Just wondered how many of you have them. I don't like to stay in one place for to long and wondered if the effort of erecting and taking down was worth it.
I overheard a conversation where someone suggested that tent type gazibo's (sp) were a better option, does anyone use these?
Takes about 10 mins to put up and is very light to carry. It has the advantage, too, that you don't have to put it up at the side of your van. A couple of times we've had to put it behind the van but, as it's only used for storage, it doesn't matter.
We have a Khyam Motordome. The main structure is very quick to put up (less than 5 minutes), then all that remains is to peg down the sides and the guy ropes.
www.campershop.co.uk currently have them on special offer for £299. That's where we got ours.
Had a couple of Gazebos-cheap but any more than a fresh breeze & they blow away & get mangled up--best thing for speed & convinence is a roll out awning-Fiamma or omnistor---expensive tho---
We just got a Wessex Leisure mini-weekender awning. Didn't fancy a drive away job in case it gets windy whilst away for the day, so this takes less than 10mins to put up & take down. Thread top into std Fiamma, fit the three bendy poles & 5 guy ropes & it's up. Comes down just as quick. Weighs 7.3kg & only £84 on ebay inc p&p
It's not really made to fit in Fiamma rail, but I removed the rubber extrusion from the piping & threaded net curtain wire in its place (2 minute job), this allowed it to fit snugly into the rail.
Photo posted in my gallery, but dunno how to link it here.
We made our own using a gazebo. first we attached all the sides permanently to the roof by small loops of string [old fashioned camping technique but very strong. the end of the gazebo we attached some material and that attaches to the back of our van so its totally water tight. we then made a door in both sides. we also attached stronger tie downs.
total cost is £43 [EBAY] and some pence and it survived the strong winds in Scotland last year with no problems. and they were strong. we did go for a slightly more expensive gazebo tho, the ones with a canvas roof and sides [3] rather than one with the plastic. We used one of those originally and it lasted 4 years til some small holes appeared in the material.
we have thought about making a small inner tent for it too. Not very difficult. sod paying hundreds, i would rather spend it on going somewhere.
forgot- takes approx 8 minutes to erect it, just remember to couour code the poles. we used different colour permanent markers to mark the poles. we also have a bag for the poles so they go straight in as they come down for easy packing away. that was the big problem with the first one we had. storing and getting the poles out was time consuming. the bag saves a lot of time and trouble.
Post last edited on 25/08/2005 01:36:08
Post last edited on 25/08/2005 01:39:57
------------- Home is wherever I park it
ps. Michelle's legs are the middle ones.
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Topic: Stand alone awning
