Fiamma windout awning

[bri]

Just wondering how much benefit you get with a windout awning.l had one on my last MH a few years ago,but to be honest,felt like we were sat in wrong place all the time,as it didn't seem to shade us when we were sat under it...the shade from it was some way away

 

[bri]

Also cargo box on back...any good?

 

[ChrisSue]

I don't mind not being under the awning as long as I am shaded

 

[ChrisSue]

Again with the Fiamma box. We use ours for fairly light items which don't get used every time we go away. A storage tent, hd straps for the wind out awning, wellies that kind of thing

 

[mushy]

I tend to think of them as a gimmick and have never used ours. I suppose if you have a front and two sides it makes an extra storage space.

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[Stag man]

We use ours all the time.
I tend to run it out a fair way and only lift the outer edge a bit, just enough to take the weight of the awning assembly and stop it distorting.
That way there is loads of shade underneath (and I don’t keep bashing my head on the metal rail cos I can see it)
It’s also handy when it’s raining to dry the dog and change out of wet weather gear

 

[Langtoftlad]

Just wondering how much benefit you get with a windout awning.l had one on my last MH a few years ago,but to be honest,felt like we were sat in wrong place all the time,as it didn't seem to shade us when we were sat under it...the shade from it was some way away

Who knows
My first van had one, and I never used it because of the above [and paranoia about the wind catching it]
So on my second van I decided not to bother and got a Quest Pop Up [a lot lot cheaper & more flexible]... but that wasn't ideal as I discovered it was very stuffy sitting inside in full sunshine.

So now I've had a windout awning fitted, I pay more attention to which way the sun travels in relation to pitching my van, I've invested in tie down & storm straps and also side shades.
Now all I need is the sun

 

[dazandandrea]

I always found the windout awning provided much more shade than the box on yje back.

 

[Lenny HB]

Didn't bother with one on the last van but got caught out a couple of times in 35° with no shade so we had one on this van.
Don't need them very often but when you do, you really do.

 

[OwnedbyCollies]

We tend to peg a couple of large beach towels on the front or sides if the sun is in an awkward position. It works well - it's very flexible and doesn't stop the cooling breeze - but the downside is that we sometimes look like a Chinese laundry

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[Ridgeway]

wouldn’t be without one, but we do follow the sun. Keeps the rain off when needed, dry place to BBQ outside and we fit a shade/wind break on the front of ours when neede (we often camp at lakes where cool breezes are common)

 

[Two on Tour]

We use ours quite a bit, but not only for the sun, as if it can give you a dry-ish area to move about in if you have rain.

 

[bri]

Again with the Fiamma box. We use ours for fairly light items which don't get used every time we go away. A storage tent, hd straps for the wind out awning, wellies that kind of thing

Sounds like a plan thank you,we've just found a fiamma bag and frame at Brownhills, so going with that

 

[Richard n Ann]

We wind ours out when it's hot for shade. Also Park the Scoot under it when rain is forecast. I ratchet strap it down but wind it in if it's windy as all the flapping is annoying.

 

[ChrisSue]

My pleasure

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[royandsharont]

I found we used ours quite a bit, shaded the side of the van as well as us but I understand what you are saying. I found the big plus was to add the sun blocker along the full length, what a big benefit that was, although you don’t see many used. So much so I wouldn’t be without one now

 

[I2C]

We’ve used ours a couple of times for shade but probably more often for hanging up the washing to dry!

I think if we’re had a new van without one we’d just use the tarp we have for shade, works just as well as an awning.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Britain isn't really hot enough to need the shade, last July during the 'hot' week we were in Blackpool for 5 days and never even thought about winding the awning out. This country is so windy we never consider it

 

[Masman]

I have one and rarely use it.I used a portable parasol before i got it fitted which you could move it to where ever you need it.I personaly wouldn't fit one again.

 

[Spriddler]

I only tour South of Albion and use mine a lot. It's handy for shade and for cover to hang up wet gear and leave chairs, BBQ, table, washing, shoes and damp towels out when away from the m/h or overnight in calm weather. It's on the fridge vents side where it provides a bit of shade to help the fridge to function better.

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[glenn2926]

I always found the windout awning provided much more shade than the box on yje back.

Whilst I agree with you re the greater amount of shade provided by the awning. The box beats the awning hands down in the storage of stuff .

 

[WillH]

We use ours primarily to keep the van cool, it really does help if you can't get natural shade to park under.

 

[royandsharont]

Yes I can see many in the UK would not get use out of one, we don’t tend to use ours here. In fact I cannot ever recall using it in the UK but on the Continent, particularly further south, we use it almost all the time & we were spending an average of 120 nights away a year. If the wind & forecast are safe enough we’ve even left it out overnight, but always well strapped down. I’ve seen them damaged by the wind and very heavy rain too when not left out on an angle for it to run off. As above used more for shading the van, not us.

 

[Kups]

Wouldn't be without our Thule windout. Use it on its own with side/front blocker in summer but mainly with our Panorama Room in autumn and winter. Makes a great living space for long stay. Because the windout is the roof, storing the side panels is much less bulky than airbeam types.

 

[AndyPK]

Given a choice, I wouldn’t have a wind-out fitted (I removed one from our first ‘van, AS Clubman GL, and it made the handling much better), but would have an awning rail strip (c-channel) fitted instead so that a porch canopy type could be attached if required. We don’t use the wind-out on our current ‘van, but I have attached c-channel to the underside of it so that I can attach a canopy of choice, usually a Sunncamp Swift Canopy 390. Not having a wind-out can also increase your payload too!

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[Ridgeway]

So isn’t the conclusion:

If you’re only planning to go camping on a wet and windy island then probably not very useful but if you’re heading to France, Spain, Italy etc then it’s perhaps a good thing to have.

Here we have one on the house and I think the camper would feel left out if she didn’t have one

 

[Manic]

We use our awning a bit, if it’s really sunny we have Lillypad blocker front and one end panel.
Quite often use it fastened to the wall brackets if the sun is on the fridge side, helps the fridge a bit.
Also got a Fiamma box, good for extra storage as we have no garage.

 

[DangerMousy]

Given a choice, I wouldn’t have a wind-out fitted (I removed one from our first ‘van, AS Clubman GL, and it made the handling much better), but would have an awning rail strip (c-channel) fitted instead so that a porch canopy type could be attached if required. We don’t use the wind-out on our current ‘van, but I have attached c-channel to the underside of it so that I can attach a canopy of choice, usually a Sunncamp Swift Canopy 390. Not having a wind-out can also increase your payload too!

This is exactly what we have on our current MH (and the previous one)....a simple awning rail stuck on with Sikaflex (no screws required).

We use an inflatable sun canopy - it takes 5/10 mins to put up and take down and can be left out in all weathers (sun, wind, rain - haven't tried snow yet!).

 

[cyberyacht]

I wouldn't have a windout if I was speccing a new van but would follow DangerMousy's route. Quick and easy canopy & save weight. Not that I could be bothered with a proper awning though. That was an hours work when I had a caravan.

 

[GMLS]

Wouldn't be without a windout and will be getting on fitted to the new van
Quick to put up and put away. We've never had an problem getting shade and find it useful if BBQ'ing if it rains. Also sometimes just nice to have a bit more space to sit out if its warm and raining. Protects bikes, chairs and BBQ outside etc, etc