Drive away awnings... sensible size's

[GoCoeGo]

Hello all, starting to look at a driveway awning, but wondered from experienced people what sort of sizes they recommend/don't... I guess I just don't have a good understanding of pitch sizes, and if you get a standard size or not. Obviously I don't want to rock up and erect an awning that exceeds pitch sizes, and turns light to dark for anyone next to it! I did also consider the fiama awning privacy walls too. But the driveway seems a better approach. Maybe someone else can vouch for the privacy awning walls though.

I have added a couple of links below. If anyone has a spare moment, I would appreciate any thoughts on the sizes of them. We are a family of 3, with a 4 year old. But they look, as far as I can tell, to not be an obnoxious size anyway.

I am not neccasarily looking at these specific ones, but picked them because I know the makers at least. I am looking for a 2nd hand one. So if you are selling one, feel free to also let me know! But for this post, and getting an answer, I'm really more interested in finding the right sizes in relation to campsite pitches.


Thank you again.

https://www.vango.co.uk/galli-cc-ii-air-low

https://www.attwoolls.co.uk/dometic...JljY0ga5EmBehQGjfG9exSRlSp17OaU_gbKUuhP5PbVRe

 

[PaulW2]

The privacy walls are a pain. I had one of those Safari rooms - ok if you're in the same place for a week or two but otherwise too much trouble.

Can't advise on the drive away ones, but when I was considering one I found it useful to chat to someone who knew what would work - in my case I called Rose Awnings.

 

[martxer]

Hello all, starting to look at a driveway awning, but wondered from experienced people what sort of sizes they recommend/don't... I guess I just don't have a good understanding of pitch sizes, and if you get a standard size or not. Obviously I don't want to rock up and erect an awning that exceeds pitch sizes, and turns light to dark for anyone next to it! I did also consider the fiama awning privacy walls too. But the driveway seems a better approach. Maybe someone else can vouch for the privacy awning walls though.

I have added a couple of links below. If anyone has a spare moment, I would appreciate any thoughts on the sizes of them. We are a family of 3, with a 4 year old. But they look, as far as I can tell, to not be an obnoxious size anyway.

I am not neccasarily looking at these specific ones, but picked them because I know the makers at least. I am looking for a 2nd hand one. So if you are selling one, feel free to also let me know! But for this post, and getting an answer, I'm really more interested in finding the right sizes in relation to campsite pitches.


Thank you again.

https://www.vango.co.uk/galli-cc-ii-air-low

https://www.attwoolls.co.uk/dometic...JljY0ga5EmBehQGjfG9exSRlSp17OaU_gbKUuhP5PbVRe

Have a van go cove air 2 I don’t use that I could part with but it is a low suitable for transporter type van height wise.
They are a good awning for pvc to extend living/cooking space fits on a standard pitch along side van

 

[Guigsy]

Drive aways have a tunnel down the side that rolls away when you move. So even the smallest ones are about a meter bigger than a roll out awning with sides.

Make sure you get one that's appropriate for your van height. Generally the low ones are for Transporter sized vans.

Personally we've got a Vango Kela Air. It's big enough for a table and a bit of chilling. Bit if it's pee'ing it down with rain and I need to service the bike, I have to put the table away.

I'm not totally convinced by Air awnings compared to poles. They aren't that much easier to errect. They cost a lot more. And the pack is significantly heavier and larger.

We've got a wind out awning with mesh sides. A rafter and a magic rafter pro. Tied down with storm straps. It creaks and groans in mild wind, which is amplified inside the van. It definitely has to be wound in when it gets breezy. But I've had the drive away up in a gale. We just disconnected the tunnel so it wasn't flapping as much. Pegged down all the storm straps. And had a good nights sleep.

 

[Gaston aires]

A lot of Funsters use Quest pop up awnings. They seem more popular than drive away types. We have one and I wouldn’t be without it.
Phil

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[cyberyacht]

When I swapped to a motorhome, I bought a set of Lilypad Leisure's Windblockers. For the number of times I've used them over the past seven years, I might as well have saved my money. If you have a wind-out awning, I'd suggest that a normal windbreak might be all that you actually need.

 

[Brains]

Buy a drive away awning.
Use it twice.
Put it in the shed.
3 years later you sell it on the Motorhome Fun Classified pages!

Take a look, there are usually half a dozen available "only used twice".

I can see the point of a Drive away awning if you have a caravan, or you are spending a few weeks in the same place, but the whole point of a motorhome is the ability to leave without a trace in ten mins from waking up.

 

[MisterB]

when we bought our driveaway, we had a long think about how we were going to use it, ease of erection and dismantling, storage, what we actually wanted it for and when we would actually use it. we already have a wind out awning so were not sure about getting one, so went for a pre loved one, on the basis we could sell it on if it wasnt 'for us'.

we decided on air inflated one, big enough for a dining table and four chairs and to be able to cook in the tunnel area (using the external electric socket) - we've used it a couple of times and been happy with it, but its not something we would spend big on.

i think the quest type pop ups have their benefit, but for us being able to get in and out of the motorhome and being sheltered at the time, persuaded us against them.

 

[Neilfg]

We had a Vango Kela Airbeam Tall Driveway awning, it worked well, ok size, great for 2 people. But cannot recommend Vango, warranty is/was poor 2 tube valves broke, replacements available but at a cost.

We only drove away twice once to test, over about 7 years. The drawbacks we found were that it come out a long way from the side of the van especially when pegged out, you need a wide pitch and surprisingly bulky and heavy.

If we had a PVC then might consider again, but a different make.

 

[DDJC]

I hear the comment that "we never use it" quite a lot.
We have two and we use one or the other all the time, nearly every time, depending on where we are and what we are doing.

Got a Dometic Kampa Rally 400 inflatable driveaway. We put it up anytime we stay somewhere more than three nights. This adds a tad less than three metres to the width of the bus.

Also got a Thule G3 static for when we have the little car with us.. We put this up any time it is cold. Also had the Truma hot air take-off fitted. This attaches to a length of a hose and a diffuser. It adds 2.5m to the width of the bus.

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[GoCoeGo]

The privacy walls are a pain. I had one of those Safari rooms - ok if you're in the same place for a week or two but otherwise too much trouble.

Can't advise on the drive away ones, but when I was considering one I found it useful to chat to someone who knew what would work - in my case I called Rose Awnings.

Thanks for that. I did suspect as much after watching a video, but very useful to hear someone's opinion. Given the cost of them also, I am glad to not go down this route and save some £££

 

[GoCoeGo]

Drive aways have a tunnel down the side that rolls away when you move. So even the smallest ones are about a meter bigger than a roll out awning with sides.

Make sure you get one that's appropriate for your van height. Generally the low ones are for Transporter sized vans.

Personally we've got a Vango Kela Air. It's big enough for a table and a bit of chilling. Bit if it's pee'ing it down with rain and I need to service the bike, I have to put the table away.

I'm not totally convinced by Air awnings compared to poles. They aren't that much easier to errect. They cost a lot more. And the pack is significantly heavier and larger.

We've got a wind out awning with mesh sides. A rafter and a magic rafter pro. Tied down with storm straps. It creaks and groans in mild wind, which is amplified inside the van. It definitely has to be wound in when it gets breezy. But I've had the drive away up in a gale. We just disconnected the tunnel so it wasn't flapping as much. Pegged down all the storm straps. And had a good nights sleep.

Thanks for that. That's very interesting about the air ones being heavier. I thought it would be the opposite. I may not tie myself to one in that case. I had a look at the vsngo though, and that size would probably be okay for me. A table in the corner, but primarily just a wee bit more space for my son to move to.

 

[GoCoeGo]

A lot of Funsters use Quest pop up awnings. They seem more popular than drive away types. We have one and I wouldn’t be without it.
Phil

Thank you for that suggestion. I had a look at these, but I think i like the idea of a drive away awning because of the tunnel it provides. In my head I would like to have a bit more space for my son, but have the awning zipped up, so he is not just going to run out of it straight away. He obviously could still escape down the side of the tunnel, but I think having it would leave less chance. The pop up ones are completely exposed on side also that I can see. Something to think about in the future though.

 

[GoCoeGo]

When I swapped to a motorhome, I bought a set of Lilypad Leisure's Windblockers. For the number of times I've used them over the past seven years, I might as well have saved my money. If you have a wind-out awning, I'd suggest that a normal windbreak might be all that you actually need.

That's a fair point. And I'm conscious of what usage I'll get also... I just like the idea of the driveway awning as I can completely enclose it. But I'll have a look at some bigger wind breaks, as it may be enough.

 

[GoCoeGo]

Buy a drive away awning.
Use it twice.
Put it in the shed.
3 years later you sell it on the Motorhome Fun Classified pages!

Take a look, there are usually half a dozen available "only used twice".

I can see the point of a Drive away awning if you have a caravan, or you are spending a few weeks in the same place, but the whole point of a motorhome is the ability to leave without a trace in ten mins from waking up yea

Buy a drive away awning.
Use it twice.
Put it in the shed.
3 years later you sell it on the Motorhome Fun Classified pages!

Take a look, there are usually half a dozen available "only used twice".

I can see the point of a Drive away awning if you have a caravan, or you are spending a few weeks in the same place, but the whole point of a motorhome is the ability to leave without a trace in ten mins from waking up.

With my family nothing happens in 10 minutes! I'm ready... but no one else ever is. But I completely see your point. I would say the majority of used one have been tagged "used once," so i am conscious of spending too much money on one. I just want to create a slightly larger space. My son is of the energetic variety, and it would be nice to have a wee bit of extra space for him to move around in.

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[GoCoeGo]

when we bought our driveaway, we had a long think about how we were going to use it, ease of erection and dismantling, storage, what we actually wanted it for and when we would actually use it. we already have a wind out awning so were not sure about getting one, so went for a pre loved one, on the basis we could sell it on if it wasnt 'for us'.

we decided on air inflated one, big enough for a dining table and four chairs and to be able to cook in the tunnel area (using the external electric socket) - we've used it a couple of times and been happy with it, but its not something we would spend big on.

i think the quest type pop ups have their benefit, but for us being able to get in and out of the motorhome and being sheltered at the time, persuaded us against them.

Thank you. Would you be able to share which model you went with? Just to get an idea of the size and if it's a maker I have not considered yet.

 

[GoCoeGo]

We had a Vango Kela Airbeam Tall Driveway awning, it worked well, ok size, great for 2 people. But cannot recommend Vango, warranty is/was poor 2 tube valves broke, replacements available but at a cost.

We only drove away twice once to test, over about 7 years. The drawbacks we found were that it come out a long way from the side of the van especially when pegged out, you need a wide pitch and surprisingly bulky and heavy.

If we had a PVC then might consider again, but a different make.

That's very disappointing. As it looked like quite a good size for us also. But I am starting to question the air awnings now.

 

[GoCoeGo]

I hear the comment that "we never use it" quite a lot.
We have two and we use one or the other all the time, nearly every time, depending on where we are and what we are doing.

Got a Dometic Kampa Rally 400 inflatable driveaway. We put it up anytime we stay somewhere more than three nights. This adds a tad less than three metres to the width of the bus.

Also got a Thule G3 static for when we have the little car with us.. We put this up any time it is cold. Also had the Truma hot air take-off fitted. This attaches to a length of a hose and a diffuser. It adds 2.5m to the width of the bus.

I like the sizes of the kampa. I see thst kampa and domestic are the same. But I found what i think it what you have under the name Domestic Air Pro 400

seems a good size though. Thank-you.

 

[L' Hobo]

Thank you for that suggestion. I had a look at these, but I think i like the idea of a drive away awning because of the tunnel it provides. In my head I would like to have a bit more space for my son, but have the awning zipped up, so he is not just going to run out of it straight away. He obviously could still escape down the side of the tunnel, but I think having it would leave less chance. The pop up ones are completely exposed on side also that I can see. Something to think about in the future though.

I have an Outwell Colorado V Plus TENT with front and side door entrance for £150 ono. if your interested.

I have had it for about 20yrs and, like so many others, only used it twice. Most of the time it has been sitting in the spare bedroom, simply because, it takes 2 people to erect and I normally travel alone.

It's a generous 5 person tent measuring 3.5m W x 4.95m L x 2m H.
It can be a fully enclosed, 3 sections (2.15m rear twin bedroom area x 1.45m centre section (with side door entrance) and a 1.20m front open section with removable front.
There is details of the tent on ukcampsite.co.uk.

Get in touch if interested , pickup near Colchester or Swaffham during the 'Bash' and delivery, possibly, as I'm traveling different places over the Summer, at cost.

PS Possibly the Swaffham Bash is the best as we can erect it and see if anything is missing and close enough from home to retrieve the misslaid part.

 

[Jimuck]

Have a look at Isabella buddy.
Uses your existing wind out awning and so easy to put up about 10 minutes. However does take a bit longer to peg it down if leaving up for a while. O ly about 10 minutes also to take down and put back in bags.

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[stuartholmes]

Our van when we had two small children was a Mercedes 206 pvc. It had canvas sling bunks for the children which worked fine until the oldest was about 7, at which point we bought an aluminium pole drive-away with 'tunnel' and inner tent for bedroom.
Footprint was about 7ft x 7ft plus 'tunnel' but that only added about 18inches.
I could put it up & down unaided in about 20 minutes while children went off exploring. It was a great bonus at bedtime to let children get tucked up while we had the 'van to ourselves but the linking door open so we could see what they were up to & they never felt far away.

It was never a problem on campsites and gave the added benefit of effectively reserving our pitch on 'free for all' fields.
We used it extensively on anything more than an emergency one-night stopover (when interior shuffling & sharing & the floor enabled the children to be inside).

So it was principallly extra bedroom but we did also manage to use it for bike storage.
One of the walls could be opened completely & held up on poles to make a canopy & with bedroom stuff pushed back it was a great place to sit & look at stuff. Like rain.
We never regretted and got a lot of use out of ours.

35 yrs later we still have it but could be persuaded to part if you can take on re-waterproofing, which I presume it will want, but realistically there are probably more modern (ie. lighter versions available.)
Whatever you buy, check the storage space required. Ours went on the roof for transit, would yours?

When the children were bigger we switched to a quick-erecting dome tent as used by hikers, which restored some level of get-up-&-go until they got up & went. (On holidays by themselves!)

Fiamma-type wind-out awnings are officially meant to be wound in when the wind is up & having watched a tent literally tear to shreds in wind as we tried in vain to save it I wouldn't defy that guidance.
One of our 'vans came with a 'hacienda' attachment but I never took it out of the bag. Looked like far too much trouble.

So my advice would be go with a driveaway, get the smallest you think will make the vital difference to your accommodation, buy it secondhand (but check whether need to waterproof it) so you don't spend too much ifsit doesn't work out and buy another bigger or something else smaller as your need change.

Nothing is forever. Even your least favourite PM or President....

 

[JnJ]

We've just got a Quest Falcon 300 Air. It zips off if you want to driveaway. We have had a poled version for a few years and have used it a lot when staying on campsites. It fits in most normal size pitches and is lightweight compared to many other air awnings.
We also have a Quest screen house for weekends and short stopovers.

 

[DDJC]

I like the sizes of the kampa. I see thst kampa and domestic are the same. But I found what i think it what you have under the name Domestic Air Pro 400

seems a good size though. Thank-you.

No, it is the Kampa Dometic Rally Air All-Season 330 DA

 

[Puddleduck]

We had Sunncamp awnings - one large one was a driveway and the smaller one just attached to the van. Both had poles rather than air.

We used both quite a lot, the big one when we were planning on being in one place for three or more nights and had grandsprog with us as he would play in the awning quite happily. The small not driveaway was always put up if we were on site for two nights or longer, very easy to put up and great for cooking under cover.

We let both awnings go with the van when we sold it.

 

[Guigsy]

My brother does a lot of tent camping. He's a scout leader. Him and his family spend about 3 months of the year under various types of canvas. His opinion of the early air beams were not good. They'd burst in high temperatures. And the sleeves weren't very robust. They've been much more robust for the past few years.

My other brother has a huge Vango air beam that he's had for about 7 years. It gets used about 6 weeks through summer when him and his wife pretty much move to a campsite with their friends. Full on hippie commune. The first of the air beams deflated this summer. And it was easy to replace. But after that much UV exposure, the tent is probably going to be retired soon.

Yes, I'm the only one with a motorhome.

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[GoCoeGo]

I have an Outwell Colorado V Plus TENT with front and side door entrance for £150 ono. if your interested.

I have had it for about 20yrs and, like so many others, only used it twice. Most of the time it has been sitting in the spare bedroom, simply because, it takes 2 people to erect and I normally travel alone.

It's a generous 5 person tent measuring 3.5m W x 4.95m L x 2m H.
It can be a fully enclosed, 3 sections (2.15m rear twin bedroom area x 1.45m centre section (with side door entrance) and a 1.20m front open section with removable front.
There is details of the tent on ukcampsite.co.uk.

Get in touch if interested , pickup near Colchester or Swaffham during the 'Bash' and delivery, possibly, as I'm traveling different places over the Summer, at cost.

PS Possibly the Swaffham Bash is the best as we can erect it and see if anything is missing and close enough from home to retrieve the misslaid part.

Thank you for that offer, I'll pass on the tent, as I think the dimensions are too big for my needs. And I can picture the scenario already with a 2 man pitcher... arrive at destination... kid runs out, Mrs runs after him, and I'm left crumpled underneath a tent that takes two. ironically I was very nearly going to be heading to Colchester recently.... which is a long way from my home. So that could of been an interesting turn of fate!

 

[GoCoeGo]

Have a look at Isabella buddy.
Uses your existing wind out awning and so easy to put up about 10 minutes. However does take a bit longer to peg it down if leaving up for a while. O ly about 10 minutes also to take down and put back in bags.

That's a new name/maker to me. So I'll add it to my bookmarks. Thanks. Looks very very similar to the fiama privacy rooms. Would that be safe to assume? Although a funster above mentioned that the fiama privacy rooms were a nightmare to deal with. Which is a far contrast to 10 minutes, which sounds perfectly acceptable.

 

[GoCoeGo]

Our van when we had two small children was a Mercedes 206 pvc. It had canvas sling bunks for the children which worked fine until the oldest was about 7, at which point we bought an aluminium pole drive-away with 'tunnel' and inner tent for bedroom.
Footprint was about 7ft x 7ft plus 'tunnel' but that only added about 18inches.
I could put it up & down unaided in about 20 minutes while children went off exploring. It was a great bonus at bedtime to let children get tucked up while we had the 'van to ourselves but the linking door open so we could see what they were up to & they never felt far away.

It was never a problem on campsites and gave the added benefit of effectively reserving our pitch on 'free for all' fields.
We used it extensively on anything more than an emergency one-night stopover (when interior shuffling & sharing & the floor enabled the children to be inside).

So it was principallly extra bedroom but we did also manage to use it for bike storage.
One of the walls could be opened completely & held up on poles to make a canopy & with bedroom stuff pushed back it was a great place to sit & look at stuff. Like rain.
We never regretted and got a lot of use out of ours.

35 yrs later we still have it but could be persuaded to part if you can take on re-waterproofing, which I presume it will want, but realistically there are probably more modern (ie. lighter versions available.)
Whatever you buy, check the storage space required. Ours went on the roof for transit, would yours?

When the children were bigger we switched to a quick-erecting dome tent as used by hikers, which restored some level of get-up-&-go until they got up & went. (On holidays by themselves!)

Fiamma-type wind-out awnings are officially meant to be wound in when the wind is up & having watched a tent literally tear to shreds in wind as we tried in vain to save it I wouldn't defy that guidance.
One of our 'vans came with a 'hacienda' attachment but I never took it out of the bag. Looked like far too much trouble.

So my advice would be go with a driveaway, get the smallest you think will make the vital difference to your accommodation, buy it secondhand (but check whether need to waterproof it) so you don't spend too much ifsit doesn't work out and buy another bigger or something else smaller as your need change.

Nothing is forever. Even your least favourite PM or President....

Thank you Stuart. That's excellent information and advice. That is pretty much along the lines of what i I was thinking of using it for... Having a bedroom, or just a space to, as you say, "watch the rain" plenty of that where I am anyway.

Having spent many a night in an array of tents (generally somewhere in the cairngorms) I can certainly see why fiama reccomend taking them down in wind. I have some good hiking tents, and still had some "Uh oh" sleepless nights!!

 

[GoCoeGo]

We've just got a Quest Falcon 300 Air. It zips off if you want to driveaway. We have had a poled version for a few years and have used it a lot when staying on campsites. It fits in most normal size pitches and is lightweight compared to many other air awnings.
We also have a Quest screen house for weekends and short stopovers.

That looks like a really good option also. Thank you. It's similar to what I was looking at, and the price (even new) seems very good. (On offer) I only saw the poled version for high top in my initial search, but I'll find and compare the air version now also.

 

[GoCoeGo]

No, it is the Kampa Dometic Rally Air All-Season 330 DA

Ah my mistake. Thank-you for referencing the correct version.