Awnings

[LorraineNormandy]

We pick up our Challenger on Thursday and are undecided as to awnings. We have just sold our caravan which had a blow up full awning which was getting harder for us to put up and take down. We do need another room on the motorhome though, for longer stops.
We have been looking at the sides and front which attach to the wind out sunshade (I don’t know what you call them, but here in France they are a store). The question is, if we get those and tie them down with storm straps, would it still be necessary to take them down and wind in the store if the wind got up? Or do we go for another blow up awning?
Hope someone can help solve our dilemma.
Lorraine.

 

[MisterB]

We pick up our Challenger on Thursday and are undecided as to awnings. We have just sold our caravan which had a blow up full awning which was getting harder for us to put up and take down. We do need another room on the motorhome though, for longer stops.
We have been looking at the sides and front which attach to the wind out sunshade (I don’t know what you call them, but here in France they are a store). The question is, if we get those and tie them down with storm straps, would it still be necessary to take them down and wind in the store if the wind got up? Or do we go for another blow up awning?
Hope someone can help solve our dilemma.
Lorraine.

Welcome to the Fun House

It all depends how much wind there is ....you can buy awning tie down kits which allow some movement via springs as part of the tie down straps - you wouldn't want it not to allow movement.
If I was putting up a 'store', I would also use the tie down straps that went over and right across the awning and not just into the awning rail channel.

 

[LorraineNormandy]

Thanks for your answer. I’ll have a look for those. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Jim]

It's normal for Caravan to Motorhome converts to buy an awning. Then it's just as common for them to try to sell it 'Used Once' two years later.

I would leave it for a while, see how the convenience of a motorhome affects your camping style, chances are, you just won't want the hassle of lugging and erecting it

 

[hja]

I would certainly wait a bit before buying any sort of awning. You don’t say why you would need such a store. Maybe you are carrying too much stuff Remember any awning will need to be stored somewhere in the van and add to your payload.

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[LorraineNormandy]

I would certainly wait a bit before buying any sort of awning. You don’t say why you would need such a store. Maybe you are carrying too much stuff Remember any awning will need to be stored somewhere in the van and add to your payload.

The store is already fitted to the camping car and we are just looking at our options. If we stay in one place for a longer period, we would find it too confining being inside, especially in winter when we tend to go away for a couple of months. Even in Portugal last year in February and March, it was wet and cold sometimes (worst weather the’d had for 18 years apparently). I have to agree that we take too much stuff and we’ll currently whittling it down!

 

[LorraineNormandy]

It's normal for Caravan to Motorhome converts to buy an awning. Then it's just as common for them to try to sell it 'Used Once' two years later.

I would leave it for a while, see how the convenience of a motorhome affects your camping style, chances are, you just won't want the hassle of lugging and erecting it

Thanks for the advice. That is what we’re thinking and why we sold the caravan. We do like an extra room outside though especially in winter when it might be cold and wet.

 

[Andy Norfolk]

We've had many hours of fun watching people struggle and usually argue for ages as they put up awnings. Something we've avoided.

 

[Sue and Rick]

We pick up our Challenger on Thursday and are undecided as to awnings. We have just sold our caravan which had a blow up full awning which was getting harder for us to put up and take down. We do need another room on the motorhome though, for longer stops.
We have been looking at the sides and front which attach to the wind out sunshade (I don’t know what you call them, but here in France they are a store). The question is, if we get those and tie them down with storm straps, would it still be necessary to take them down and wind in the store if the wind got up? Or do we go for another blow up awning?
Hope someone can help solve our dilemma.
Lorraine.

You could get one of these.

Fiamma Privacy Room for the Motorhome and Camper Van

They are heavy and take some putting up. If you are staying in the same place for a while may be ideal.

Ahem, btw we have a 4.5m one for sale and will be in France in June/ July.

 

[scotzsue]

We have a much used vango. Kela 2 awning, used as sleeping accomodation for the grandchildren, however, since getting it we take the Quest sunhouse with us, all we take when traveling as a twosome, it is so versatile and as I put it up and take it down, provides a bit of entertainment for other campers, would be easy peasy if I were a few inches taller.
Also means no lining up when you come back with a drive away, we have never driven away from our drive away awning had it around 8 years.

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[cyberyacht]

It's normal for Caravan to Motorhome converts to buy an awning. Then it's just as common for them to try to sell it 'Used Once' two years later.

I would leave it for a while, see how the convenience of a motorhome affects your camping style, chances are, you just won't want the hassle of lugging and erecting it

^^^ What he said. If you have a wind-out awning, I'd suggest just a decent windbreak or lightweight wind blockers is all you need.