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Hi, we are back camping again after selling my Caravan 2 years ago.

We have just purchased a Auto-sleeper Nuevo ES built on a Peugeot Boxer 2.0 hdi 2004. This is our 1st time with a motorhome and we are looking at getting a driveaway awning. The vehicle has a Fiamma 45i wind out awning fitted to it already but we would like to fit a driveaway awning when going away longer than just for a w/e. Would like to know any suggestions of awninings that would and would be of good quality, easy to erect etc.

We would also welcome any good advice/tips with our new vehicle. We started many years ago with a tent, then a folding camper, then a caravan and now motorhome so any good tips would be welcome.

Hi Gerry, what model of outdoor revolution is it that you have?

Can I make a more radical suggestion? - don't buy an awning until you've used your motorhome a few times as you may find you don't need it. We had planned to get one too, but our motorhome holidays are very different from our friends' holiday with their caravan or ours with our tent, so your style of trip may change too. Most motorhomers tour and move on to a new site every 2-3 days to explore a new area. Packing up an awning adds time to your getaway: we can be away in an hour from the alarm going off if needs be. You're carrying extra weight that will reduce your mpg, and also using up limited storage space. On some sites you pay extra for the awning.  It's perfectly pleasant to sit outside in the sun without one (and we've met some lovely people that way), or if it's windy we go inside and open all the leeward windows to let in the bird song. We have a plastic cover to keep the bikes and golf clubs dry outside. We carry a screen which we use rarely, just on sites without clear pitches, to provide some privacy and demarkate our space.  We don't need an awning to reserve our pitch - we stuck our number plate onto our grey water canister, and that stays behind if we're coming back: others just leave theirs propped up against the EHU post or pegged in. So - don't assume you need an awning in your new motorhome life!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We do plan to use our new toy a few times without an awning so It may well be as suggested that we don't actually need one.

Hi Ande,  We have a 2009 Symbol with a Fiamma Ti45 and use a Movelite XL pro, these light weight driveaway awnings look great in the brochure, but in real life don't stand up to much wind and rain, we have had ours ripped from its straps 3 times in resent weeks and waiting to send it of for repair.

You will need a figuire of 8 attachment and webbing to attach to the front panel of your Fiamma awning, or put the straps over your van and anchor them down, be carefull to avoid putting them over the roof vents as they might catch and rub the  clear plastic.

 We are going to have a look at some wind blockers this week.Privacy rooms are great, but can also get damaged in the wind.

We tend to go for coastal sites, so its down to us to decide when to erect an awning, so watch the local weather forecast.

happy camping. Bob