Small drive away awning suggestions please

[Cliffdale]

Hi.
I’m looking for a small drive away awning, one that does not add too much width to the van. Mid height, 2.4m. Prefer sown in ground sheet, light weight and small pack size. Air inflate but don’t mind poles if it’s easy to pitch. Any suggestions to look at please.
Thanks

 

[Guigsy]

Air inflate ones are considerably heavier and bulkier. I don't think they are much easier to pitch either, particularly with small (2.5m x 2.5m) drive away awnings.

We previously had an Outdoor Revolution Cayman Classic Mk2. It was poled, but it was easy to put up. It worked fairly well. Although the tunnel to the van was a bit hard to get right without either ending up with it being too tight, so we had large gaps down the side of the van, or too loose so it pooled a bit of water on top.

We switched it for a Vango Kela Air. It's about the same footprint as the Cayman, but about twice the pack size and nearly twice the weight and much more expensive. It is marginally higher quality, but most of it is down to the bulk of the air beams. The reason we switched is because the Cayman doesn't zip the doors at the bottom... so the cats would escape. It's a good awning, but we only really take it with us when we're stopping for a few days... which doesn't happen that often.

 

[Cliffdale]

Thanks for the reply. I like the Vango kela but as you say, it’s heavy and bulky. We have the O/D revolution t3 r and use it for long stays. I’ll have a look at the cayman, the smaller and lighter is better. We have a Labrador and a small additional space is good!

 

[Guffy60]

Have you looked at the pop up gazebos from the likes of Maypole and others, light and easy to put up.

 

[Cliffdale]

Have you looked at the pop up gazebos from the likes of Maypole and others, light and easy to put up.



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Thanks for replying. Needs to be a drive away. We have a Labrador and it would be useful to leave the van door open especially in the mornings, somewhere to feed her and give us space!

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[Brains]

I'd get a Quest Screen House

Once you have mastered the art, it goes up like an umbrella inside 5 mins.
Video is here

You can join it to a vehicle using this attachment

The Quest Screen House comes in two sizes, 4 sides or 6 sides.
The 6 side version has two doors and can be joined to other (4 or 6 side) Quest Screen Houses

The major advantages of a screen house are:

• It can be erected by one person in 5 mins
• Which means even for an overnight stop it's worth the time to put it up.
• It's fairly light (when compared to any other awning)
• It's a way smaller package than any other awning.
• Campsites tend not to object/charge extra as they see it as a glorified gazebo.
• Three (or 4) of the sides can be mesh or solid panels,
• The other sides are full size doors panels, that can be fully open, mesh or solid
• It can be used for other events such as parties, picnics and fetes.
• You can sleep in it
• You can use it to dry laundry,
• It's works as a midge/mozzie screen, so you can sit 'outside' at dusk
• It's fairly well made

 

[Brains]

Quest Screen House is the awning of choice on motorhome rallies.
Entire interconnected hamlets of Quests spring up!

 

[PaddyM]

I'd get a Quest Screen House

Once you have mastered the art, it goes up like an umbrella inside 5 mins.
Video is here

You can join it to a vehicle using this attachment

The Quest Screen House comes in two sizes, 4 sides or 6 sides.
The 6 side version has two doors and can be joined to other (4 or 6 side) Quest Screen Houses

The major advantages of a screen house are:

• It can be erected by one person in 5 mins
• Which means even for an overnight stop it's worth the time to put it up.
• It's fairly light (when compared to any other awning)
• It's a way smaller package than any other awning.
• Campsites tend not to object/charge extra as they see it as a glorified gazebo.
• Three (or 4) of the sides can be mesh or solid panels,
• The other sides are full size doors panels, that can be fully open, mesh or solid
• It can be used for other events such as parties, picnics and fetes.
• You can sleep in it
• You can use it to dry laundry,
• It's works as a midge/mozzie screen, so you can sit 'outside' at dusk
• It's fairly well made

Looks like a proper faff , is there one that you can just say shazam and its up ?

 

[MisterB]

We bought a pre loved inflatable drive away, a small one and it's been really useful, simple and quick to put up and take down
My only issue is that where the 'tunnel part' fits against the motorhome, its not a great fit and I think any dog would quickly get out of they were inclined to do so and under the motorhome is also an easy way for them to 'disappear' unless you also fit some sort of skirt.

Perhaps someone has already devised a solution to the tunnel 'security'. ???? I will be looking at what I can attach to the bottom of the motorhome to secure the tunnel to, to try to reduce the 'gap' next time we use it, or see if it can be held in place by a few temporary suction caps ...