Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 23/2/2012

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Thanks Kate, I did see the 390 on a2zcamping but was unsure of the company as never heard of them. They have the cheapest 390 Pro I've found so far. Did you receive good service from a2z?

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Quote: Originally posted by sunshinetours on 23/2/2012

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Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 22/2/2012

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We only ever use a polyester 260 type awning these days and have sold our canvas awnings. Canvas is too much hard work to erect. We don't go away to do hard work.
England/France/Spain would only be the 260.

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How do you find it in hotter weather?

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We took our van to France for the 1st time last year (having camped previously). We have a Kampa Fiesta 270 awning with 2 bedroom pods for the kids.

Last year on Ile D'Oleron we copped for a mini heat wave 35 deg C +. We found the awning temperature tricky to manage as we didnt have any side panels to vent air due to the 2 bedroom pods. Our fridge vents into the awning as well so we had difficulty keeping the fridge cool. (There are threads on this fridge issue elsewhere on this forum- some fettle computer fans behind the vent grilles to help provide the cool air I believe)

In the end we removed the whole of the front panel during the day. We did have concerns re security issues but to be honest we dont leave anything of value in the awning - its just a table,chair,shoe and rubbish store.

We have used a canopy for the past five years, and just leave everything out at night - oven, fridge, herbs and spices, chairs, table, portable fridge, etc., and have never had anything disturbed, except perhaps by the odd hedgehog wandering through.  The picture of our pitch(es) in the thread about your pictures shows our set up - and we don't bring in anything at night.

In 39 degrees, which we had last year, we needed the canopy for shade, but a full awning would have been a nightmare.

Make sure whatever you get has removeable panels, or it will be like a sauna.

I remember the 39 degrees well Val. We sweltered in the Dordogne, luckily our pitch had alot of shade and we had a Dorema sun canopy on the van. Our 3 way fridge struggled to cope under the canopy some days.

Think we are going to have a look at some awnings this weekend. We took the cover off the caravan today and we had to have a cup of tea in there, it was lovely.

We liked the mesh windows option as well as helps with ventilation even over here, yet alone France, as well as obviously insect prevention if near lakes etc.

The fact that it should be massively quicker to put up and down than our full (huge) canvas awning is just a bonus!

Thanks for fridge fan tip above will look into this as hadn't thought about that

We use a polyester awning all the time  -  cold,wet,dry,hot and anything in between.  It works perfectly well   We spend June/July and August in France and never put the sides in unless we are in the north of that wonderful country.  We live in it and only sleep in the van.    

One year I forgot to take the sides out of the under the boot storage section of the car.  It was Christmas before we remembered about it.  The sides fit perfectly in that space and keeps the awning roll size to a minimum in the boot.  I can then fill the bottom of the boot with the red stuff and still have the awning in the boot.

just bagged a brand new Fiesta 350 for £114. Very very pleased.