Hi everyone
I have a pennine pathfinder 2000 and we are after an alternative to an awning. We only ever go away for 2 or 3 nights tops as we gave 3 very young children, and to put the awning up is too much hassle for a couple of nights! Has anyone got any ideas or photos showing different ideas?! I was thinking of a big shade sail but was wondering how to attach it. We need a bit of undercover space from the sun (and rain!!) so any ideas great fully received!!
We have just been to tvs at Bolton and they are making a sun canopy for our pathfinder. We have never tried to erect the awning as it is far too heavy for us. (we are in our 60's) it will take a couple of weeks to make but it will extend out 1.6metres and be held up with three lightweight poles. Together with a wind break this will be great for us and plenty big enough for the two of us. TVS of Bolton are brilliant. If you want more info let me know my email is derekjones849 at btinternet.com
We often use a pop up gazebo next to our FC. It takes up less space than the awning and we use it for shade really. We don't butt it up against the FC and just have it pitched out the front.
we use a lightweight drive away porch awning and attach it to the camper using figure 8 strips with one side nipped in to enable it to slide over the awning zip .It,s much quicker and lighter than the main awning .check out my gallery for photos attached. a lady on this site called lisa Steer makes a lightweight porch awning .She uses a caravan porch awning and with the correct zip size sews a zip onto the porch awning. She can be contacted on this site by doing a search for past posts on "porch awnings" failing that google search "oggys Cakes"
Just picked up sun canopy from tvs, Bolton. Compared to awning this is incredibly light and together with a windbreak is almost as good. We are very pleased with it as it really s a good alternative to an awning. Easy to put up, just zip on and with three lightweight poles you got 1.6 metres of outside cover. Brill! Tvs are great
We have adapted a caravan sun canopy (size 8 for a Pullman) that we attach to the front of our awning but it will also attach to the camper - it just ties on. We just cut the cord off the back to straighten it up right next to a double row of stitching, then we used the eyelet kit supplied to put 3 holes in where the holes are in the awning.
Have to confess it did sag a bit in a torrential 24 hours of rain and the accompanying 50mph wind did put a bit of strain on one of the eyelets so we had to do a running repair with duct tape but in reasonable weather it's fantastic. Cost me £45 off ebay.
Pic in my gallery.
Got it sorted now! Bought a Quechua Tarp from Decathlon for £25. It came with 2x 1.8m poles. We attached it over the top of the camper and hooked it on the back (where the cover hooks on) then the 2 poles in the front corners. Its perfect for us as its so light and packs away into a tiny bag. It's not that big (3x3m) but it does the job! Ill put a couple of pics up when I can work out how! Oh and it's been raining and windy for most of this camping trip and its still up and we still have somewhere to eat outdoors. It's obviously no where near as cosy and sturdy as the awning but takes up much less room and is easier when unpacking the camper as we now store the awning at home.
That's what we had (before I bought a bigger tarp) one useful addition to the Quechua tarp is an extendable king (8ft ish) pole which will allow you to create an apex effect as in my picture.
Derek, we are very interested to hear about your sun canopy from TVS. When you have used it please would you post your comments? What material is it made of? Another thumbs up for TVS they always give fabulous service.Thanks
Hi bl03, we are going to France week today. I have attached it to see what it would look like and I think it will do for us. Very light cos the canvas awning and steel poles are very heavy. It's blue and made from a material very similar to Isabella but well matched to the canvas blue. I will be using it on hols so will let you know how it performs. Any more detail I will be glad to forward. Contact email: derekjones849 at btinternet.com
Quote: Originally posted by derekcbr on 15/8/2013
Just picked up sun canopy from tvs, Bolton. Compared to awning this is incredibly light and together with a windbreak is almost as good. We are very pleased with it as it really s a good alternative to an awning. Easy to put up, just zip on and with three lightweight poles you got 1.6 metres of outside cover. Brill! Tvs are great