Canopy/Awning advice please
We took the plunge at the weekend and purchased our first Motorhome. On 26th September we'll be the proud owners of a Rapido 665F. We were undecided whether to spend an additional £1,300 to have a canopy fitted. In your experienced opinion, will it be money well spent? Many thanks.
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Are you planning to use it over there or in the UK?
If only in the UK, I’d probably say it’s not worth it.
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We have a Fiamma windout awning on our motorhome and find it pretty useful especially in hot weather. I am not sure which model you are looking at but if its a basic windout £1300 seems a bit expensive.
David
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Agree with David above, £1300 for an awning seems rather expensive.
We bought a MH some years ago and it didn't have an awning; we decided to try a holiday in France without one. As soon as we got back, we bought one, as we really felt we needed one. We also have the sides for it, so can put either 1, or both sides on.
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As you have no doubt already noticed from the early replies, opinions vary. Some folks wouldn't be without one whilst some others never use theirs.
Ultimately, only you can decide.
Perhaps you could wait until next year to decide - you are unlikely to use one in the autumn and winter! You could always see how you get on in hot weather without an awning. If you find it unbearable, then you can have one fitted - or use pitches with shade! (Of course, if you do decide to have one fitted you may have to wait a while before a workshop has an available space.)
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Not mentioned above is the extra weight that an awning is. It may pay to consider using the weight for drive away awning or similar.
The Rapido 3.5 ton 7.4 m can be tight on payload, especially if you start to travel with full tank of water, bicycles and other bits. Also if you are consider taking a car at some point, the weight of the towbar will add to the payload.
An awning has its uses, especially on smaller mhomes, but the bigger mhomes, there is the weight to be considered, for some reason, the larger awnings seem to flap more in the wind.
just to add, from memory the later Rapidos do not have a recess in which the awning is mounted so hangs on the side, not a problem in the UK. But inFrance I seemed to collect a lot of foliage between the mhome and awning ;-))
On our Rapido 7090f island bed, mid bathroom, we have not missed an awning as we tend to stayin an area long enough to put up a drive away awning. If you expect to tour and not to lounge too much, a wind out can be useful. Best memories are sitting on a French campsite , under the awning out in a light warm rain.
Happy Rapido-ing
rgds
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BB, your usual thoroughly comprehensive and sensible advice on weight.......
But just to add to BB's post (if that is possible....
)If the awning being spoken about is from the Fiamma range they seem to weigh from 13 up to 30 kg, so indeed that is another large chunk of your payload gone......
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Only to add, as I may started the rain on your parade.
Our 3.5 t Rapido suits us fine, we carry most of the junk of life with us and have a great time mhoming !
Dont let my previous post get in the way of your purchase and enjoyment.
We have a towbar , carried electric bikes, a weeks supply of food, and an air beam awning, so cannot be all bad.
just a matter of doing sums ;-)
Rgds
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We've motorhomed for many years and have been on tour in Europe since May. In hot weather an awning is an absolute necessity ... both as shade from the sun and to keep the van cool. Its also very handy if it rains as it gives you a shelter to get shoes on and off out of the rain without tracking mud into the van.
I would recommend getting tie down straps as well. These run from the front of the awning (or support legs) to an anchor in the ground and stop the awning flapping around if there is strong wind.
I'd leave buying one however until next summer ... the worst of the heat is gone now and you do need to dry the awning out before winding it back, if its been raining.
Enjoy!
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Assuming you are touring in summer and stay at one place for more than a day you will want to eat outside with table and chairs. You may want some kind of mat depending on the terrain. A canopy will provide a sun shelter and keep rain off of your outside equipment so I would say it is quite important. It takes only a couple of minutes to erect and provides some privacy.
Sounds expensive though and watch out for payload. Continental motorhomes are notorious more misleading on weight capability.
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Hi BB,
You didn’t expect me to bypass this one did you?! I know you use the term “some” in this case, but that “some” overall is not a good example of Swift 8m+ vans. Maybe just one new Bessie, the 599! The other Bessie’s in this range of 8.11 vans are MTPLM of 3850.
My 8.06m has a full length Alko chassis stretching to the end of my 8m van, with reasonable user payload and MTPLM of 4250! Some, actually, one, but not all!
BillC
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Happy to be corrected. I have been looking at several continental vans which all seem to be offering the impossible but if some UK makes are the same then they are all guilty. After all, to advertise, say, 100 litre water capacity and then say effectively that you can’t actually use it except when stationary is somewhat misleading.
Maybe I was spoiled with Autosleeper offering over 500kg payload when tank full.
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Off topic but relevant in the discussion.
the tyre pressures quoted on the door pillar of the Rapido will probably given as 70psi. Thes pressures can make the ride and handling quite harsh and tooth rattling.
it would pay to contact the tyre manufacturers (probably Michein) quoting the max axle loads quoted on the plate under the bonnet. (Probably 2000 kg rear 1850kg front) and ask what the pressures should be for the size and grade of tyres fitted.
If get weighed at a weigh bridge, you ,hopefully will have lower axle weights. So quoting those would do no harm.
You may find that the pressures can be dropped giving a much smoother ride.
My pressures are 65 front 70 rear. Before I changed tyres the were 60 front 65 rear. Made quite a difference in the ride over the 70 as recommended by Fiat.
Rgds
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I disagree, the canopy is our MOST used accessory, not so much for the Sun but as Rain protection, well strapped down and tilted to allow water to run off. It is perfect for feeding the dog under, whatever the weather, also to towel her off so we dont get a wet dog straight into the van.
Wouldnt now have a van without one. Oh yes, they are handy if the Sun does suddenly decide to shine as well.
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I agree Canopy is a must... Had 3 motor homes with one on but when we purchased our last one 2017 decided against the expense....Big mistake...only travel in Great Britain but this year cant say how many times we said..Big mistake...Going in next week to have one fitted while its habitation takes place.
Go for it and then your ready to enjoy the summer of 2019.
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Personally I love my Fiamma (other are just as good) and use it on almost every site. I went the whole hog and got sides & front too, they've been used once! I consider them a complete waste of money, but the basic canopy I would not be without, particularly if going over the channel. I have the luxury of a heavy chassis Rapido so weight is realistically no issue.
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I wouldn't be without, we don't always wind it out all the way, even less than a metre forms that little bit of shelter when it's drizzly. We will wind out fully and cook outside in the rain when needed. Can in these instances be used with out legs although watch on some where door can foul the canopy. We have learnt to travel as light as possible having been pulled over by the police and escorted to the weighbridge. We were very lucky but it was a wake up and a very useful experience after the event of course!
Also taking of winding all the way out, be careful not to wind out all the way as this can cause issues when winding back in. The advice given to us was don't go beyond the patterning on the 'roof' material. You can, but care is needed, on a couple of occasions I've spent some time helping a fellow MHers who had gone past the point of 'no' return.
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Sorry, just reiterate that you can leave legs up when extended less than a metre. Don't try when 'fully' extended!
Also, we always wind in at night as even that doldrum day can change very quickly and it's a real pain when tucked up in bed with the clattering keeping you awake and the thought of the thing going over the roof. Not mine, but I've seen one do this and the damage was not limited to the awning itself!
Each to their own mind of course, but peace of mind matters for us!
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