The no-awning option

[quilkin]

I've a newly-converted van and have decided to try without an awning (for shade from sun, it might not be possible to park the right way round; if it's raining I'm happy to be inside the van). So I'm after a sturdy folding table with a hole for a parasol, to use instead. There are plenty of garden tables around, but most are very heavy and many include glass tops. I've found this table but it's pretty ugly and I don't need 4 seats. Has anyone else taken the option of no awning, and if so did you find a suitable table for a parasol? Or is there another reason for an awning that I don't know about?

 

[DL42846]

But your photo actually confirms why I haven't got one, and prefer to use a portable beach shelter. Unless you can glue yourself to the side of your van about 4 feet from the ground, there's absolutely no useable shade under your canopy whatsoever in that photo I appreciate that you could keep moving the van around as the day progresses

That picture was taken at 07:30 in the morning where the sun was low and still coming up. The table and chairs were partially out from under the awning where the night before I had lite a charcoal BBQ on the table and didn't want to burning my new awning. After taking the picture I moved the table and chairs further to the van and my head and shoulders were in the shade. I don't recall having a situation where the awning didn't provide shade.
We mainly use our MH for long weekend trips down to the south of France where it can get quiet hot and very sunny. The awning works for us and our dog. Mind you he goes under the van.

 

[busby]

We use a Decathlon Tarp £30
<Broken link removed>

It comes with 6 guying points already attached - you could use 2 or 3 of these to attach hooks to if you've got a rail along the top of your van (we don't, so we stuck a length of awning rail on the side of the MH and sewed a length of kador strip on to the awning instead). The supplied poles are 1.8m and are just about ok, but we've replaced them with a set of Vango King Poles that extend up to 220cm

That's similar to my sunshade but cheaper.BUSBY.

 

[Rogerlathbury]

We got rid of our awning, omnistor 8000 which weighed according to their website 51kg two years ago and have never regretted it.
Bought the smaller four sided quest for longer stays and a big parasol and plastic base that is filled with water for shade.
[/QUOTE
Big parasol good idea !

 

[Snoopy]

Due to our payload we opted for the pro 4 shelter made by quest including side wall's, will be ideal easy to put up, told down

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[Rivermount]

Having used a tarp attached to my car for years but always found attaching securely to the car a bit of a problem. I like the idea of the track method of attaching an awning, neat, low wind resistance and simple to attach.

Interested in how the awning rail is fitted to the van. Is it stuck on or is it necessary to use mechanical fixings? I have a PVC and don't fancy drilling holes but wondered if there is a clever alternative way of doing it.

 

[Minxy]

Having used a tarp attached to my car for years but always found attaching securely to the car a bit of a problem. I like the idea of the track method of attaching an awning, neat, low wind resistance and simple to attach.

Interested in how the awning rail is fitted to the van. Is it stuck on or is it necessary to use mechanical fixings? I have a PVC and don't fancy drilling holes but wondered if there is a clever alternative way of doing it.

On top of Fiat X250 and X290 PVCs (and their Citroen/Peugeot brothers) there are 'lugs' which are meant to be used to attach roof racks and/or Fiamma/Thule awning cases, so I should think it wouldn't be that difficult to attach hoops to your tarp edge which you can pop over the lugs and then use a couple of poles for the outer corners and tie it down as per Dangermouse's photo to keep it securely in place.

 

[Wombles]

Having used a tarp attached to my car for years but always found attaching securely to the car a bit of a problem. I like the idea of the track method of attaching an awning, neat, low wind resistance and simple to attach.

Interested in how the awning rail is fitted to the van. Is it stuck on or is it necessary to use mechanical fixings? I have a PVC and don't fancy drilling holes but wondered if there is a clever alternative way of doing it.

We have a magnetic awning kit - the Kampa one https://www.purelyoutdoors.co.uk/products/kampa-dometic-magnetic-driveaway-kit-ac0308.html is well made

 

[Rivermount]

Thanks for the reply Mel.

I have tried using the lugs as a simple attachment point but I have found that the wind can come over the roof and then under the tarp causing flapping of the tarp. I was interested in fixing the van edge of the tarp to the van so the fabric is effectively sealed to the van by using a fixed track on the van. It would make the tarp usable in windier conditions if it could be fixed.

Having seen the pictures of the length of track on the camel/motorbike, I wondered how it could be fixed permanently to the van.

 

[Rivermount]

Thanks for the info on the Magnetic strip Wombles.

That looks interesting. I see it is sold for connecting a drive away awning, where the weight of the awning is self supporting. Do you think it would keep a 3m x 4m tarp attached to the van in a light to moderate wind?

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[Shrimp]

I’ve often thought that if we ended up with another van without an awning it would be a good idea to have the rail and a tarp/sail arrangement like SteveandDennis, much neater looking and if the wind did grab it not so much damage!
We lost a wind-out awning years back when we were out and a freak whirlwind went thru the site, several tents, awnings were damaged, luckily no damage to our van just the mech for the awning!

 

[JohnJan]

Having used a tarp attached to my car for years but always found attaching securely to the car a bit of a problem. I like the idea of the track method of attaching an awning, neat, low wind resistance and simple to attach.

Interested in how the awning rail is fitted to the van. Is it stuck on or is it necessary to use mechanical fixings? I have a PVC and don't fancy drilling holes but wondered if there is a clever alternative way of doing it.

Mine is stuck on with silkaflex and it holds fine

 

[DangerMousy]

Interested in how the awning rail is fitted to the van. Is it stuck on or is it necessary to use mechanical fixings? I have a PVC and don't fancy drilling holes but wondered if there is a clever alternative way of doing it.

I stuck ours on with Sikaflex EBT - no holes/drilling needed But that was on a coachbuilt with flat sides - I don't know much about van conversions, but I'm sure there must be a way to do it.

I love our tarp and awning rail combo....it cheap, lightweight and its stood up to a fair amount of punishment: we use it as much for bad weather protection as we do for sun shade including one morning when we woke up to find it had snowed in the night and the weight of snow collected on the tarp weighed it down so much that we struggled to open the hab door LOL The only time we took it down as a precaution in wind was when it got a bit gusty by a lake in southern France - but that was because the ground was very sandy so the pegs weren't gripping very well (and I wouldn't have left a windout canopy out either). The only time a windout canopy would be better is on some aires where you'd like a bit of shade but can't peg out - but everything in life is a compromise

 

[Minxy]

Having seen the pictures of the length of track on the camel/motorbike, I wondered how it could be fixed permanently to the van.

I had to have a think about the 'camel/motorbike' reference so thought I'd better put the info here for others who are wondering what you've been smoking!

... why have you got a camel in your garage????

As for fixing, Sikaflex (or the stuff made by them sold cheaper at Toolstation I think) would be the best way to do it. I'd put it on the top of the roof which would make it look more like roof rails so more aesthetically pleasing and this would also mount it a little bit higher so you shouldn't have any issues with opening or closing the sliding door.

 

[JohnJan]

Mine is stuck on with silkaflex and it holds fine

Along the top edge, the rail is 5 metres. Used for a sunshade or awning.

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[Rivermount]

Thanks for the replies.
Looks like I'll need to go down to the diy store!
It definitely looks like the way to go, the only problem is I'm not very tall but that's a problem I have been overcoming all my life!

Bob.

 

[DangerMousy]

Thanks for the replies.
Looks like I'll need to go down to the diy store!
It definitely looks like the way to go, the only problem is I'm not very tall but that's a problem I have been overcoming all my life!

Bob.

These folding steps are really useful to carry and fold away totally flat: Amazon product ASIN B01CG7Q67K

 

[oliver305]

I decided to try out Tentpronic after reading the positive reviews as well as the many size options. I am very happy with the product. I use it to shade the side of the rv as we face the blazing morning sun. it dramatically dropped the heat coming in our large garden room windows.