Should I get a drive away awning for the motorhome?

[Cyclewalkbob]

Hi,

We normally go to Provence twice a year ( spring and autumn ) for four/five weeks where we stay, mainly outside, on one site and cycle all around the area.


However due to some ill health on my part we feel it would put too much pressure on Yvonne if I fell ill abroad, therefore we have decided to stay in England this year.

We plan to stay on a number of campsites for a week at a time and cycle around the area ( somewhat less mileage than before)

Now we all know the weather here is variable at the best, so is it worth buying a drive away awning so we can be protected from the worst of the weather without having to be stuck in the van all the time.

If it is worth buying the drive away awning which would you recommend.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Bob

 

[Phill D]

An awning may be a good option for you but being easy to put up and take down would be my preference in your situation rather than drive away.
And availability and choice is likely to be greater.

 

[Carpmart]

I would suggest a Quest Screenhouse Pro would be a much better option.

 

[phillipsheila]

Another vote for a Quest Screenhouse Pro

 

[Geo]

And another.

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[David and Sally]

We have an Outdoor Revolution drive away as well as a Quest six sided.

The advantage of the awning is the ability to cover the Moho door area against wind and rain. We use it a lot more than the Quest.
One thing to watch is how level the tunnel comes out from the awning rail. If it is too steeply inclined downwards it can make the Moho door hard to open .

I can see why a Quest is recommended by some but for us the awning is more weather protected.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

And yet another vote for a quest popup.easy to put up ,one man,easy to put away.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Quest pro 4 With additional canopy.

 

[Jim]

We have a driveaway awning. 99 times out of 100 we driveaway and leave it at home

 

[Cyclewalkbob]

We have an Outdoor Revolution drive away as well as a Quest six sided.

The advantage of the awning is the ability to cover the Moho door area against wind and rain. We use it a lot more than the Quest.
One thing to watch is how level the tunnel comes out from the awning rail. If it is too steeply inclined downwards it can make the Moho door hard to open .

I can see why a Quest is recommended by some but for us the awning is more weather protected.

What Outdoor Revolution drive away do you have Please?

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[Geo]

We have a driveaway awning. 99 times out of 100 we driveaway and leave it at home

Got fed up buyin em Jim come back to site following year and ---Gone
thought 11 was enough take the pop up with me now

 

[David and Sally]

What Outdoor Revolution drive away do you have Please?

It’s a Movelite with glass poles. Not made now but there if there is a later version I would buy another one when this gives up the ghost.

Not sure they do a poled version anymore either. I’m not really a fan of Samir awnings but that seems to be the current trend.

 

[Cyclewalkbob]

Yes just considering the new Movelight air 2TR as they have reduced the weight and Should be easy to erect. Not sure about the Quest though, nice and light but how stable?
It’s a bugger this getting ill otherwise we would be down in France in the warm and guaranteed Sun, but there is always 2023!

 

[Cyclewalkbob]

Thanks for everyone’s thoughts and recommendations

cheers

bob

 

[63720]

Not for us. Our van came with a canopy but if it hadn't I would not have fitted one. We like to travel light not staying too long anywhere, exception is BP in Benicassim for 2 weeks. Each to their own

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[68c]

Had three awnings, the first an old style brown and orange canvas one with steel frame, followed by a nylon fabric affair with fibreglass poles that had to be thread through and lastly an inflatable Movelite.
We used these as our child changed from a baby to a tot then an active boy and finally a teenager. In hindsight we should never have bought the inflatable one as it coincided with our teenager no longer wanting to travel with us. I found the first one to be very good, plenty of space and warm. The inflatable too heavy and not that straightforward to erect. I think the best one was the nylon and fibreglass pole one, it was lighter than the others and packed up small. Apart from threading the rods through it was easy to erect although the curved sides did mean not so much space. We found the awning most useful when travelling with another couple and their child, the adults sat in the awning in the evening without disturbing the sleeping children.

 

[the1andonly]

For your application another vote for the Outdoor revolution movelite air awnings. Be aware they are one piece items and the larger ones can be very heavy. Currently using a T2. Also used a t4 Kombi 6m wide but 30kg not small. Ps this ones in the classifieds.

 

[pandas]

Had an awning that attached to the wind out canopy via a zip - it was too heavy and bulky so only used it 2 or 3 times. I think the drive away unit will have much the same issue. Please do not take this the wrong way but as you circumstances have changed maybe time to re look at the way you Travel. Had you thought about changing to a caravan which may give you more living space and the flexibility? Bikes can go on the car roof rack, unless electric of course. I don't think caravan or motorhome has to be such a polarised subject that is sometimes voiced on this forum as both get you out and about and provide a sense of freedom.

 

[JaG]

Thanks for everyone’s thoughts and recommendations

cheers

bob

We have the Quest Screenhouse Pro and find it is the best thing since sliced bread. Up in under a minute, stable in winds and plenty of ventilation when needed HOWEVER....out last jaunt took us to several Haven sites (cheap deals) and none of them allow pop up awnings, so were stuffed for enclosed cover so.....we have decided to make contact with a specialist canvas firm in Staveley, Derbyshire and get them to make us a flysheet so it will affix to our Coachbuilt motorhome (Autotrail Cheyenne). The zip is already on it for the accessory to join it to a panel van so we are going to get them to make the same to join to ours. We will have a zip put on the rear end of the Quest so we can exit from the opposite end. That means it becomes either a pop up or awning, so can be used anywhere.

 

[Don Campbell]

Staying for 3 nights or more the driveaway goes up. Any less and we don't bother. It's a Vango and we have mastered the tequnique of putting it up fairly quickly, but the last few pumps to get to the recommended pressure needs the thought of a reward drink to achieve. I did sew an extra piece on that tucks in to the drivers door and keeps the wind out.

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[Two on Tour]

Pop-up shelter everytime for us, mind you, it has been fun at times watching those with a drive away awning marking out where the wheel have to be so they are in the right position when they return to reconnect the awning,
and the, " your to far across", "straighten up a bit", and "sod it, that will do" , upon their return to their drive away awning.

 

[Jethro]

What Outdoor Revolution drive away do you have Please?

I have an outdoor revolution Cayman mid (pole) drive away for sale new in august £300 for s as le

 

[AndyPK]

This is what we use, but it’s not a drive away. If you’re cycling around the areas you are staying in, do you need to move your ‘van at all……?

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Staying for 3 nights or more the driveaway goes up. Any less and we don't bother. It's a Vango and we have mastered the tequnique of putting it up fairly quickly, but the last few pumps to get to the recommended pressure needs the thought of a reward drink to achieve. I did sew an extra piece on that tucks in to the drivers door and keeps the wind out.

Another vote for the Vango , we have a Kela V inflatable driveaway , use Kador strip to attach , goes up or down in around 20mins , same for us ,use it usually for 3 day or linger stays , wind out van awning, attach Kador and awning tunnel , wind in van awning , pump up and peg down . When we do driveway for the day we put a peg in line with centre of rear offside wheel , detach awning and drive away, when we come back I use a collapsible traffic cone that I place over the peg , reverse by myself to align the wheel with no drama and reattach awning.

 

[NicandJay]

We have the Outdoor Revolution T2 Movelite Driveaway which is now an inflatable awning. We like it dont get me wrong but there is the phaff of getting reattached if you take van out and is bulky when packed. Considered a Quest pop up then discounted it in favour of Decathlons poled base shelter called Arpenaz. 2 fire glass poles, 2.5m on each side, sewn in ground sheet and only £99.00! Packs very small, weighs only 8 kg. Granted it may not be the most durable product over time, we will wait and see, but maybe worth a look. Ours has done well so far this autumn and we have had some right tasty weather wind and rain wise. So far so good.

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[Coolcats]

Hi,

We normally go to Provence twice a year ( spring and autumn ) for four/five weeks where we stay, mainly outside, on one site and cycle all around the area.


However due to some ill health on my part we feel it would put too much pressure on Yvonne if I fell ill abroad, therefore we have decided to stay in England this year.

We plan to stay on a number of campsites for a week at a time and cycle around the area ( somewhat less mileage than before)

Now we all know the weather here is variable at the best, so is it worth buying a drive away awning so we can be protected from the worst of the weather without having to be stuck in the van all the time.

If it is worth buying the drive away awning which would you recommend.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Bob

Its an interesting question, we had a <Broken link removed>drive away for our T5 (they come in various sizes), have to say in the UK this can provide valuable extra living space for a small campervan. you have a 'fillet' strip that attached to the van and a figure of 8 plastic strip that goes between the fillet strip and awning.

What I did when driving away and returning was to place a tent peg just by the front and rear wheels so that on the return the van would line back up to re-attach the awning.

We also had an inflatable Sofa,Carpet and used a electric heater when on hook up so the late Autumn and early spring was very comfy it also kept the worst of the weather away (Rain etc)

The down side, they can be slightly bulky and soaking wet when packing away other than that all is good and can highly recommend them.

 

[kelv]

I have an outdoor revolution Cayman mid (pole) drive away for sale new in august £300 for s as le

can you tell me what height the awning rail a mid height fits.
have you any pics and location

 

[Jethro]

can you tell me what height the awning rail a mid height fits.
have you any pics and location

Fits rail height 220 - 255cm located in kings Lynn. Available for collection by courier. I believe cost £15-20

 

[Jethro]

Fits rail height 220 - 255cm located in kings Lynn. Available for collection by courier. I believe cost £15-20

 

[kelv]

sorry jethro
its the awning i am looking at but to low need a high one