Awnings

[Doug53]

Hi we are new to this and wondered if people used awnings or drive away awnings any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received. We have an Autotrail Tracker. Thanks

 

[Nirvanauk]

Any sign of wind take it down.

 

[davidathomas42]

Factors to bear in mind as they are different for everyone is

1: Do you have a tow car to use when pitched or are you moving the van daily.
2: Are you staying for a week or two at a time or just a couple of days normally so want less set up and down hassle.
3: Are you physically capable of erecting a big one with all the poles and pegs etc or would a simple wind out awning be more suited.
(With option to add on privacy walls as and when you want.
4: Are you going on pitches that allow a full awning or only wind out ones.

We bought an air awning and add on tent room for it and used it once. We now refer to it as divorce in a bag.

Now we have a 4m Fiamma wind out and set up the perimeter with wind breaks etc. Do plan to get the privacy sides at some point but honestly I prefer the open air feel. That’s why I wanted to get out into the great outdoors anyway

 

[Speve]

We have a Kampa pro air 260 and find it really great if stopping for more than a week we have two dogs and it acts as drying room and anything else.
You can zip out the windows and doors to leave an open area and you don’t need to take down if windy.
Very easy to put up as well

 

[138go]

Depends what and where you are aiming to go. If it’s outside the Uk then most use just the wind out awning. Fast to put out and away and lives on the outside. We stop on Aires in France and also wild camp. We do stay on sites abroard and in the Uk. Our awning has straps to hold it down but if it’s really gusty we put it away. Got caught out last year in France and it was up in a tremendous overnight thunderstorm so I have had to put a repair patch on.

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[Doug53]

Thanks for your replies I am not sure we need one but my wife feels we do, if we are staying for more than a couple of days and as we travel with a dog it will give us a bit more space.

 

[Minxy]

I would resist until you know how you are going to use your MH ... we travel with 3 dogs and even when going to MH show for a long weekend, we put our large caravan porch awning up and hardly used it! If you intend to travel abroad and use the aires etc you can't use an awning anyway.

The only time an 'enclosed' awning (either drive-away, freestanding or sides attached to a wind-out one) can be useful IMV is if you're staying put for a while in colder months, so you can dry off your dogs etc or sit out when it's too chilly to do so in the 'open'. If a dog drying and wet-gear storage area is all you need look at caravan porch awnings, they can be bought very cheaply second hand, lots of types to choose from, and all you need it a rail to slot the top bit into (easy to fit one to your vehicle). If you move around a lot then a wind-out awning may be a good option as it can be easily put out/taken in as/when needed, but they aren't cheap and shouldn't be left out 'unattended' IMV even if secured with straps.

Don't forget that whatever you buy has to be stored in the MH too whilst you travel around and some are massive and heavy ... and if wet ... yuk!!!