Motorhome Awnings
Hi All,
We've now had our MH for 4 months and took advice from people on this board and wait and not buy things didn't buy until we new what we would use.
We're now thinking of getting an awning for our MH but we are unsure as to the benefits so wondered if you could advise. Watching Caravaners on site they all seem to use their awnings as an extra room particularly early morning and evenings when its cooler much like you would a conservatory at home. Our MH has a roll out awning which is a Fiamma F45S, I rang the dealers and they said as far as they knew our MH (Bailey 75-2 Autograph) would accept an awning.
So guys do you have and use an awning on your MH & can you recommend?
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We have a Bailey 625 se m/h with a Fiamma F45s. We do have a small porch awning left over from our caravaning days which we have used once with the m/h. It's 260 cm lightweight and easy to go up. We used the rail that is on the front of the Fiamma, the only issue with this is that it does sit off the side of the van at the top. Not sure if you are a member of the Bailey group on Facebook but a fair few of them have awnings, some have had an awning rail fitted to the side of the van by their dealer, this let's them put an awning up against the side if the van, the rail sits just under the Fiamma. One word of caution if using the Fiamma rail if it's an air awning I believe it could be to much weight for it and can damage it.
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We have a wind out awning on our MH and have now owned said MH for a year and so far have never used it except when we first picked it up to try it out. We are off to France next month so will see if we use it there in the sun.
As for a conventional awning why would you want to do that with all the faff if putting it up, taking it down (especially when wet), more weight to carry etc? To do that you may as well have a caravan as part of MHing to us is the ease of wet up and use.
We were on a site a couple of years ago when we had a caravan and another unit arrived and they spend the whole afternoon and part of the next morning erecting an awning, we go on holiday to enjoy ourselves not spend it all putting up and taking down an awning, not to mention the arguments
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Michael, surely the OP has a right to how he wants to holiday. We have seen lots of m/h use awnings be they drive away ones or fixed ones. Fiamma make privacy rooms as do other canopy manufacturers, so there must be a demand for them.
We used ours on a CL, when we were staying near our children for a week, it gave us extra room to sit out with family. As to you having not used yours yet, we on the other hand have used ours everyday while on this 10 week holiday. This is pretty normal for us, it's usually one of the first things I do once we have parked up and got level, ehu, canopy, chairs and a cuppa.The weather has been hot for most of the time so shade is required. Have a good holiday however you choose to do so.
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We have a windout awning that does get used occasionally, even if it's only out a little way to stop the rain over the door whilst someone has a crafty drag 😲. The awning and a privacy safari/privacy room came with our motorhome and over 11 years we have had 2 attempts to put it up, just to see, but haven't managed without discussions! Its heavy so weight needs to be considered. We have never thought it would be lovely to use it, in fact the effort needed would mean no movement of the motorhome for days or week minimum 😂.
There are only 2 of us so space isn't needed even if we have friends over we cosy up inside or wear extra layers outside. Personally I think it would be a waste of money and weight allowance, but that's personal. We have friends who have a driveway awning, a different sort if entertainment when you return from a trip out 😉.
We do have extended stays and days out from a site, using public transport or the motorhome depending on circumstances but to me motorhomes offer a different type of holiday from a caravan base. Tour on the way, arrive, explore the area on foot bikes public transport or rest day, then move on. It took us a few years to work this out 😲 sometimes we'd drive out often and repeat mileage.😂😂
Edit we haven't been over the water to the heat but have used ours a few times this year already for daytime shade so the windout bit is great. I do wonder about the net sides and may consider them but not required as yet.
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Bakers2, you are right to wait re the wind blockers. We have the full set but as yet have only ever used 1 side and front at any given time. The front is the one we use the most, again for extra shade not because of wind, to be honest if it's that windy we put the canopy away and go inside. With the canopy alone it really does depend on how you pitch, if you want shade then you can turn the van around and use it to cast shade, that's how most of the Europeans pitch, it's really just us silly brits that pitch in the sun
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Our previous caravan and then campervan did not have an awning and we found that the lack of shade on hot sunny days was a problem for us. When we moved to a motorhome we were glad to see that it had a factory fitted wind out awning. It provides shade to one side of the vehicle and a shady area to sit out in on sunny days on the door side of the motorhome.0
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Our previous caravan and then campervan did not have an awning and we found that the lack of shade on hot sunny days was a problem for us. When we moved to a motorhome we were glad to see that it had a factory fitted wind out awning. It provides shade to one side of the vehicle and a shady area to sit out in on sunny days on the door side of the motorhome.0
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Our previous caravan and then campervan did not have an awning and we found that the lack of shade on hot sunny days was a problem for us. When we moved to a motorhome we were glad to see that it had a factory fitted wind out awning. It provides shade to one side of the vehicle and a shady area to sit out in on sunny days on the door side of the motorhome.0
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Our previous caravan and then campervan did not have an awning and we found that the lack of shade on hot sunny days was a problem for us. When we moved to a motorhome we were glad to see that it had a factory fitted wind out awning. It provides shade to one side of the vehicle and a shady area to sit out in on sunny days on the door side of the motorhome.0
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Our previous caravan and then campervan did not have an awning and we found that the lack of shade on hot sunny days was a problem for us. When we moved to a motorhome we were glad to see that it had a factory fitted wind out awning. It provides shade to one side of the vehicle and a shady area to sit out in on sunny days on the door side of the motorhome.0
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Our previous caravan and then campervan did not have an awning and we found that the lack of shade on hot sunny days was a problem for us. When we moved to a motorhome we were glad to see that it had a factory fitted wind out awning. It provides shade to one side of the vehicle and a shady area to sit out in on sunny days on the door side of the motorhome.0
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Our previous caravan and then campervan did not have an awning and we found that the lack of shade on hot sunny days was a problem for us. When we moved to a motorhome we were glad to see that it had a factory fitted wind out awning. It provides shade to one side of the vehicle and a shady area to sit out in on sunny days on the door side of the motorhome.0
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Our previous caravan and then campervan did not have an awning and we found that the lack of shade on hot sunny days was a problem for us. When we moved to a motorhome we were glad to see that it had a factory fitted wind out awning. It provides shade to one side of the vehicle and a shady area to sit out in on sunny days on the door side of the motorhome.0
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Our previous caravan and then campervan did not have an awning and we found that the lack of shade on hot sunny days was a problem for us. When we moved to a motorhome we were glad to see that it had a factory fitted wind out awning. It provides shade to one side of the vehicle and a shady area to sit out in on sunny days on the door side of the motorhome.0
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Our previous caravan and then campervan did not have an awning and we found that the lack of shade on hot sunny days was a problem for us. When we moved to a motorhome we were glad to see that it had a factory fitted wind out awning. It provides shade to one side of the vehicle and a shady area to sit out in on sunny days on the door side of the motorhome.0
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If it's breezy and we don't want the awning out we sit with the van as shad. Radical 😂😂😂
Tammygirl good tip thanks we have a storm strap but have never used it. We wind it away when we go out to ensure no damage - have seen what a strong gust can do whilst folk are absence. And don't want to dress overnight to put it away 😉😶
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TG Yes he has the right to do whatever he wants but he asked for an opinion and I gave him mine/ours, you gave him yours and others too have pitched in. Not saying there is no demand but does the OP want to have to carry the extra weight and then faff around putting it up or would his wind out canopy suffice?
As we have not been over the water yet in sunshine as we have toured in the UK with indifferent weather we have not had the need to use it as it has been A. windy so making the use of the awning a bit hard and worrying with all the flapping about or B. Rainy or too cold to sit out. Even this last weekend although we had some nice spells it was not hot enough to warrant the canopy.
However when we go to France next month we are hoping it will come into its own to provide the much needed shade/shelter when on site for more than a few days like we had with the Fiamma caravan Awning we had before, even rolling it out for a bit of relief at lunchtime when on the move.
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We have a seven metre mhome so tend to drive and pitch up, and use other transport during the stay
Our experience is that wind out awnings are ok, but I would not leave one rolled out unattended,
We have a drive away awning, that can be attached if need be. The fittings on a drive away awning are not as rigid as a caravan awning, so there can be an amount of flap if windy. So being able to disconnect from the mother ship can make for a better nights sleep on a windy night.
rgds
edit; to add that weight for weight there is little difference between a middle sized awing and drive away awning which are heavy when compared to the amount of canvas it contains. Storage of a drive away awning could be a problem.
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