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Although the Omnistor & Fiamma wind out awnings are great and very easy, people I know who have tried adding the sides rarely use them as they are such a pain to put up unless you are 8 feet tall and built like the proverbial outhouse, and there's 2 of you. Plus you have to take it all down if you want to go off site.

I had an NR stand alone awning for my little motorcaravan, which was quite easy to put up, although I found the canvas very heavy to lift on my own. Think I would go for one of the lightweight ones like Elaine's, although a smaller version, if there is a next time.

When I had the motorhome, I bought a Sunncamp Day Room and used to pitch it under the wind out Omnistor so there was protection from the elements between the van and the tent but it was easy to wind in the awning & drive away, leaving table, chairs, barbecue etc in the tent which "guarded" the pitch.

One problem with awnings that attach to the van is getting it parked just right when you come back so it can be re-attached.

We bought a Sunncamp awning this summer but it arrived with no parts list, inadequate instructions, the wrong poles and poles missing. After spending a Saturday morning trying to erect it with no success we sent it back and bought a Fiamma P45 windout.It cost us an extra £100 to get it fitted but it is a joy, less than 5mins to set up (and you can wind it back in the dark, as I found out last time out when the wind got up at 2am, no more curried beans for me). We have a pup tent we use like a shed for folding chairs & table and to reserve our pitch if we go offsite. You can get sides which attach to extra telescopic rafters and a front panel  but we have not bothered, it is more sociable to be able to say hello to passersby. The spring loaded stormstrap is useful if it is breezy but if it gets any worse wind it in and retire to the warmth of the van. 

Hello Sherpard and Caz

Thanks for the good advice. It seems you both had more or less the same set-up. I have priced a sun canopy to be fitted, about £400 for a 4 metre one. Now I need to find a small tent or sunncamp day room to store all my stuff in. Warrington have a camping shop so might try there this week unless anyone knows anywhere else I might find one?

Donna

There's loads of dealers with websites, Donna, and a lot of them do free postage. Depending how much room you want, look at the Day Rooms/tents and the utility tents.

If you do a search on here in tents or equipment forums you'll find a lot of info about different ones and where to get them.

We have a safari room which attaches to the wind out Omnistor awning. My hubby manages to put it up on his own with a little help from me (but at only 5 feet tall I am not a lot of use!) It takes him about 45 mins to put it all up.  However, we have not used it that much to be honest with you and as we like to wild camp it would be a bit of a pain to keep putting up and down. If you are staying put for a few days on a site or on a rally it is ideal and as we now tow a little Smart car we can still get out and about.  Personally, I think we will only use it once in a while and with hindsight was rather a waste of money for us personally, but the wind out Omnistor awning has been very useful and I would recommend them to anyone.  If you feel you might use a safari room or awning perhaps the drive away one might be the best option, but to be honest, unless you have a largish family or you intend to stay in one spot for a few days at a time then I don't really see you getting much use out of one. Nice thing to have and we will use ours, when the need arises now we have actually bought it, but they are a bit of a clat and takes away some of the freedom of motorhoming in my book. I can see the logic of one for a touring caravan, as tourers tend to stay on campsites and usually remain their for several days but most motor homers like to be on the move from what I have seen and therefore a safari room can be a bit restricting.

However, at the end of the day, it is personal choice as is the case with most things and if you feel you would get a lot of use out of one then they are a lovely addition to your motor home and certainly creates a lot more useable space. When we put ours up I feel like it is similar to having a little conservatory on your house and it is ideal for when you have a barbeque or invite friends in for a drink.

Sonesta

Thanks Sonesta. Decisions, decisions. Which to go for? Now I'm really undecided as there are pros and cons with them all. I do like the idea of the sun canopy (fiamma or omnistor) and I could always buy the safari room at a later date. Meantime, I will see if I can get a stand alone tent/day room for now, just to put my stuff in and secure my pitch for when I want to go out for the day in the van.

Donna