Newbie question - awnings

[AlanF1]

We have been debating buying an awning for our motorhome - a Burstner with a Thule Omnistor awning. Having watched a number of YouTube videos we have a number of questions.

1. Ease of putting up and down.

A driveway awning seems to be the right choice. What are your thoughts on those with air sock supports vs poles?

2. Use in autumn/spring.

We thought it would be useful to have space, if the weather was inclement, to "act as a buffer" so we are not bring wet things (+ wet dog!) directly into the van and maybe have this area to hang up coats, etc. Do you use your awnings in this way and if the awning is wet when you have to stow it, how quickly can you get them dry when the trip is over?

How do campsites react to you heating them - electric heating of course?

Do you bother trying to block drafts into the awning from under the van?

3. Awning make/model recommendations

We are looking for enough space for two chairs, a table + space for the dog. Any recommendations given the above we should consider?

Should we have a separate groundsheet or one that is sewn in?

I appreciate some of these questions are pretty basic but we are keen to learn from your experiences.

Many thanks

 

[Landy Andy]

Everybody does things differently, but for us, we have a motorhome to tour. Awnings are for caravans that remain stationary on sites. Faff to put up, faff to put down, faff to store, faff to live around when not in use. Always cold, or hot, and not really justifiable to heat it.

Personally I’m not a fan. Can you tell

 

[stevewagner]

We use a Rally Pro 260 air awning that only takes 30 minutes to erect and dismantle. Has plenty of room for a table and two chairs and great for hanging up wet clothes etc. It slides into the bottom groove on the rear of the roll out blind. Certainly wouldn’t consider using site electricity to heat it. Absolutely no thermal qualities so would be a complete waste of energy.

 

[Spriddler]

Awning? A creation of the Devil.
They're not known as 'Divorce in a bag' for nothing.

 

[David and Sally]

Outdoor Revolution pole awning. Not hard to put up. Lighter than our last air awning.
We only use it if over about four nights.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Langtoftlad]

Usually someone suggests a quest popup about now...
It appears to be me.

 

[Robert Clark]

We spent hours watching people putting up their ‘easy up’ awnings

 

[NicandJay]

Outdoor Revolution Movelite t2. Works/ed well for us as a couple with a medium sized dog, two chairs, table. Easy up easy down, driveaway. However, now no dog so considering Quest Pop Up. The more I see of them being built/used the more I like them. However am I right in saying not all sites accept them? Someone will along to confirm shortly I'm sure...

 

[dunnah01]

Have a look at how many used awnings appear for resale in the classifieds

 

[David and Sally]

Outdoor Revolution Movelite t2. Works/ed well for us as a couple with a medium sized dog, two chairs, table. Easy up easy down, driveaway. However, now no dog so considering Quest Pop Up. The more I see of them being built/used the more I like them. However am I right in saying not all sites accept them? Someone will along to confirm shortly I'm sure...

Yes. Some do not allow.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[AlanF1]

Yes. Some do not allow.

Why do sites not allow them?

 

[phase3begins]

Why do sites not allow them?

Because they are ugly?

 

[Landy Andy]

Why do sites not allow them?

Because it’s not their fault that the owner didn’t buy the correct size van

 

[pappajohn]

We have been debating buying an awning for our motorhome - a Burstner with a Thule Omnistor awning

The Thule omnistor is a fixed wind-out canopy.
It's not an enclosed caravan type awning unless you buy a wall kit to attach to it.

 

[rolosroller]

How do campsites react to you heating them - electric heating of course?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[landscaper]

We have a roll out awning with just a front panel that we can zip in if we want it. It takes less than 5 mins to put up or take down.

 

[Stag man]

We’ve seen loads of different types and seen loads of ‘domestics’ putting them up and taking them down
Our MH came with a Fiamma wind-out awning
It’s just a canopy with legs, nothing else
We use it for shade and when it’s raining
I reckon about 20 mins and I can have it wound out, matting down, pegs in, chairs out and the first ‘tinny’ open

 

[BillyKontiki]

Awnings are great more space in the evening particular if you have company but
You also need to consider your payload some awnings can weigh 40kg plus.

 

[Spriddler]

We’ve seen loads of different types and seen loads of ‘domestics’ putting them up and taking them down
Our MH came with a Fiamma wind-out awning

Or was it a 'wind-up warning?'

 

[pampam]

We drove down to kent in our little toyota iq to buy an awning for our motorhome (it filled it ) then on the way back we calledat brownhills for a groundsheet, and ended up buying a bigger motorhome lol

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[AndyPK]

This is what we use rather than the wind-out awning - not a drive away, but we don’t move the ‘van off-site, except when we’re moving to another site…..

We don’t use a groundsheet as they tend to kill grass if not removed regularly…….

 

[David and Sally]

Why do sites not allow them?

No real reason that I can see except gazebos have been known to blow away. The site we are on today say that if you have a gazebo up you have to stay with it or put it down when you are away.

Church Farm Holiday Park | Touring Park in Aldeburgh, Suffolk

At Church Farm Holiday Park, our touring pitches are the perfect spot for self-contained Touring Caravans, Campervans, and Motorhomes.

churchfarmparkaldeburgh.co.uk

 

[Johnnygooner]

Instant Pop Up Bubble Tent

Alvantor Bubble Tent is the outdoor shade and shelter solutions for all business types to suit any areas! It is our British online store. We offer outdoor Pop Up Bubble Tents for 100+ countries. Set up in 30 Seconds.

uk.alvantor.com

Just ordered one of these....Tad pricey, at a couple of hundred quid, but The Missus liked the fact it is very simple to put up, and take down, and it's not too ostentatious.....Will let you know how we get on with it.....

Also, just to advise, FIRST Motorhome weekend booked for next weekend, 2 nights at Black Horse Farm, Folkestone....CANNOT WAIT......

 

[Itsmcb]

Sit outside if it's fine weather, sit inside the lovely warm van if it's cold or windy. Two minutes to towel the dog dry and hang any wet coats in the shower to dry. Sorted. Sitting in an awning would remind me of wet miserable camping trips before we had the van. Just my opinion of course.

 

[Taran_Las]

<snip>
We don’t use a groundsheet as they tend to kill grass if not removed regularly……. </snip>

Good point. After a day or two a ground sheet can cause a lot of damage to grass. I don't use a groundsheet ever but then again my rollout awning has only been used once in 3 years. I bought a Quest pop-up, but I'm not sure when (or if) that'll see the light of day.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[the1andonly]

weather you need an awning will be down to you and how you use your van and how big it is. When we had the Bongo we had 4 awnings used on basis of how long we would be at a site. A fiamma pull out and rear door awning for 1-3 days, 2 weeks a 6m airbeam. With a 6m MH we have a 2.4m awning for 3days to 2weeks. I can cook outside but stand under cover whilst it rains.

 

[Snoopy]

We are happy with our pro quest 4 screen house, suits our needs, thankfully have the space under zebedee to store it, lightweight and very versatile

 

[RobbyMClark]

This is what we use rather than the wind-out awning - not a drive away, but we don’t move the ‘van off-site, except when we’re moving to another site….. View attachment 517382
We don’t use a groundsheet as they tend to kill grass if not removed regularly…….

AndyPK That looks a usable piece of kit. Usual questions
What
Where
How Much!

 

[AndyPK]

AndyPK That looks a usable piece of kit. Usual questions
What
Where
How Much!

It’s a Sunncamp Swift Sun Canopy 390, about £135……
I attached C-channel to the underside of the wind-out awning to save having to use Keder strip and figure-of-eight extrusion - the Canopy slides into the C-channel.

Have a look at the thread

Removing wind-out canopy from ‘van......

We’ve had the ‘van for a year now, and used the wind-out canopy/awning only a couple of times, so I’m thinking about removing it and having a caravan-style awning rail fitted. This will allow us to attach a standard porch awning or whatever if we’re pitched for a couple of days or more. The ‘van...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Tony50]

We had a pump up awning , bought at a show , delivered to Motorhome , why I hear you ask ? Well we soon found out why he was keen to deliver, it was all ( as it would be) in a big bag and it was so heavy , won't buy another pump up, Also consider if th air tube leaks on site , what do you do if it won't erect properly ( awning I mean !) I have seen it happen .