Awnings
Hi
We have a Lunar Stellar and a full Dorma Air Awning. I was wondering if it's worth buying a small porch awning for short stays? What are your thoughts? Thanks
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We had every sort of awning and canopy and abandoned them all. We ended up with a caravan of similar size to yours and no awning of any sort at all. Chairs were scattered outside in fine weather and shoved underneath when it rained. But everyone said we were eccentric. All other caravanners love awnings. I bet you will buy the porch !
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I'm with Euro. Awnings are the work of the devil👿. Simple is best.
Incidentally, MDLG, your avatar shows you as a trailertenter.
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Yes, we tried that and found that as well as wet jackets we had a wet awning to manhandle too.
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Similar to others, we have a full awning, a porch awning and a new unused sun canopy. I love the full awning but in reality for just two of us who don't stay away for long periods, it's just an added job which my OH detests so we're planning on using the sun canopy this year and will see how we go. Probably get rid of the full and porch variety.
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We have both and for short stays the porch one goes up. Just somewhere to put shoes and coats and any other clutter like bottles of alcohol, tins and a fold up up chair.
Ours is now an air porch but we had a simple pole one too.
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We have a Kampa pole awning (3.6mtrs I think!) and a Fiamma Coverstore roll out sun canopy. For hols in the UK we use the awning and for hols on the continent fit the Fiamma before leaving. We also have a sunshade/rain deflector extension, about 2mtrs deep, for the Fiamma which gives even more shade when needed. It is a Fiamma accessory but you also need 3 poles and guys to use it as a sun shade. I also bet the OP gets a Porch Awning to save putting up the full awning on short stays.
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We've actually accumulated three awnings over the years. Main one for fine weather is a Kampa 390 Grande - a big heavy beast but great to live in for extended stays on site. We also have a lightweight Sunncamp 220 which is very easy to erect and easy to dry if it has to be packed away wet - unlike the Kampa.
But then we decided that the 220 was too small and bought a Sunncamp 390 Air. Again much easier to get on the awning rail than the Kampa - plenty of room in it - and easy to dry. We probably use this one most of all.
In terms of time and effort, there probably isn't much to choose between the two Sunncamps - they still have to be pegged out and that's the laborious bit. So my advice would be to get a largish, lightweight porch awning on the basis that if you've got to put one up, there's not much difference in effort between big and small.
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Similar views as above replies. We use largish air awning for when we have a long stay but a canopy or lightweight open fronted Sunncamp is the choice for shorter stays.
I also agree that a small or porch awning saves little in time or effort to put up. The only advantages I can see in the smaller awning would be the ease of packing away/transport and of drying out if wet.
Colin
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Hi, I recently posted a response to a question on CT, re a Lunar Arriva,and it may be applicable to your question as well;
Hi, We have both full and porch awnings, Isabella, but been looking for something that is quick and easy to erect for stays of just a couple of nights or so.
After looking at a few options, sun shade, roll out canopy etc have decided that the Sunncamp Swift canopy is the one to go for, as mentioned above.
We accept that as it sits clear of the ground it will not give the degree of shelter an awning will, so if you intend it as an extension of the van a conventional porch awning may be better.
As we just want some shelter at the door and some shade for those, hopefully many, sunny days it’s ideal and it’s the design, with a lot less pegging that makes it quick to set up.
My research, OK Google’s, shows that the smallest, a 200, can be as little as £95 and this would seem ideal for your Arriva.
Saw this at Leisure Outlet and they have a wide range so may give you more ideas.
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Hi, just to throw another idea into the thread, what about a good quality windbreak such as Isabella Flex. It withstands all weathers.
We use ours at any time of the year, it provides a sitting out area for meals, BBQ, privacy, prevents people cutting through the pitch, etc. It can make all the difference when the air might be thought too chilly for outside sitting or dining.
The only drawback is security of belongings. Our chairs etc go in the car overnight, or in the caravan when we go out.
N.B. You would have to book an awning pitch if using a windbreak throughout your stay.
Hope you have a lovely caravanning season.
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Good to know, I think our porch awning before our air one was a sunncamp. it did its job well.
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