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12/12/2022 at 1:00pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Several factors to consider with an awning, some already mentioned, no two people seem to have exactly the same needs/expectations from their awnings:
1) What do you want to use it for? Sitting out/dining space, storage space, wet outdoor clothes/boots changing, cleaning up the mucky dog/kids space before letting in van!
2) Have you got transport space and weight capacity to transport? Some awnings are very heavy and bulky, so much so they may push your transport options too far and not fit, AND can be a struggle to handle when packed in their bags. Air awnings in particular are notorious for being heavy and bulky especially in their larger sizes as they are in a single storage bag, poled awnings are often split into two slightly more manageable bags! Awning weight is such that if transported in the van they generally MUST go directly over the axle if not to upset the tow handling!
3) Have you got anywhere to dry the size of awning you are considering? Like tents, awnings MUST be perfectly dry before longer term storage! Inevitably at some point you will find you will have to leave a camp site with the awning still wet, and you can only leave it packed wet for a day or so before it will start to go mouldy (generally no recovering from mould, the stains and fabric damage are permanent), so you need drying space at home - awnings are not self supporting like a tent and rarely can they be erected to dry without the van, spread out on the ground, hung over a washing line (if strong enough for the weight!) or spread out and regularly turned in a garage are the usual methods!
4) If you are looking at porch awnings, are you prepared to have a side wall go over a window or locker door? Some people will not tolerate having a window or locker out of action because the awning obstructs it! A awning wall running over a window or locker door will be more draughty because of gaps than one running down a plain flat wall! - I don't find it an issue, others do! Allowing for or avoiding a wall crossing a window/locker may dictate what size options are open to you!
5) How able bodied are you, and do you have competent assistance? Many awnings require a degree of strength and dexterity, as well as assistance. Air awnings, weight aside can often be a single person job, poles often require two people!
With my van I use a heavy Kampa 330 air porch awning (with bedroom extension when required) for longer stays. For shorter stays and when I'm certain it will be wet on departure, I use a smaller lighter Sunncamp 260 single poled porch awning. They get used as a sitting out/dining area, storage area, wet/muddy clothes/boots changing/drying area and most importantly for me, somewhere to clean up the dog before she goes in the van. Many people find an awning too much trouble to bother with, personally I find it near essential especially in bad weather, but then I live a outdoor activities lifestyle with a mucky dog in tow!
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12/12/2022 at 4:40pm
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Quote: Originally posted by tonyv8power on 12/12/2022
With regard to awning size I would suggest sticking to the manufactures recommended size. If you get a shorter one, the problem comes when you pitch up on a hilly pitch, if the land falls away from the van you could end up with a gap where the awning meets the land. Conversely with a too long awning you could end up with too much skirt to tuck under the ground sheet.
This all depends on the orientation of the pitch. If its falling away opposite the door, just about any awning will suffer, as the depth is often a lot less than the width. If its sloping to one end, yes, a longer awning will have too much or not enough, depending.
To be honest, a bit of research prior to booking should steer you away from the possibility of this happening. Personally, i wouldnt do more than a night on a badly sloping pitch. And if i thought i could do better that day elsewhere, i'd drive away.
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Topic: Awning
via mobile 12/12/2022 at 5:53am
