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I really like the look of these for our annual trip to France. We already have an Isabella Magnum for UK so thinking canopy with sides will suffice for France where we tend to get better weather. I know Mr UM has an Isabella Sun Blue but has anyone else got this or the Dorema? Are they alot lighter than a full awning which is another reason I'm favouring one?

 After the expense of buying the van and all the kit a decent new full awning we'd probably never use is out of the question (been scouring ebay for a decent one for last three weeks) but I have come across a Dorema and Isabella canopy both within an hour of home.

Thoughts/ views are much appreciated.

Hi,

The awning itself is lighter, but the Isabella uses the same set of poles as the main annex, so no saving there I'm afraid.

I have never seen the Dorema canopy, but we had a Dorema annex, which was of excellent quality.

Mr UM

Hi, we looked at both of these sun canopies. We saw the Dorema canopy in France last year on a Dutch v'van and it had front panels too! We decided this is what we wanted and set about finding out if we could get one! We tried our local dealer (Glossop Caravans!) and Dorema UK. Both said yes its possible to get one but neither of them has come back to me! With this in mind we thought about it again and decided it wasn't a full awning we wanted so gave up on that idea.

As we already have the Isabella Minor porch and know the quality we decided to get the Isabella Sun Blue. We haven't got one yet though,  we're saving up for it! We saw one at the weekend on a van without the side panels - it was a windy and wet weekend and the canopy held up fine.

I would imagine they are quite a bit lighter than a full awning as you don't have the front panels - depending how long your 'van is these could be quite heavy!

Quote: Originally posted by Ulti-Mates on 16/5/2011

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Hi,

The awning itself is lighter, but the Isabella uses the same set of poles as the main annex, so no saving there I'm afraid.

I have never seen the Dorema canopy, but we had a Dorema annex, which was of excellent quality.

Mr UM

 

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Thanks Mr UM, looking in the 2011 Isbabella catalogue a Sun Blue weighs 18.7kg, a big saving on a capri lux full awning at 38kgs. Never realised our magnum weighed as much as 34.4kgs.

The one I have my eye on ebay has just had the BIN price reduced, think I'll put in an offer and see what happens.

We have a Dorema canopy which we used on our last Pageant Vendee then Burgundy.It won't fit the Pegasus (had the full awning extended).

We found it rain could could cause pools on the roof  with ony three poles, so bought 2 extra legs and roof poles.

It is for sale my ad is in the ads section.

We have a Dorema Panorama - (quadrant shaped sides which zip in) - we use this in France.  We had it extended last year ro fit the Pegasus. 

We also have a Dorema MOntana super lux awning  - both excellent products and bought direct from Dorema at better prices than we could find at dealers.

shame yours is a size 14 DaveS, we need a size 13.

thanks for the info on the Doremas jaiash. The dealer we're buying the van from gave us a Dorema brochure and prices have 30% jubilee discount. There is a Montana on ebay local to me I'm watching and a Panorama fairly local too.

Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 16/5/2011

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One on ebay here near you if its the right size, might be a bargain by looks of it.

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Hi Savanne, i think we need a size 14 but i haven't actually measured it. The  measurements i found on line say size 14 - its 7.26m (24'10"). I note you want a size 13, what length is your caravan?

Lassie, I've got the Dorema brochure here and a size 13 fits 950-975 and a size 14 fits 975-1000 (A frame measurement).

We need a size 13 so the Isabella I have my eye on is a better fit but if the Dorema stays at a low price I may be tempted to have a bid.

dont know, a size 15 fits 1000-1025. I would ring them and see what they suggest.

I'm swaying towards the Dorema as looking at both catalogues the Isabella dosent come with the wheel arch cover and caravan skirt which could be a godsend on a windy southern France pitch.

Ha knew that one Tentz posted was going to be the one you were watching.  Yes you need the skirts particularly in France or Italy lots of big unfamiliar bugs taking refuge under your caravan might come out for a crawl eek!

The Dorema will be much lighter - as it appears to have alloy poles and not many of them.

The Isabella Sun Blue 950cm size or bigger fits on the G18 frame, which is either steel or CarbonX - so heavier than alloy.  Also the G18 frame has intermediate roof rafters - so more poles.

- Having said that, it can get very breezy in the afternoons at Pin Parasol and we find the Sun Blue (which we are using on the CarbonX frame borrowed from our full Isabella Ambassador awning) is very, very, sturdy.  I always have a fear of awnings working loose in the wind and damaging the sides of the van.

Mrs U-M. (I know more about awnings than Mr U-M - LOL!)