Gazebo instead of awning

ScreenName38BC38FF97

Hi. we have just come back from our first weekend away in our new/old van and we had a brilliant time on the CC Blackshaw Moor site. I was wondering  if your allowed to have a gazebo on the area for awnings or not as setting up the awning for 2 nights was a bit of a pain and our gazebo goes up in 5 minutes. Thanks

Pippah45

Interesting question I suspect it might be at the discretion of the wardens so you could always ask them?   That's why I have a canopy ease of putting up.

welcome to the wonderful world of caravanning.

JillwithaJay

If the gazebo is replacing the awning on a 'standard with awning pitch' and, providing all the safety spacings are adhered to, I can't see any problem but I'd always check with site wardens. 

tigerfish

Forgive me, for a bit of thread drift, - but it is relevent.

What about a Fiamma type pull out canopy?  I've always rejected them as not suitable for UK weather, but now that I find putting up any awning difficult because of pegging out etc I am wondering if they have a UK use?

TF

ScreenName38BC38FF97

Thanks for your replies. We really enjoyed it and surprised how easy it was to set everything up (after no electricity  and having to be told to turn the EHU plug to the right once in ).
It was just a lot of effort for 2 nights with an awning but with 2 dogs and a teenager we need the extra space. We want to book for Easter asap so will call the site before booking ans ask the wardens. 

H B Watson

Forgive me, for a bit of thread drift, - but it is relevent.

What about a Fiamma type pull out canopy?  I've always rejected them as not suitable for UK weather, but now that I find putting up any awning difficult because of pegging out etc I am wondering if they have a UK use?

TF

Well I've used one for years without issue. I can zip sides and front in if I want, then it's just a normal awning and use a storm strap etc. However 9 out of 10 times I just use it as a canopy but normally pegged down, It's stable in moderate winds, if
it gets too strong I just wind it in.

Pippah45

Forgive me, for a bit of thread drift, - but it is relevent.

What about a Fiamma type pull out canopy?  I've always rejected them as not suitable for UK weather, but now that I find putting up any awning difficult because of pegging out etc I am wondering if they have a UK use?

TF

Write your comments here...I have used mine all over too although I should have rolled it up on the Isle of Skye where it received a small tear in high winds.  You also have to be careful with the joints if its windy - but I like it.  For the OP to think
of it if they have a full awning - the price is of the fiamma is considerable.  It is worth it for me as putting up and awning is too much these days. 

DavidKlyne

Unless one of the wardens on the group comes along with an answer perhaps it might be an idea to phone the site where the OP intends to stay on his next trip. Somebody on the Bailey Motorhome group posted a picture of a Gazebo he uses and it looked quite a good idea.

Moving onto TF's point about a Fiamma awning. It depends which one you select. The best, if it can be fitted to your caravan is the wind out variety. However given what you have recently said about your fitness I would suggest you might struggle with the roll out vareity. Depending on how tall you are you will almost certainly need to use the caravan step to reach up to it and if you have one of the longer ones it will be a two man job to put away.

David

Kennine

One problem with gazebos is that in any kind of  gale they have a habit of disappearing to another part of the campsite..

K  

Outdoor Lady

We have the same problem, 2 big dogs and a teenager who preferes to sleep in the awning, we are thinking of buying a air awning which can supposedly be put up very quick, (not sure they have us in mind!!) we have the Fiamma zip awning but find it a bit tiresome
to put up just for a w/e, we also got small tear in ours when the wind got up in the night and we were all outside in our pj's trying to correct it (not a pretty sight)

Pippah45

the air awnings seem a great idea but they still need pegging down don't they?  That is the backbreaking bit for me. 

SteveL

After years of tenting with the kids we went for a canopy with our van. With practice we can put it out/away in less than ten minutes. Easy to wind in if high wind is forecast, but we too, have been out in pj's before now putting it away

nelliethehooker

We too have used a canopy, on and off for quite a few years now. It certainly pays to keep an eye on the weather/wind forecast. Not very nice darting out of the van in the middle of the night when it's flapping about.We use a wind strap across it when it's
blowing a bit.

Wildwood

The gazebo seems to be little difference in practice to a drive away awning on a motorhome. The main problem I see is the size of some and I would ring the site with the dimensions and see what they say. You would also need to be sure it can be pegged down
very securely.

EasyT

I have certainly been on sites where they categorically state that gazebos are not permitted. I have seen them used on some sites. Many look to be a tad flimsey and many seem short of fixing points for their size

AEGB

I think gazebos are dangerous as they have few pegging points they are unstable.  A few years ago in our tenting days, our tent was hit by a gazebo that was being blown across the campsite in the middle of the night, luckily there wasn't too much damage,
but it was a scary experience.

hitchglitch

I hotter parts of Europe you see all kinds of things. Gazebos are common, also waterproof material strung between trees to give protection. None of these are at all suitable for UK unless the weather is exceptionally benign. Once our children were old enough
we took tents and got rid of the awning in favour of a sun canopy with zip in sides which we rarely used. Can't comment on what the Club allows since Club sites are hardly typical of campsites in general.