Do you use your wind out awning
As the title says really
We are considering having a Fiamma wind out awning fitted we've really fancied one since getting the mh but are now thinking of how much would we use it
We plan on staying in one place no longer than one week twice a year the rest of the time 2 maybe 3 days
So do you use yours
Comments
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I'm a caravanner but see lots of motorhomers using their windout canopies for a little shade on a sunny day or to give them a little shelter from rain on a wet day. They wind them in at night in a matter of seconds so they're clearly very handy.
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How many hot, sunny days do you get during your average holiday? It may depend where you camp as we all know the weather is sooo much better abroad but, in this country, we've only used ours two or three times in two seasons. I wouldn't leave it out in heavy
rain or wind and, even light rain, could mean trying to roll it up wet.Our MH had the Fiamma fitted as standard but I don't think I'd bother retro fitting one.
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We use our Fiamma a lot when abroad because its hot, in the UK we do use it if its hot or as Jill says if its raining but not if its very windy. We do tend to put it in at night if we suspect the wind is going to get up. We have tie downs for it so unless
its very windy its ok. We also have Wind Blockers for the front and sides which come in handy when abroad as they can help shade you as the sun moves round. We have been known to put the Fiamma out for shade just for a stop at lunchtime.
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We use ours all the time, all seasons. Have to keep an eye on the wind conditions, but takes seconds to wind in or out. We will get some sides at some point to use as TG has outlined, very useful.
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Even though we have a Caravan we much prefer using our sun canopy. Whilst it's not as easy as a wind up it can be dismantled within 2 minutes in the event of severe winds.
We find having a sun shade plus the bonus of having a dry step and being able to leave a fold down plastic table outside very beneficial. Mind you we do tend to use it mostly when abroad but will use it in the UK for short breaks in summer and early autumn.
I'd get one if we had a M/H.
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A few years ago, after not using it much, we removed ours to save weight on a long trip to Scandinavia.
It never got refitted and have only missed it on a couple of occasions!
If we went south and lay about sun bathing we would probably put it back....but we don't
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We use ours alot with centre bar and supporting storm straps.
If the BBC weather app reports wind speed of higher than 16 we typically wind it in.
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Same as Mickx, we use ours in all weathers except winds....
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Like many others we have one fitted to our Geist Motorhome and certainly used it a lot on our recent tour of France, Spain and Portugal. Apart from giving shade from the sun it has a psychological effect of extending our "personal space". Agreed about watching
the wind though and we always retract ours at night now after lying awake one night listening to the disturbing sounds as the wind got up!0 -
We use ours a lot too, we also have 1 side which will fit either end and a set of the wind nets ( as usually seen at shows) if the weather is settled and not windy it makes a nice area to catch the sun and a little added privacy if you so wish. Wouldn't
be without it now and like previous posts have said quick to wind in or out as needed.0 -
How many hot, sunny days do you get during your average holiday? It may depend where you camp as we all know the weather is sooo much better abroad but, in this country, we've only used ours two or three times in two seasons. I wouldn't leave it out in heavy
rain or wind and, even light rain, could mean trying to roll it up wet.Our MH had the Fiamma fitted as standard but I don't think I'd bother retro fitting one.
agreed on pretty much all counts.....
weather is the driver....its primarily a sunshade.....its not really a bad weather shelter.....so much more use if you get better weather.....and when we do, we use it.....in some places you have to.....too darned hot......shade is a must....
in the uk.....we hardly bother, not enough sustained hot weather to mess about.....rather just sit out on a relaxer....
as Tinny says.....retro fit.....not really, theyre not cheap....plenty of other stuff (and holidays) to spend the cash on....
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We had awnings on our last two motorhomes but, now that we’re trimming our weight down, decided to save 35kg by not having one on the next vehicle. Looking back, it was something we hadn’t used a lot so, this time around, we’ll take a garden umbrella with
us when we might need one instead. The theory is that the umbrella will shade us from the sun wherever we want to sit and from whichever direction the sun will be shining. Not being part of the van, we can also take it with us on the next one, too. If payload
wasn’t an issue, we’d have another. They’re so quick and easy to use and can provide a healthy amount of shade.0 -
We use ours a fair amount but rarely leave it out overnight. We always peg down and at night just leave the guy ropes in a pile on the ground ready for the next day.
David
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We use ours all the time, to us it's a Must Have accessory, ours is used mainly as a rain shelter, to dry the dog off, before she comes into the van, always but always use storm straps, even if it's only going to be up for half an hour.We often leave ours up overnight, but I have been seen out at what o clock in my PJ'S winding it in because the wind is making it too noisy to sleep. Get good quality storm straps, and tilt the canopy to one side,to allow the rain to run off.Had wind out canopies on all 4 of my motorhomes.
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I have very rarely used my awning on my current van. Like Dorsetdriver my door fouls the stanchion of the awning unless I prop it up very high. Also it blows about terribly in even only a slight wind and it is also quite an effort to wind it out and back in again. Would that I could "wind [it] .... in at night in a matter of seconds" as Jillwithajay suggests. That's how it ought to be but it wasn't for me so I rarely bothered.
I get a new van in March and I am hoping for better things awning wise, but, if I am honest, I still doubt I will use it much. I don't do much sitting outside. Even on hot days I prefer having all the windows and the door open and sit in the van. My van is a home not just a place to sleep. I tend to be out most of the day anyway..
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We've paid a lot of money over the years to fit wind-out awnings to previous 'vans and rarely used them. Didn't bother when we ordered this 'van and can't say we've missed it.
As has been said, they are highly susceptible to gusts of wind. Having marshalled a lot of rallies and shows I know the damage they can do when they go over.
The size of your 'van and where you are going are for many key factors. For a panel van conversion they seem to be an almost a must-have. Also quite good for keeping the British drizzle off whilst you dry the dog, have a smoke outside, etc.
As a sun shade they are limited by the height of the 'van and the simple movement of the sun. It's amazing how soon the sun can creep under the canopy, particularly if it's a tall 'van.
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We have a roll out awning on our motorhome and we wouldn't be without it now. We never use it the winter but we use it quite a lot during the summer, it is handy as it only takes a few seconds to winde it out and we often sit under it. When we toured France
last summer it provided a nice place to sit out of the sun and also we have used it in the UK to cook on the cadac when it has been raining.0 -
We use our roll-out awning all the time here in France. It is indispensable. In the summer it is good shade and in the cooler months we use it as a shelter against rain (we drop one of the legs lower than the other to help water run-off. As others
have said, they roll back in within minutes so we put ours in each night in case the wind whips up.0 -
We are very cautious about our awning and don't roll it out if there is any risk of wind or heavy rain. It is very good as a sunshade and we do use it on sunny days. we spend more days in Europe than in the UK. If it has been deployed on 100 days then it
costs us about £5 each time we use it plus say 1% extra fuel consumption. We are glad we have it nonetheless.0
} Gt Dorset Steam Fair it's usually out for about 7 or 8 nights, set up with one leg shorter than t'other to clear the rain if any 
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