Whats the best type of awning?

[gpat]

We have a wind out Thule omnistore and we were planning to buy the side pieces to make a full awning. However

They are a crazy price
They look dead fiddly to put together.
I have heard horror stories of the wind out awning being damaged if they catch the wind with all that stuff hung on them.

We are now looking at one of these.
<Broken link removed>

Although it's an expensive inflatable awning and is not 'drive away', its still less expensive than all the Thule pieces and the installation looks a lot simpler.

 

[Daz Keach]

We have an outdoor revolution highline inflatable drive away awning. We don't drive away, but found this to be good for us, however, we did find a few issues, the side walls were a nightmare to get tight to the sides and the draft from underneath was a nuisance, so we have since used limpets on the sides and we have pulled up the footprint groundsheet and use limpets to attach and it works a treat.

 

[Don Campbell]

That sounds like a great solution. Will definitely be giving that a go.

Wife said to remind you to make sure the flaps are long enough to give her a bit extra to pull in so she doesn't get her fingers crushed in there. It happened first time and was not good !!! I did think the other way to do it would be with sticky back velcro just inside the door and velcro sewn on to the flaps but haven't got round to that yet. Whatever way you do it, it makes a big difference. The other thing we did after having an electric awning on a previous RV was fit an electric Fiamma awning . It makes a big difference. If you stop for lunch or overnight and it's raining or you want some shade who's going to wind out an awning and put it away again. Pressing a button is a doddle.

 

[Ninjabob]

The problem with Drive Aways is the rubbish fit to the side of the van. We have a Vango Kela 3 blow up and it is well made. Fitted a rail below the FIAMMA which improves the fit but takes away any chance of it being drive away. Gave up in the end and bought a Quest ScreenHouse Pro 4 - brilliant.

 

[gpat]

The problem with Drive Aways is the rubbish fit to the side of the van. We have a Vango Kela 3 blow up and it is well made. Fitted a rail below the FIAMMA which improves the fit but takes away any chance of it being drive away. Gave up in the end and bought a Quest ScreenHouse Pro 4 - brilliant.

Yes that's what we found. We already have an Outdoor Revolution Drive away type and its about as much use as........... We just use it as a store and we don't even bother trying to get a seal

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[Aireworth]

Question for those who use popups/screenhouses which are separate from the motorhome. How much of a problem is there with sites that don't allow tents on a pitch? Relatively new to this but last year two out of the five sites we were on said no tents allowed, citing some issues around their insurance.

 

[Wombles]

Question for those who use popups/screenhouses which are separate from the motorhome. How much of a problem is there with sites that don't allow tents on a pitch? Relatively new to this but last year two out of the five sites we were on said no tents allowed, citing some issues around their insurance.

If Quest screen houses are well anchored & all points fixed with good pegs & described as a "driveaway awning" then acceptable on most sites & welcome on most Fun meets & very popular on rallies. They should never be used without being pegged down as they can take off & cause damage & it only takes one experience of this for campsite owners to ban them. Standard gazebos are normally banned as they like to fly off & smash into motorhomes - we've literally caught a few in festival camping fields! Tent style shelters can normally be used instead but not as well as an awning & again best described as a "driveaway awning" .

 

[Ninjabob]

Question for those who use popups/screenhouses which are separate from the motorhome. How much of a problem is there with sites that don't allow tents on a pitch? Relatively new to this but last year two out of the five sites we were on said no tents allowed, citing some issues around their insurance.

The Screen House Pro is or was supposed to have a drive away accessory kit available for it. Any one seen it yet?

 

[DC4JC]

Its on norwichcamping website for preorder. But only fits rails up to 210cm, unfortunately.

 

[DC4JC]

Duplicate post

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[Wombles]

The Screen House Pro is or was supposed to have a drive away accessory kit available for it. Any one seen it yet?

https://www.norwichcamping.co.uk/shop/product/quest-vehicle-connector-for-screen-house-pro-4-12758/ all Quest screen house stock due in March but as mentioned above height only aimed at day vans for now:

 

[Michael Rennison]

I bought one of these (Isabella air cirrus north 300) with the extension to live in after selling our house. Isabella rebeaded it to 6mm to fit in the 4 metre Omnistor channel. Unfortunately we got locked down before we could use it so it's in the lockup ready for our first trip. Lowdhams were extremely helpful. It has a blow up side seal with packing pieces for the air beam and full length skirt clipped (market stall bulldog clips) to the side valance of the Knaus. I've got their 5 layer winter set up including: grass cover, plastic 50cm floor tiles, zip in groundsheet, insulated carpet and then carpet to finish the job off! It was eye wateringly expensive but will outlast the van.

 

[DC4JC]

Its on norwichcamping website for preborder. But only fits rails up to 210cm

stock due in March but as mentioned above height only aimed at day vans for now:

Shame. Hope they can extend it to fit bigger vans in the near future.

 

[Wombles]

Its on norwichcamping website for preborder. But only fits rails up to 210cm

Shame. Hope they can extend it to fit bigger vans in the near future.

Hopefully that's the plan - Quest are aware of the potential demand this could have as they attend the NEC Shows & keep getting asked by motorhomers like us!

 

[Don Campbell]

Wife said to remind you to make sure the flaps are long enough to give her a bit extra to pull in so she doesn't get her fingers crushed in there. It happened first time and was not good !!! I did think the other way to do it would be with sticky back velcro just inside the door and velcro sewn on to the flaps but haven't got round to that yet. Whatever way you do it, it makes a big difference. The other thing we did after having an electric awning on a previous RV was fit an electric Fiamma awning . It makes a big difference. If you stop for lunch or overnight and it's raining or you want some shade who's going to wind out an awning and put it away again. Pressing a button is a doddle.

Machman I did find a couple of pics of the extension pieces I put on the driveaway.

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[TheMachMan]

Machman I did find a couple of pics of the extension pieces I put on the driveaway.

View attachment 466106 View attachment 466107

Thanks For these. Definitely worth a go!

 

[Snoopy]

Another thumbs up for the pro quest we got the 4 sides one, as mentioned, it has to suit your motorhome life style, we bought ours from Jacksons of Arley in Coventry £239. Probably could of gone to the NEC and got a discount, but the time we factured in train ticket and enTrance fee, we decided to visit the shop 2019. Plus was how it went up and down, last summer it took a bit of a bashing! Flew off..we were on a gravel
Pitch think that didn't help, it was those bad storms last summer, stopped in Devon, thankfully hubby found it 2 fields away but only a small tear, all fixed. So thumbs up, great use of space.

 

[DC4JC]

For anyone interested there is stock of the Pro version (connecting tunnel was planned to be an accessory) here https://www.leisureoutlet.com/event...een-house-4-pro-outdoor-gazebo?surface=active & using code 5-SAVE takes the price down to £246.05 delivered with stock due in March so that sounds a bit more promising. Also listed as £239 delivered here https://www.cannockcaravanaccessori...re-order/?attribute_pa_type=screenhouse-pro-4 but want to be sure of stock availability before ordering as currently out of stock but available to order. Towsure & others are currently listing this at £299!
This new version is in stock at £199 delivered http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=124303100883 but all the panels have to on or off as they zip to each other unlike the Pro version where they can be used individually.

Just recieved our Quest from Leisure Outlet at the price quoted above by pre ordering. Well pleased with it and now sat out in the garden with the grandson in it

 

[Wombles]

Just recieved our Quest from Leisure Outlet at the price quoted above by pre ordering. Well pleased with it and now sat out in the garden with the grandson in it

That's great! They have put the price up to £324.99 now so you bought at the right time

 

[DC4JC]

And I could have got it at a show last year in August for £225, but dithered and didnt

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[Wombles]

And I could have got it at a show last year in August for £225, but dithered and didnt

At least your warranty starts from now when it can be used more

 

[TheMachMan]

That’s a massive big price hike. Market forces or blatant profiteering?

 

[landscaper]

The Sunncamp porch awnings are handy as they are quick to put up & take down. So good even for short stops, used with our previous caravan. We went Vango as couldn’t find a drive away version time. The gap down the sides can‘t be a sealed tight against driving rain & wind.
View attachment 465760

I think I have just spied our favourite “Fiona” site!

 

[TheMachMan]

I think I have just spied our favourite “Fiona” site!

Ah yes, well spotted.

 

[Wombles]

That’s a massive big price hike. Market forces or blatant profiteering?

Think the increased demand for all things camping plus reduced supply equals "full retail prices" being asked for some items.

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[Kups]

Thank you for that honest appraisal. Very helpful.

We too have a Thule Panorama room for winter use in Spain and longer stays in the UK. We use the single "Smart Panels" Sun side blocker and front View Blocker for the summer. Excellent, well made products, you definitely get what you pay for. Another bonus point for the Panorama Room is that the material easily rolls into one bag and the aluminium parts go in another holdall with handles. We've tried them all - Kampa inflatable (big bulky and heavy bag, large dark inflation tubes), Fiamma lightweight room (destroyed by winter winds in Spain) and Vango Kela 3 (tripped up over the threshold and hated the link arrangement). None of them are a patch on Thule, save up and buy one!

 

[pandas]

Our full Fiamma awning was a great product but only used it twice. Felt like a caravan when it was up, too heavy, difficult to store whilst on the road and took too much drinking time to put it up. An expensive mistake.

 

[Pelirocco]

Our motorhome cane with a omnistore safari room .I.e.an awning that fits out on the wind out awning
I have to admit to thinking thats never going to work
We have woken in the night convinced we will look out in the morning and it will be gone ,it sounds pretty scary when its windy ....but its always been fine .We did take it down a day early last end of September on the Isle of Wight as a corner had come adrift in the night

 

[Pelirocco]

Our motorhome cane with a omnistore safari room .I.e.an awning that fits out on the wind out awning
I have to admit to thinking thats never going to work
We have woken in the night convinced we will look out in the morning and it will be gone ,it sounds pretty scary when its windy ....but its always been fine .We did take it down a day early last end of September on the Isle of Wight as a corner had come adrift in the night

Tell a lie it was October our last trip we took it down a day early

 

[Herbyventures]

The best advice I read was that the best awning is the one you actually use. So if it's a fiddle and you can't be bothered to put it up... it makes little difference how 'good' it is!

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[Howard B]

Has anyone used the Berghaus Air Awning, I quite like the look of it and it offers a bit more flexibilty. Sold out everywhere though at the moment.