Hi, Colum, we've recently bought a Renault campervan and have been looking into this awning business too. We got a tent, which I think is what they call a day tent, with the van. It's about 6ft square and 6ft high and goes up in minutes. You can't attach it to the van, which is what we were concerned about - whether we would get charged on sites for an extra tent or something instead of an awning.
When we started making enquiries about drive away awnings, we decided to stick with this little tent for a while and see what happens, mainly because (1) it would cost us about £150 for a second hand awning and we would still be charged £1.50 or so for it on some sites (2) they're very often canvas and therefore very heavy and extra weight to carry and (3) would we use it very much, it not it would be a waste. These little tents can be bought for about £60 on ebay and possibly in some shops but I haven't looked.
I got an NR free standing awning for my Autosleeper Frisky last year, it went up like a frame tent & attached to the van's guttering. Ratty now uses it with his VW & I think it looks good on it. If I was buying one again I would instead go for one of the tunnel tent type ones as they are easier to erect & lighter to carry. also a lot cheaper. Royal do a couple.
The van I've got now has an Omnistor wind out canopy on it. This is handy as it is really quick, you can get panels to turn them into a full awning, but they are expensive. And they take a while & are difficult to put on. So I just use a windbreak as "walls". I have seen this fitted on small vans as well as on big ones like mine. You could consider the Fiamma as well or their caravanstore.
I would say if you are likely to move sites a lot then a wind out would be better but if you like to base at one site for a few days then a drive-away gives you somewhere to leave the table, chairs etc to save having to pack up all the while. And it gives you more protection than a wind out with windbreak if the weather is bad.
Nora's day tent is another way of tackling it, the only thing with that is you may have to get out of your cosy van & run quickly to the tent if its raining! Some people use a gazebo.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
Have two tunnel awnings that I have used with a T25 and now a T5 - made by Relum - as sold by Bluebird (bluebird-type2.co.uk) - decided on these for small packed size and easy to put up. Larger awning has sleeping compartment if required but we found it was a bit large for some pitches - so asked Bluebird if they could provide a smaller version - the min-deluxe - which suits us better for most sites.
If buying a larger tunnel again would look for one with a side wall that could be rolled up/used as sunshade to give more light/open feel when the weather is good - last time I looked Justkampers had such an awning.
Disadvantage of tunnels is they tend to sag a bit overnight unlike frame based awnings.
Although I've never owned one, Khyam awnings are rated very highly by their owners.
We had a tunnel awning a few years ago and it was very easy to put up. But the sloping walls used to annoy me as it seemed a waste of space, We then bought a canvas Cabannon (sp?) frame awning. This is very sturdy, but is heavy, takes up a lot a space and takes longer to put up.
For the last few years we've just had a canopy are very happy with it.
I have a Renault trafic rimini autosleeper and just bought a Sunncamp Moto which is a tunnel awning and it was great at the weekend. We did have slight problem with shallow gutters on the van and had to use the guys to attach to the van which in the good weather at the weekend wasn't a problem. Will try the 8 rail again as I think we had pitched the awning just too far from the van to fit it properly. No problems with saging sides as it comes with tension poles for the roof that made it very strudy and spacious. It also comes with a two berth sleeping compartment and ground sheet which I felt made it great value for money.
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Topic: Freestanding awnings
