tie down kit is absolutely essential.

 

[magicsurfbus]

I prefer to just wind it back in if the breeze gets up. I never leave it out overnight.

Having used a 6.5 sq metre sail on a windsurfer I know just how much force can be generated by a good bit of fabric in the right conditions.

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[The Dudess]

The tie down kit is absolutely essential.

I agree. Even with a slight breeze the flapping and creaking just makes us very anxious so we always tie it down with awning tabs and ratchet straps. We never leave it out overnight or unattended if leaving the van.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I agree. Even with a slight breeze the flapping and creaking just makes us very anxious so we always tie it down with awning tabs and ratchet straps. We never leave it out overnight or unattended if leaving the van.

We've got the Fiamma tie down kit so the springs tension it properly and allow some movement. The risk with ratchet straps is that if it's held too tightly there can still be damage. I always leave it out overnight unless it's already really windy when we go to bed.

 

[peterc10]

I agree. Even with a slight breeze the flapping and creaking just makes us very anxious so we always tie it down with awning tabs and ratchet straps. We never leave it out overnight or unattended if leaving the van.

Yep, quite agree. It is why we rarely use our awning - the worrying and faffing about is just too much, especially as we rarely stay more than 2 or 3 nights in any one place. .

 

[scotjimland]

ebay, Gumntree etc are full of second hand motorhome awnings.. many hardly used.. ask yourself why

but it's hard not to think 'caravan'.. once a tugger always a tugger ..

but you bought a motorhome.. forget anything that takes time to set up.. awnings etc.. may as well have kept the caravan ..

the beauty of a motorhome is the spontaneity.. drive up camp.. get up next day, move on..

Sun shade is useful both for sun and rain.. but having seen a few over the roof and it is not a pretty sight.. the damage to the van can be extensive.. not to mention a wrecked awning..
for that reason, even with tie down straps, I would never leave mine out untended or overnight

 

[Wildman]

We have only ever used an awning at a rally as it is the only time we are not moving on the next day. All in all do not find a use for it.

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[makems]

I prefer to just wind it back in if the breeze gets up. I never leave it out overnight.

Having used a 6.5 sq metre sail on a windsurfer I know just how much force can be generated by a good bit of fabric in the right conditions.

I like to wind thE awning in at night. However there were a couple of occasions this wintEr in Morocco when the wind got up so quickly it would have been more dangerous to take off the tie down straps to wind it in than to leave it well strapped down.
We use two ratchet straps in the awning rail slot and a Fiamma end to end strap. It survived a full blown gale in the Sahara which ended up with our camping carpet buried under an inch of sand by next morning.
I would alwayS choose to wind it in though if I can.

 

[Cal54]

Prefer cheaper utility tents/day rooms to awnings. Would agree with others, try for a few trips first before spending any money.

 

[deleted-member02]

Prefer cheaper utility tents/day rooms to awnings. Would agree with others, try for a few trips first before spending any money.

I agree, 2m x 2m utility tent for us, five minutes to put up and very compact when stored, still rarely use it !

We occasionally wind the awning out for an hour or two. Have full safari room and all the bits, never been used since we purchased the van - must tell you something....

 

[Chris]

We have a safari room which we used quite a lot until we changed the van and it didn't fit the wind out on the new one

We also have a Kampa Rally which we have used quite a lot too.

I prefer cooking and sitting outside the van whatever the weather and only really sit in the van to watch a film or in Winter.

 

[scotzsue]

We used the awning on our last van quite a lot, extra space, very useful when away with the grandchildren, especially when it is wet. Great place for grandparents to sit and have a glass or two while the children watch a pre bedtime dvd or play board games. Like to cook outside too great when wet or very windy. Stores pram high chair etc overnight when family camp with us. Having said that we didn't take it with us to spain last autumn but could have done with some sort of windblocker for the cooler weather. Presently looking for a replacement as the sunncamp is too long for our present awning. Previous owner had put a rail underneath that is being removed because of problems, will ask if there is any way to fit a 4m rail and then we can continue with the one we have. Will need to put a campbed in there when we take the family away, and layout of this van means it would be good for us to have somewhere to sit and relax when the kids have gone to bed. At the moment looks like i will be sleeping in the garage lol

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