Awning too big

Susie31
Susie31 Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited June 2019 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Hi everyone, 

I am relatively new to all of this but am having great fun visiting new sites and meeting interesting people on the sites

I decided recently to buy a drive away awning to give us a more room but am now concerned that the awning I have bought (which arrives tomorrow) is too big for the pitch dimensions.

My motorhome is 2.2m wide and the awning (a Vango Galli) is in total 4.2 metres wide. It runs the length of the motorhome so that is fine but the total width of the MH and awning will be 6.4m.

Is this too big to ensure that the correct space is maintained between pitches?

Thanks for your help. I am hoping I have not made an expensive mistake!

 

 

Comments

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #2

    With your MH pitched to the peg on a HS pitch, you are likely to have a maximum of 3 metres in which to erect your awning and remain on your pitch. The grass separators, are not part of your pitch.

    If you erect your awning and it is closer than 3 metres to the car or awning of the adjacent unit, the warden is likely to ask you to remove it. This was certainly the case on a site we visited a few weeks ago, where an awning like yours had been erected and went onto the grass divide.

    Unfortunately I think you will find there are many pitches you will not be able to use it on and maintain the 3 metre distance

    A question though, cannot the tunnel bit that attaches to the MH be used at less than its full length, so reducing the overall width.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,060 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #3

    Pitch dimensions vary from site to site. I would phone the Wardens and check things out. If you choose CLs, these often have lots of space between pitches, so you won’t have problems. 

    4.2 metres wide does seem huge for an awning. I would check that it doesn’t mean length along your MH, you might find depth is not as great.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2019 #4

    You would not fit on many CC sites pitches if any. Same with C&CC. 

    Personally I would use distance selling which gives 14 days to return if you change your mind and you pay postage/courier fees.  

    On a caravan I would stick to 2.5m wide. I know that you are slightly different

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #5

    Having had a quick look at the Vango website, the awning appears to be 3.2m wide at the base, plus the connecting piece is another 1.2m wide, cannot make out whether this part is adjustable.

    It is very wide and I would agree with others above that there will be many sites where you will not fit on the pitch and maintain the required spacing, you would need to check site plans before booking to see what would be possible.

    One solution might be to use a pitch at the end of a row so you have no van adjacent to the awning, but that would not always be possible, especially when sites are busy.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2019 #6

    Having had a quick look at the Vango website, the awning appears to be 3.2m wide at the base, plus the connecting piece is another 1.2m wide, cannot make out whether this part is adjustable.

    I am pretty sure that the 1.2 is adjustable for when you re-park and reattach awning - so unlikely to be quite that wide. However you are unlikely to want to get closer than 450mm from the awning and so are going to be at least 3.6+ wide awning.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #7

    That does seem a huge awning and has me wondering what you are going to put in it that you need that volume of space, and how you are going to transport it all inside your motor caravan without going over the axle load limit(s).

  • Susie31
    Susie31 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited June 2019 #8

    Thank you for all your responses. 

    The awning had good reviews but looks like I might have to reconsider the awning given the size.

     

  • Bri
    Bri Forum Participant Posts: 40
    First Comment
    edited June 2019 #9

    Not too sure of the total widths here but when I had my caravan, 2.3mts + 2.5mts Isabella Capri and the car at the side. So in total probably taking up, with gaps 7mtrs or a tad more. I never had any problems on club site awning pitches and still had room to walk around the perimeter without standing on the grass. So, there may just be enough room for your drive away but I would err on the side of caution just in case.

    Glad I have come across this as I'm in the throws of buying a drive away for my campervan and rejoining the club so I'm now checking all the dimensions more thoroughly.

    Regards Bri

  • Shaggyrat
    Shaggyrat Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited June 2019 #10

    We tried for ages to purchase a drive away awning that was not generally to large for CAMC pitches and came up with one. The model was 'Kela', sorry do not remember the make - we reverted to a caravan.

    I do notice that in the emails I get from the CAMC associated online accessories store promotes awnings of this size despite the difficulties they cause.