Awnings on motorhomes
Don't these just defeat the object of a motorhome?
Yes, I know that I'm no fan of awnings generally, and it's everyone else's choice what they have or don't have (and awnings do provide some good spectator sport 
).
But surely the whole idea of a m/h is the ability to move it easily and to be 'self contained'?
Are m/h owners who have awnings generally former caravan owners who cannot break the habit?
Just curious.
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From our experience motorhome awnings come in two types. There is the wind out type which is permanently fixed in a cassette on the motorhome side. This winds out and some have optional side and front panels which can be zipped in for a longer stay on site. The panels can be removed and the roof wound-in for doing off site trips or between sites. The second type is 'drive-away', which can be left in place when the motorhome is off site and often has a 'fourth side' so it makes a self-contained 'room'. These then provide a store place for table, chairs, etc when the motorhome is off site.
Like caravanners, each to his own. 'Wild campers' on Aires, without even a table and chairs outside, others with no awning, and yet others who prefer the awning which gives them space to be outside but sheltered from the elements - all do it differently and why shouldn't they?
Our friends, new campervan owners, have an awning, and they've never caravanned.
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Depends on your view of white box camping.
i take the view that our caravan has engine in the front, hence motor caravan. I tow a car, with a view that three ton of caravan tows a car, better than a car towing a caravan. 85% rule goes out the window as the ratio falls to 33%. No snaking problems as white van man passes by at 80 mph with a bow wave knocking the back of the combination.
An awning makes that little bit more space to brave the uk weather !
rgds
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I can honestly say that I have never, ever, seen an awning on a Motorhome, only a wind-out canopy. On the other hand, I have seen a wind out canopy on a caravan - we had one!
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Yes, when we had a VW type camper van we had a drive away awning, now we have a motorhome we just have a canopy. It really is each to their own needs and what works for them given the unit they have, it's nothing at all about defeating objects.
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I've seen all sorts on Europe and certainly stand-alone awnings, gazebos, tretched tarps etc. I've just not seen a conventional awning pulled through an awning rail.
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eurotraveller - Awnings on motorhomes?
Yes, fifth Motorhome south/east of the borne at Honfleur.
And at least seven others with wind out awnings being used.
Thank goodness for Specsavers!
And someone said they were parked like sardines.
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We were very glad of our wind out sun copy during the last few days here in Essex. We acquired a safari room with it, we attempted to erect it but gave up. Not a drive away type which maybe useful in certain circumstances. With just the 2 of us we don't need one anyway, also can't see the need for just 2 with a caravan 😉😉😉. But the canopy is great 😆. Stopped my legs burning at breakfast last three mornings on our R&R break.
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There are drive away awnings and awnings that zip onto the fitted canopies.
However most Motorhomers tend to be visiting sites and places of interest instead of sleeping on a chair, in an awning, on a carpet, on a site!
What is it you always say...'Just curious'
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Wind out awnings on motorhomes are a boon in hot climes. They provide shelter from the heat of the day. Being wind out, they are easy to use so don't hamper being mobile.
I don't have one because I avoid hot climes. I definitely would not have a drive away awning unless space in the van was an issue.
I took up motorhoming for the reasons IanH says.
Downsides of wind out awnings include taking up space in the van - usually cupboard space, and/or sticking out from the side which makes them prone to being clattered as you drive around, being susceptible to damage from wind and rain, and creating a void in your wallet.
That said, each to their own.
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Obviously a couple of people have tried to make this into an argument (as usual - it's what tgey do) but I did say "it's everyone ele's choice what they have or don't have".
I was just curious why people with a very portable way of camping chose to have a very 'permanent' structure erected.
We don't bother with an awning with our caravan. It's plenty big enough for us.
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we a
so find our vsn big enough (and warm enough) to do without an awning.
we have a wind out canopy which acts as a sunshade in hot weather, but when it gets a little chillier, we move into the van.
we dont see the need for a halfway house as, like Ian, theres only two of us and the van provides plenty of space for is not to be falling over each other shoud we both decide to move inside as the sun dips....
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Each to his or her own! We have a wind out awning and a drive away blow up tent awning - Vango. Sometimes we don't even take the drive-away, depends on how long we intend to stay. We don't bother with it in winter, but in summer for longer tours it's great, not that we drive away, we have a car on an a frame - but that will just open a another can of worms!
If you want an awning, wind out awning, privacy room - who cares, each to his own.
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I've got a wind out awning on my caravan that can be set up or retracted in two minutes flat and I can't quite see the difference between having that on my caravan or on a motorhome. It's great when touring and only staying one night at each location, just like a motorhome.
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Wind-out canopies are almost standard on motorhomes now and are very handy in hot climates or as a shelter if it rains. The big advantage is that they take up no room inside. No way could I carry a stand-alone awning inside the vehicle; there is hardly room for one extra book.
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I agree that a built-in wind-out canopy would be an excellent addition for a motorhome. It fits well with the idea of driving up, parking and putting the kettle on.
My point was that I couldn't see any point (and certainly no enjoyment) in then having to wrestle with an awning for the next hour or two.....or more, in some cases
Still, whatever floats your boat.
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Well I guess it must be fate, but I recently bought a 'bargain' privacy room on Ebay to turn the wind-out Fiamma F45 Plus canopy on my 2001 CI Carioca m/home into a full-blown instant awning.
It turns out, Fiamma must have changed their default canopy size sometime after 2001, so that all of their current offerings - sides, sunscreens, front panels, blockers etc - don't fit my canopy !!! So I've sold it again on Ebay (didn't lose any money thankfully) and given up on the idea. If the sun shines, or it rains, or the wind blows, we'll just have to dress accordingly and tough it out!
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We had a driveaway awning on our motorhome - mostly to stop the Mr tripping over the dog constantly.
So the dog can sit in it and not be tethered etc - and I can get away from the Mr.I am sorry to say we have now gone to the other side as said Mr wanted more space which meant purchasing a rather large Hymer (which was a bit over our budget) - but instead we are trying a caravan. My question is would the awning fit the caravan (it has straps that throw over) - or do we have to start again?
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I'm almost certain it won't fit but try it and see.
I'd be dubious about using said straps on a caravan. I'm assuming your MH was a panel van of a very different construction.
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