Fiamma Caravanstore v Thule Omnistore

thehoggmeister
thehoggmeister Forum Participant Posts: 35
edited July 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1

My mother and father in law are looking at a canopy as they don't feel up to putting up a full awning. We have an Isabella Eclipse which is sturdy in windy conditions but they don't want to erect the frame.

I think the canopies above fit the bill for them as they both stay on the van in a bag with the poles built in. I am concerned that they are not stable in windy conditions.

Can others offer their experience of this type of awning and the stablity in breezy conditions.

Comments

  • Jay Tee
    Jay Tee Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited July 2016 #2

    We have the Fiamma Caravanstore. With it we bought the dedicated straps which clip into the upright supports and we bought the plastic base plates which take 5 pegs, one of which goes through the upright base. If it rains and it is windy, we lower to a more
    acute angle and slope slightly to one side to help rain run off. We also got the extra rafter beam centre pole. 

    The canopy is very high build quality and will take quite a bit of wind. That said, if the weather was really bad I'd fold it away which takes no more than five minutes or so. 

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #3

    We have a Thule one. Rarely use it as it is ineffective.

    Would never dare to leave it out in anything more than a very light breeze, as you would be recovering it from the caravan roof.

  • thehoggmeister
    thehoggmeister Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited July 2016 #4

    We have the Fiamma Caravanstore. With it we bought the dedicated straps which clip into the upright supports and we bought the plastic base plates which take 5 pegs, one of which goes through the upright base. If it rains and it is windy, we lower to a more
    acute angle and slope slightly to one side to help rain run off. We also got the extra rafter beam centre pole. 

    The canopy is very high build quality and will take quite a bit of wind. That said, if the weather was really bad I'd fold it away which takes no more than five minutes or so. 

    Thanks for the feedback.I will look at buyig the extra straps and base plates. How easy do you find putting it up?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #5

    I think the omnistor is easyer to put up as it has a clip type lock on the arms that extend from the van wall ,whereas the fiamma it need some strength to tension the said arms as they have to clip into holes 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2016 #6

    We have the Fiama Caravanstore and would not leave it out in strong winds. However, as said it is very quick to take down. Have even done it in the middle of the night when the wind has got up and it has started flapping. Erecting and dismantling is really a two person job, although just possible on your own. The thing I find hardest is rolling it up, as even standing on the step, the roll is still above my head and quite heavy.

  • wye
    wye Forum Participant Posts: 241
    edited July 2016 #7

    We have the Fiama Caravanstore and would not leave it out in strong winds. However, as said it is very quick to take down. Have even done it in the middle of the night when the wind has got up and it has started flapping. Erecting and dismantling is really
    a two person job, although just possible on your own. The thing I find hardest is rolling it up, as even standing on the step, the roll is still above my head and quite heavy.

    Write your comments here...

    We don't use anything else other than the Caravan store , the comments above are spot on , we would also recommend the centre rafter 

    This helps in wndy weather .

  • MiDor
    MiDor Forum Participant Posts: 18
    edited July 2016 #8

    Fiamma also do a heavy duty tie down kit, with metal plates that slide into the horizontal round section that runs the length of the canopy. Heavy duty straps and pegs ensure it is very secure even with 60 mph gusts. We experienced this in the Dordogne 3
    years ago when awnings where blown down and in some cases back over the caravan, our canopy did not budge.

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