We wondered whether anyone had used their normal inflatable tent instead of a drive away awning? I only ask as I have a nearly new outwell Roswell tent and now I have bought a campervan it seems daft to spend another 700 odd quid on a drive away awning....just wondering if anyone had done this? Cheers in advance
I've just got a campervan and was wondering whether a day tent would be easier than a drive away awning... I just don't know how easy it will be to get back into the same spot for reconnection.
We've used a Quechua Base tent as an "awning" against our(admittedly quite low) Hiace van for 4-5 years now.
(photo of "awning" in gallery).
I suppose how feasible it's be to use an existing tent will all depend on the actual tent and the van height? But it's certainly something I'd be trying..
Hi, your Outwell tent......seems a big one just like our Vango Sapera Tall Drive away. There is one problem with having a tent instead of a drive away, it is the guy ropes. We get very strange looks when we use our big drive away, and that is when attached to the van.. It becomes as big as another van parked along side us. We also have a smaller drive away, that does not present that problem. So, if you can put the tent up with the ropes, next to the van, at their shortest, and an acute angle, you might just get away with it on some smaller pitches. If you extend over the size of the pitch other campers will complain before the campsite owners. Call then and say tht is what you would like to do, it matters not if its connected or not...we drive away and leave ours erected, I see no difference to be honest. You could park up and erect it at the front of the van across the pitch?
Veema, will answer your query as well here. It is not difficult to mark where your front wheels are when a drive away has been attached. When you return it is just look where your markers are and drive up to them. Even if you got it wrong, you would not be far off/out of line/square on.It would be easily corrected by pulling a few pegs out, or trying to line up again.
We use a utility tent about 2 x 1.5 meters erected either beside or behind the van. It's only used for storage of chairs, wine etc. but was only about £80. I had a drive away awning on my old van but found it too much hassle getting back in the right place if I went out.
Thanks everyone. Lots of really good advice and yes it's a 5 mam outwell which is around 3.8 metres wide and 4.8 metres long. May just pick up a second hand smaller driveaway one :-)
We have a decathlon base seconds which works well.
We also have lilli pad windstoppers which attach to our wind out foam awning.
The lillipads are our preferred option due to the small amount of space they take up and the minimal time to attach.
Our proper driveway awning we only use if we are staying put for few days in the autumn / early spring as it simply takes up too much room and time.
------------- It's only an expensive hobby when it's parked on your Drive....use it, love it , live it.
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Topic: Alternative to a drive away awning
