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Subject Topic: Can I use a porch awning Post Reply Post New Topic
30/9/2007 at 10:37am
 Location: Coventry
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Hi All
We're brand new caravaners with brand new caravan - (straight in at the deep end)- we are too old build up to it!
We've booked a couple of two-night stops fairly locally as training sessions.
We don't fancy trying to wrestle a full-size awning yet, but as it's coming on winter, we'd like a porch. Trouble is, ours is a fixed bed job with the door forward of the axle, and are told by 2 dealers that it's not suitable for a porch.
Is this true, or are they just trying to flog us a full awning?
Van is an Abbey Freestyle 480 (basically a Vogue 470)and I rather fancy the Sunncamp Scenic Plus porch.

P.S.
We've a lot more to learn than we realized, but this seems the place for it.



30/9/2007 at 10:41am
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Well our door is also forward of the axle and we use a Sunncamp Ultima 260 without any problems whatsoever.  The Scenic Plus tends to slope inwards losing a lot of the useable space hence we went for the Ultima.  The Ultimas are well thought of on here.

I don't think you will have a problem using one on your van at all.  You have to work hard to get the edges tight against the van with this sort of awning, usually by pegging underneath the van, but we had ours up for 2 rain sodden weeks at the end of June with no water ingress issues whatsoever.

Ali



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30/9/2007 at 10:42am
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Forgot to say, welcome to UKCS and ask away, there aren't many questions that haven't been asked so no matter how trivial it may sound nobody minds helping you.

Ali



30/9/2007 at 11:33am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
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Hi there "Welcome". We also have the door forward of the axle and use a porch with no problems. If you're planning on winter use though, I would recommend that you use a traditional porch rather than a lightweight model. We've been using a lightweight Panama 260 and it's not really up to the job for inclement weather. It's very noisy in the wind as it gets under the gap between the caravan and awning and flaps.
The dealer may have said it's unsuitable as it might cover one of the windows, this is not really a problem as you have the option of many windows in your van. I'd ring them back and ask what the reasons for it's unsuitability are.
Enjoy your 1st trip, and ask other campers advice if you're stuck - we're a friendly lot. (Well most of us!)

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Jane


30/9/2007 at 12:13pm
 Location: dorset
 Outfit: A.B.I.gxl.rallyman.picasso
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Hi we have an ongoing problem with porch awnings at the moment,we like the suncamp ultima 260 as it looks good and is easy to erect,but it wont fit our van as ours is only 216.cm ground to rail,so something to be aware of.Perhaps would not apply to your van as most modern vans seem to be 235cm.or thereabouts.Good luck in your new venture,we are comparetively new to caravaning and retired.We bought a second hand porch awning and tried it out earlier this year,and our neighbours on site helped us erect it.The more experienced ones said it was easier to put up a full awning more than a porch.It turned out to be wrong height so back it went on ebay.You will find lots of people to help you if you have problems on the camp sites,and on this site as well.Enjoy.

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dave moore


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30/9/2007 at 1:42pm
 Location: Wigan
 Outfit: VW Passat Lunar Quasar end bdroom
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Yes our door is front of the axle too, we got our Merlin from Campbells   when we bought the van and the awning guy spent quite a bit of time with us checking that the window of the van was not obstucted. We are really pleased with the fit, you can see it on our gallery pic. It is more than adequate for a table and two chairs. Also when we have visitors we keep a plug in cool box in there.

 

Sue



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Sue

Rowntree Park York/April
Hillside Brixham/June
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30/9/2007 at 11:09pm
 Location: Coventry
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Thanks everyone, I'll give it a go. Mind you, Ali's got me thinking about the Ultima now!!


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Tony


01/10/2007 at 12:02pm
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He he, I only know that Scenic owners have come up to us on site and said they wished they had gone for the Ultima because it is more spacious, but it is horses for courses I guess Tony.  We are delighted with ours though.

Ali



01/10/2007 at 1:24pm
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: A nice little number by Evans outsizes
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We have the Abbey Spectrum with the door to the front.  There was no way that a porch awning looked anything other than a bag of spanners on this van.  Basically, the problem was that the space between the window at the side and the door was something in the region of 10", which gave no room for manoevre.  It either blocked the window halfway across, or it blocked the door.  If there had been about 18" space then we wouldnt have had any problems.  The only place it looked halfway decent was on the back end of the van.  In the end I sold the porch and got a full awning.

Jenny



01/10/2007 at 8:33pm
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Hi

Why dont you look on the NR Awnings web site. They will adapt any of their small awnings to suit your van. One end of the awning will fit in the rail as normal and the other end will be fitted with a pad and pole to fit close to the van.

Sandy



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01/10/2007 at 8:56pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Adria Forma-Delica 2.8td-Movelite XL
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Hi, We use a NR porch awning that fits into the awning rail (traditional type) and find it a lot better for weekend or short trips as its up and sorted within 20 minutes but still gives you enough space for shoes coats etc.

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Doing as little as possible for as much as possible...


01/10/2007 at 9:38pm
 Location: Leicestershire
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 560 & Vauxhall Omega
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Must make sure you measure well - it isn't just windows that can be obstructed, you may need access to an external locker, external toilet door, etc. Our door is forward of the axel and a porch awning fits without covering the window and just fits in front of the toilet door, but one any longer would compromise one or the other.

I agree with the noise a lightweight porch awning can make with flapping in the wind, but they are also extremely useful to put up just to give cover over the door for putting on and taking off wellies & coats.....quick to erect too, which with dark evenings can be of benefit. One other thing we've noticed with our lightweight awning is that it creeps in gusty wind - we've got to get some sort of rail clip to stop it happening.


02/10/2007 at 12:28pm
 Location: Llangennech Nr Llanelli S Wales.
 Outfit: VW Touareg & Swift Charisma 635
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Was it becuse the door is sited under the sloping part of the roof?  If so many porch awnings will not fit properly.

The rail needs to be level.



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02/10/2007 at 12:41pm
 Location: Leicestershire
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 560 & Vauxhall Omega
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Scarletsfan, I'm not sure if your reply was about our awning creeping, but if so it wouldn't have been down to the rail as ours is completely level and so is the roof. Any slight slack in the awning gets taken up when the wind blows on the awning. Some people have also said their lightweights get blown almost flat against the caravan in high winds as the poles are so bendy, and some said their poles break. Not being a killjoy here as I think they are a really useful item, but one to put up when conditions are favourable.


02/10/2007 at 2:09pm
 Location: Shropshire North Wales borders
 Outfit: Adria Win
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Quote: Originally posted by Jafa on 02/10/2007


Scarletsfan, I'm not sure if your reply was about our awning creeping, but if so it wouldn't have been down to the rail as ours is completely level and so is the roof. Any slight slack in the awning gets taken up when the wind blows on the awning. Some people have also said their lightweights get blown almost flat against the caravan in high winds as the poles are so bendy, and some said their poles break. Not being a killjoy here as I think they are a really useful item, but one to put up when conditions are favourable.

Mine did that once - but only because I was feeling lazy when I put i up and didn't peg out the guys.



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Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.



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