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Just wondered how many folk use canopies?

Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 12/7/2011

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The only disadvantage of having a sun-canopy-only set up is that, in the event of driving rain, which can still occur on a warm day when in France, your belongings have to be shifted up against the van side and you have to retire into the van.  The facility to insert one end panel and only one of the front panels can give you fresh, open air comfort.  Something like the Dorema Panorama sun canopy, or the Isabella Ventura, can take as much time to erect as the basic canopy of a conventional awning; with little difference weight-wise.  And the full awning can be manipulated according to weather changes in a way that a sun canopy never can.  During our recent 7 weeks in France, we did have some heavy rain on occasions and it stayed too warm in the van.  Under these conditions, nothing less than the full awning would have been acceptable.  Hence my earlier comment; we have learned from the continentals.

Bertie.

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I wonder how many people use canopies?  When I asked a question some time ago about what folk do about pegs when they take the panels out of an awning, the majority said they didn't take out the awning panels, preferring just to use a verandah pole.  If fact, some went as far as saying they would never leave the awning panels out for any length of time because of the possibility of damage caused by inclement weather.  Surely a canopy is less secure than a awning with the panels out.

Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 12/7/2011

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I've never had the slightest interest in a canopy or even a porch awning for that matter. I think that a full awning is that versatile you can virtually convert it into a canopy but with stronger support plus it cuts out the draught all the way round. If the weather turns you can easily zip the panels back in plus your belongings are out sight in a full awning. If venturing out just for a weekend I may just take a gazebo as it can be erected and dismantled in no time at all.

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I agree with not being interested in a canopy when an awning can do the same job and more IMHO.  It did make me surprised at the number who said they never took their panels out, when I asked what folk did about the pegs that were left behind.  Don't take a gazebo, haven't done this for years, but we do have a large porch for short stays.

Quote: Originally posted by juliev on 12/7/2011

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I agree with Tango55 and DSB.
We decided to try out the awning as a sun canopy on our first outing at Easter. Weather was scorching and it was good having the canopy, but then we went out for a meal and got back to the site just before a thunderstorm. I quickly zipped in the front panels, no time to peg out but it kept everything in the awning dry for the night. I pegged out the next morning and put up the verandah poles.
Dont think we will be buying a Sun Canopy.

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Pssssst..... David....

I don't have a sun canopy.....but I am now the proud possessor of a 6m flagpole and a very natty windsock AND a Staffordshire flag!

Shall I start an Alcatraz Flag Show? (Or something...)

I didn't think we'd use a canopy either until we bought our in-laws one and saw how they used it so we bought a 2nd hand one off eBay and have proved myself wrong, we can only mainly do weekends and dont arrive on site until about 6pm Friday evening & it's not worth the faff of an awning but we do need shelter for the table, bbq, chairs & coolbox and the canopy really is up in less than 2 minutes then on Sunday morning when we leave it takes the same to roll it up & if it's rained we can just let it hang flat to the van, wipe it with a towel and it's away.

As for sturdiness I presume it's less so that a "proper" awning with the sides out but so far it has stood up to decent wind ok and I think the fact it's so thin the wind whistles past it easier so seems to flap less.

We used to put the porch awning up but from unrolling it to the last peg it can still take 45 minutes or so then if it was wet we had to get it all unrolled & dry at home.

Quote: Originally posted by chilephilly on 12/7/2011

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Pssssst..... David....

I don't have a sun canopy.....but I am now the proud possessor of a 6m flagpole and a very natty windsock AND a Staffordshire flag!

Shall I start an Alcatraz Flag Show? (Or something...)

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We are now the proud owneres of 7m flagpole and a staffordshire flag! No windsock though. Have you got a stake or a clamp on a frame for flag pole. Im not sure how to stand it up?

Quote: Originally posted by chilephilly on 12/7/2011

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Pssssst..... David....

I don't have a sun canopy.....but I am now the proud possessor of a 6m flagpole and a very natty windsock AND a Staffordshire flag!

Shall I start an Alcatraz Flag Show? (Or something...)

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I don't have a canopy, or flagpole!  But I have fairy lights!! 

Hi

We have taken a canopy to France for the last few years.  We use an Isabella Sun Blue, which does have removeable sides.

The canopy is quite a lot lighter to transport.  It uses the same CarbonX frame as we use for our full awning, but the fabric is lighter as well as not having any front panels.

We put storm straps on the corner poles if the weather is windy and we have never found it to be not up to coping with the weather.

It is quicker to put up - less pegging, zipping, and no curtains to faff around with, nor any groundsheets - and we don't boil to death in the heat when setting it up.  It just has a nice feel to being more 'outdoorsy'.

The only downsides I have noticed is that you have to keep your belongings tidy, since they are on view and if the evening goes off a bit chilly. it isn't cosy to sit in like a closed-up awning.

I wouldn't use a simple tarp type of canopy.  I would worry about leaving one up whilst I was away from the van in case it broke loose and damaged the van, nor would I want one which stays permanently attached to the awning rail for towing.  Again, I would worry about damage to the van.

Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 13/7/2011

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we have bought a Dorema Panorama sun canopy (similar to the Isabella Blue) for France. At £103 from ebay only used three times we're hoping its a good buy. We bought it for exactly the same reasons Mr UM gives. Its alot lighter than a full awning and we like the outside feeling. We've managed with the inlaws motorhome wind out omnistor canopy (with no sides) the last three years so the Dorema should be fine. We do intend to buy a full awning but after the expense of the caravan, mover and all the other bits we're waiting til the autumn to hopefully pick up another ebay bargain.

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