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Hi all

We're in a bit of a quandry. Planning the coming season on our new seasonal pitch we're looking for an easy to erect porch awning for weekends. It needs to be of a fairly good quality, not one that collapses in the wind & heavy rain like our PDQ. The problem is that there is too much choice. The ones which look easy to erect generally seam to be cheaper but we want something a little bit better quality than the basement models. Our experience with the PDQ was OK in calm weather but any haevy rain or wind and they were a waste of time.

Any advice please. We want one and time is slowly running out!

davie

When we had the van we got a "last years model" Dorema porch from Yorkshire Caravans Awning City at Bawtry. It could be worth having a ride over this weekend for a look.

Mike

why are you having problems with your pdq? we have one and havent had any trouble with it at all, in fact we did do something to the framing tho, but that was more because of hubbies obseesion for the thing to go up square rather than adding any strength to it, we added 2 extra poles at the sides so it was more like your normal full size awning and used the suckers for the side of the van, hey guess what? the latest version has now changed so that they have 3 roof poles instead of the one it started off with!!!

only trouble we have is due to lack of height on my part, and i simply cant reach with or without a step to rool it all back up again, other than that we have had no trouble with ours and even after some scrouts decided to slash the front of the awning at new year, we cant complain about the service we had of the makers either, a full new canvas, in fact everything except the poles was sent to us for less than the cost of the repair.

We have got the Dorema Vitesse XL, cant fault it.

 Hi I used to have a PDQ but after loads of cold showers unzipping it and struggling to put it back in the bag I retuned it as not of merchantable quality and got a

Outdoor Revelution Spacelite original better quality and easy to erect/take down

single handed.

Many thanks for all your input guys n gals. I suppose I'll have to make a decision soon. We have a Bradcot full awning which quality wise is OK but I know that the Isabella range are top of the tree and the Dorema awnings I've seen are also good quality (and lasting). I suppose it's down to the ease of erection. Are there any types which are easier to erect and is there an actual time saving in the erection of a porch awning over a full awning or am I being a little over pedantic?

Tentmad, I've no real problem with the PDQ in calm weather. They are light, easy to erect and quite pleasant inside when erected. The problem comes in adverse weather. The flapping of the wall and roof panels becomes violent and dangerous in anything more than a calm wind and with insessant light rain the roof panel leaks. I have championed them in the past but we really just want a better quality one to withstand the weather of a typical British weekend on the East Coast.

davie

"Tentmad, I've no real problem with the PDQ in calm weather. They are light, easy to erect and quite pleasant inside when erected. The problem comes in adverse weather. The flapping of the wall and roof panels becomes violent and dangerous in anything more than a calm wind and with insessant light rain the roof panel leaks. I have championed them in the past but we really just want a better quality one to withstand the weather of a typical British weekend on the East Coast."

well ours has been up in some horrible weather, and even tho we havent dont the seaing as recoomended it wasnt that bad.

i think that perhaps you havent had the roof as tight as it should be if its flapping, i cant believe im going to say this , but perhaps hubbies attn to detail on this makes the real difference, it annoy him to hell when  he cant get it pegged out and its so taught that the rain bounces off and over next doors caravan! but then again hes exactly the same no matter what type of awning we use, yes ok you will never get any porch to stop flapping tho as the only point of contact with the van is the roof, only other way with that would be to have a channel sewn into the side of the awning, but then that dependson your caravan to if its possible to seal that end up.

oh bear in mind where we live too! most of our caravanning is on the east coast and yes we get battered with the best of the weather.

but as will all awnings they arent meant to be up if the weather is like that, read your instructions, it states in there.

I think it's the flimsyness of the 'polyester' on the PDQ which makes it susceptical to excessive flapping and billowing. I've gotten the thing pegged down as tight as possible without breaking it but it's still the same once the wind pick up to anything more than a breeze. As stated I actually like the PDQ but we're looking for something a little more substantial to cover all weathers. Obviously should the adverse conditions  prevail on arrival we wouldn't erect it in the first place but the weather can change in a sort space of time especially on the East Coast of Yorkshire where we spend most of our time.

Will have to think this one through and make a decision. 8 weeks to go!

davie