Caravan awning size question
Discussion
The time to collect the caravan is fast approaching, Saturday is the pick up date. I would like to get a floor covering for the awning so everything is ready and hopefully we will be able get away at some point next week.
I was told by the caravan dealer that the awning included in with the purchase will be a size 13.
A bit of searching tells me that a size 13 is 950-975, what I cannot find is a dimension in length. I know it will be 2.4m, and the caravan is 7.1m overall so guess that the awning carpet will need to be in the region of 5m or 6m long, but don't want to get the wrong size.
Any suggestion what length a size 13 equates to?
I was told by the caravan dealer that the awning included in with the purchase will be a size 13.
A bit of searching tells me that a size 13 is 950-975, what I cannot find is a dimension in length. I know it will be 2.4m, and the caravan is 7.1m overall so guess that the awning carpet will need to be in the region of 5m or 6m long, but don't want to get the wrong size.
Any suggestion what length a size 13 equates to?
I would say 6m.
Look here, and click on the 'which carpet size' tab:
http://www.dorema.co.uk/de/accessories/starlon_awn...
Look here, and click on the 'which carpet size' tab:
http://www.dorema.co.uk/de/accessories/starlon_awn...
It might be worth some googling of the pros and cons of full size awnings against porch styles before you lay out any floor coverings for the one you are getting. I know from other threads you've put up that the awning is in with the deal but there as many people only bother with porch ones as do with the full size ones. Many find the full size too heavy to cart about and too big to be bothered wrestling with to put up and too much pegging out.
In truth time will tell what suits you, but the world of awnings is as complex as the 'vans they sit against. Sizes (Porch, Three quarter, full) Frames (Inflatable/carbon/aluminium/steel poles), Materials - its all a minefield.
I would like the space of a full awning every time we use the van but in truth we have been to ten different places since we got our van for anything from two nights to three weeks and we've had our Dorema porch awning up once to practice and once to use. We haven't bothered the rest of the time!
In truth time will tell what suits you, but the world of awnings is as complex as the 'vans they sit against. Sizes (Porch, Three quarter, full) Frames (Inflatable/carbon/aluminium/steel poles), Materials - its all a minefield.
I would like the space of a full awning every time we use the van but in truth we have been to ten different places since we got our van for anything from two nights to three weeks and we've had our Dorema porch awning up once to practice and once to use. We haven't bothered the rest of the time!
This is a good point.
We have one of these:
And whilst it is good, I'm not going to use it this year! It annoys me too much. It's heavy and it doesn't really give us what we want with regards outside space.
The sloping roof means you can't really stand up inside and look out, and it's not big enough to accommodate any stuff and a table and chairs.
I'd say that full awnings are better if you are going away in wetter/colder conditions and you need that space actually attached to your caravan.
When we go to France this summer, we'll just put our porch awning up just so we have somewhere to leave shoes, etc. We have one of these:
And then we'll take our Coleman Event Shelter for our outside space:
We have the walls and groundsheet that you can attach for this as well, in case the weather closes in! It's much easier to put up than a full awning and gives LOADS of space.
You can cook under it if the weather is bad, it's UV50 rated so if it's really hot and sunny it gives good protection. Also gives you the freedom to make the most of your pitch and spread out a bit. We love it. It is big though!
We have one of these:
And whilst it is good, I'm not going to use it this year! It annoys me too much. It's heavy and it doesn't really give us what we want with regards outside space.
The sloping roof means you can't really stand up inside and look out, and it's not big enough to accommodate any stuff and a table and chairs.
I'd say that full awnings are better if you are going away in wetter/colder conditions and you need that space actually attached to your caravan.
When we go to France this summer, we'll just put our porch awning up just so we have somewhere to leave shoes, etc. We have one of these:
And then we'll take our Coleman Event Shelter for our outside space:
We have the walls and groundsheet that you can attach for this as well, in case the weather closes in! It's much easier to put up than a full awning and gives LOADS of space.
You can cook under it if the weather is bad, it's UV50 rated so if it's really hot and sunny it gives good protection. Also gives you the freedom to make the most of your pitch and spread out a bit. We love it. It is big though!
Thanks for the info about the size, now I know what to look for.
It is ironic that going from a tent to a caravan we may end up with an awning that takes longer to put up than the tent ever did.
I don't know which awning will be included, but suspect it will be a cheap one as the dealer is an agent for Camptech which seem to to at the economy end of the scale.
Until we try it I am not going rush out and buy a porch awning, but can see the advantage they offer over a full one. At the minute we have no plans for foreign trips so an extra area out of the rain that we always have will be useful.
It is ironic that going from a tent to a caravan we may end up with an awning that takes longer to put up than the tent ever did.
I don't know which awning will be included, but suspect it will be a cheap one as the dealer is an agent for Camptech which seem to to at the economy end of the scale.
Until we try it I am not going rush out and buy a porch awning, but can see the advantage they offer over a full one. At the minute we have no plans for foreign trips so an extra area out of the rain that we always have will be useful.
We have the Dorema Royal 350 double size awning to longer trips away (1 week +)
Takes ages to erect and pull down, but gives a huge living space and is flexible if you want to create an outdoor porch area.
Came with the 'van though. Probably wouldn't have chosen it as it's too cumbersome - 2 large pole bags!
Next we have a regular full size awning. Use this for trips 3 days up to 1 week. Also have a sleeping porch as the kids liked to sleep outside the 'van, and a porch is sometimes better than a pup tent.
Then we (had) a porch awning. Was a 3/4 size so covered both the door and side living room window. Used for 2 - 3 day breaks. Still a bit of a faff to put up as it had the regular frame. It didn't wear well. One particularly blowy Easter on the cliff top campsite at Durdle Door, the wind decided it was time to 'retire' the awning. Bent frame, ripped canvas, sodden - went straight in the bin.
So I'm looking for a new alternative for an easy to use porch awning. Any ideas? I don't want anything with restricted head room,
Takes ages to erect and pull down, but gives a huge living space and is flexible if you want to create an outdoor porch area.
Came with the 'van though. Probably wouldn't have chosen it as it's too cumbersome - 2 large pole bags!
Next we have a regular full size awning. Use this for trips 3 days up to 1 week. Also have a sleeping porch as the kids liked to sleep outside the 'van, and a porch is sometimes better than a pup tent.
Then we (had) a porch awning. Was a 3/4 size so covered both the door and side living room window. Used for 2 - 3 day breaks. Still a bit of a faff to put up as it had the regular frame. It didn't wear well. One particularly blowy Easter on the cliff top campsite at Durdle Door, the wind decided it was time to 'retire' the awning. Bent frame, ripped canvas, sodden - went straight in the bin.
So I'm looking for a new alternative for an easy to use porch awning. Any ideas? I don't want anything with restricted head room,
How about this?
http://www.towsure.com/sunncamp-envy-200-porch-awn...
Either that or one of the air frame offerings? Try Kampa.
http://www.towsure.com/sunncamp-envy-200-porch-awn...
Either that or one of the air frame offerings? Try Kampa.
We have one of these
http://www.camping-online.co.uk///caravan-awnings/...
Having moved on from tents the last thing I wanted was an awning that took as long (or longer) than the tent to put up.
On a good day with accommodating weather and ground it goes up in about 10 mins
We then put a Fiamma floor in - not cheap but really easy to use and warm and dry to stand on also easlily wiped clean http://www.fiamma.com/EN/products/fiammastore/acce...
http://www.camping-online.co.uk///caravan-awnings/...
Having moved on from tents the last thing I wanted was an awning that took as long (or longer) than the tent to put up.
On a good day with accommodating weather and ground it goes up in about 10 mins
We then put a Fiamma floor in - not cheap but really easy to use and warm and dry to stand on also easlily wiped clean http://www.fiamma.com/EN/products/fiammastore/acce...
We have a Kampa air frame awning and it takes less than 15 mins to put up plus however many pegs you want to use to batten it down. We have the driveaway version for our MH however I have seen caravans with the non driveaway version and spoke with owners and they look/are the biz!
NB If you go down the separate event shelter space arrangement (as above) please be aware that many site forbid the use of stand alone "gazebos" so I'm not sure whether they would accept a separate shelter.
Cheers
NB If you go down the separate event shelter space arrangement (as above) please be aware that many site forbid the use of stand alone "gazebos" so I'm not sure whether they would accept a separate shelter.
Cheers
oblio said:
We have a Kampa air frame awning and it takes less than 15 mins to put up plus however many pegs you want to use to batten it down. We have the driveaway version for our MH however I have seen caravans with the non driveaway version and spoke with owners and they look/are the biz!
NB If you go down the separate event shelter space arrangement (as above) please be aware that many site forbid the use of stand alone "gazebos" so I'm not sure whether they would accept a separate shelter.
Cheers
we use a Kampa air awning for our caravan. Easy to put up and down. NB If you go down the separate event shelter space arrangement (as above) please be aware that many site forbid the use of stand alone "gazebos" so I'm not sure whether they would accept a separate shelter.
Cheers
They are great
We had the full version which threads onto the rail on the canopy on a MH but sent it back. It was too heavy/awkward to put up on a MH rail (which isn't like a caravan one) for one person hence getting the driveaway version which is much easier due to using figure of 8's and kadar strip.
We don't get the close fitting to the side of the van that you tuggers do however its a small compromise really.
We had the full version which threads onto the rail on the canopy on a MH but sent it back. It was too heavy/awkward to put up on a MH rail (which isn't like a caravan one) for one person hence getting the driveaway version which is much easier due to using figure of 8's and kadar strip.
We don't get the close fitting to the side of the van that you tuggers do however its a small compromise really.
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