Hi there, I'm a new member to this forum site and I was wondering as to whether anybody has any experience with the Thule Omnistor 4900 wind-out awnings. Apparently these wind-out awnings are light enough to fix into a multi-rail and can be easily removed. I have a VW T6 with a pop-up roof and which has multi=rails fitted on both sides. I never really liked the idea of having a Wind-out awning permanently fixed onto the van but if this Thule awnings can be easily removed, then I may go for it. Does anyone know if they are any good and just how easily they can be fitted and removed?
Hi
No first hand experience of that specific model, although have had Omnistor and Fiamma wind-out canopies on Motorhomes.
Both were quite "delicate" , and could be rattily, squeaking things when deployed in even quite light breezes..and we'd always heavily peg/guy ours but even then, we'd never leave them out when leaving the van unattended.
So with that in mind,I'd be looking at the feasibility of attaching an awing rail(utilising exiting roof fixings?)or attaching a few fixings/eyelets(again utilising exiting roof fixings?) and then just use either of the above to attach a separate tarp/shade.
(which if it did let go, it shouldn't do too much damage?..famous last words! )
Edit:
Just had a quick "google" whilst having a coffee- and it appears that even some simple campervan tarp/canopies are now approaching the price I would've once expected to pay for an awning!? blimey!
..if you could guarantee that such a canopy was always going to be "enough", fair enough..but there is always the chance you'll just end up wanting it to "do/be" more?...I know that we have over the years.
("we won't bother taking the awning", we'd think...only to then end up spending more time/faff with canopies, windbreaks and blocker panels etc!?..
If a basic tarp would do, you could just sew(by machine) some awning beading onto a decathlon-type camping tarp? (we've done similar, and it looks good and has lasted 6-7 years)
Thanks Pepe63 for responding. I presently have both a driveaway awning/tent and a separate awning, both of which I can slot into the multi rails which are fixed to both sides of the van.
My thinking is that by having a wind-out awning on one side, for short stays it would be quicker to erect and more stable but maybe it won't be, especially if I still need to tie it down with storm straps
As I say, I personally wouldn't use a wind-out canopy without securely pegging and guying it down, and whilst in the general scheme of things, that's not a big deal, if you are going to be doing that, you may as well just use a tarp/canopy that slides into your multi-rail?
We've had three wind-outs, and although we did occasionally find them "handy" (as in , we used it 'cause it was there!)on the whole I was very disappointed when we shelled out to have our first one fitted.
I was expecting it/them to be some rigid, secure framework, with a taut fabric, and that was never really our experience of them.
(no doubt they would come into their own parked up along the likes of a sun baked Tour de France course tho'! )
Difficult at the moment I know but it'd recommend trying to see one deployed on a van like/similar to yours, and then just ask the owner if you could have a poke/prod around it?
Yes I know what you mean about them being good in decent sun baked weather but maybe not so good for the unpredictable UK weather.
On the whole, it seems that they may be good for a sun shade during a quick stopover but not so good overnight unless you tie them down. As you say, if they need to be tied down, then I may as well save a lot of money and keep with the slide in awning. Thanks for your advice.
Adding a simple(cheap!) tarp to your "arsenal" of kit, probably won't hurt...even if you do just end up carting it about for mile after mile, for it to be hardly used!
(I've just described the bulk of our "..must have..can't do without.." tack! )
We have only ever used our roll at as a sun shade. Vary rarely used It is not even a lot of good for that. It just depends how high the sun is. Mostly we have been able to get a 3 to 4 foot of shade along the side of our van. Unless of course we have it at the lowest point the legs allow. But then that position blocks our view. It is a case of, have a view or not much shade. We will not bother again. Things may be a whole lot better for a lower height of van though. Never would we leave unattended, and any weather, whatever the weather it would as Pepe63 says...be tied down.
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Topic: Wind-out campervan awnings
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