Is there an awning that I can buy for my tourer that I can leave up all year round, no matter the weather? New to having a caravan and we've sited her and want to use the awning as an extra room to van? Tia :)
Personally, I would be wary of leaving an awning up over the winter unless you are able to check it on a regular basis. I have had my van on a seasonal pitch for 4 years now and take my awning down in October then put it back up in March. One of the big problems over the winter is the weight of snow on the roof. Fine if you can clear it regularly but I know a couple of people who have lost their awnings (both Isabella awnings) because the poles buckled under the weight or the seams split. If we want to use our van over winter, we use a porch awning.
Yes there is several makes that you could leave up on a permanent basis with additional support etc, but they will cost you a fair amount of money and last for a very short time.
Firstly I'd check with the 'site and see if they'll even allow you to keep an awning up unattended for long periods...Awnings, like tents. need their guys "attending to" and you don't want to be watching the weather forecasts and for ever wondering if something has let go and the awning is beating seven bells out of your van (..or even, several of you neighbours vans!? ).
Ex-in laws of mine used to keep their awning up throughout the summer months but they were retired, so they were there most weekends(long weekends)and for weeks at a time during school hols(Grandkids).
But they took it down when winter kicked in...and although it wasn't "abused", it did look "older than it's years"..
Maybe a second-hand one would be the way to go?....
I think it also depends on how your pitch sits. On our last site we could leave our awning up all year as the pitch was fairly sheltered. My husband is pretty darned good at putting an awning up and they are usually more secure than Fort Knox!. On our current site we took the decision to take the awning down in November the last 2 years as the site is pretty open and a few people in different parts of the site have lost awnings. I'm so glad we did. This year when we took the big awning down we put a very sturdy porch awning up. We were in the caravan and witnessed the abuse it got during the first storm last November. We thought the awning was going to rip the side of the caravan off. Convinced us it wasn't worth the risk. Its not just the damage to the awning, it's the damage the awning can do to the caravan. The main risk I think is the wind. I know all our awnings could withstand anything else including the weight of snow as we always had the extra poles and reinforcement needed. Gale force wind, not so much. Most 4 season awnings nowadays are fairly decent quality. We've had isabella, dorema and NR - all did well.
Some sites require you to take the awning down when the seasonal is not occupied.
I’ve seen collapsed & dismantled awnings on various sites, with broken poles clattering against the caravan. Some awnings even had the chairs etc left up inside. But when I report it to staff, they just shrug their shoulders so I don’t bother any more: must be a shock when people turn up for their next holiday.
I have a Walker Snow and Fun winter porch awning which has extra roof supports to cope with heavy snowfall. I only used it for ! week as my wife didn't like camping in the winter, yet another camping caravanning item taking up room in my loft which will never get used again as I sold the caravan!!
saxo1
Given Storm Dudley is imminent and Storm Eunice is hard on its heels, much of the country will be on amber alert for wind (and coastal flooding in my area) over the next 3 days. That’ll test any pegs & poles!
Joking apart, I hope everyone stays safe, at home or on site or on the roads.
Leaving an awning up for the winter suggests that you are storing something inside, making you an obvious target for thieves.
Since the awning covers the locked caravan door once inside the awning the thief can take his time breaking in without being disturbed and no one will notice the break in until you return next season.
All round bad idea.
Its amazing the hammer a properly erected (and tied down) awning will withstand. Ive been in a couple of howling gales where i would bet my mortgage on the awning being in shreds come morning. Absolutely guaranteed of it. Come the morning, there has not been a peg out of place, or even last nights wine glasses knocked over.Yet there have been branches on the floor, and patio tables in the road.
But, i wouldnt leave an awning up 365 if i wasnt there. Out of deference to the neighbours, and the undue UV damage it would get from the sun.
Quote: Originally posted by Ronni54 on 17/11/2014
Personally, I would be wary of leaving an awning up over the winter unless you are able to check it on a regular basis. I have had my van on a seasonal pitch for 4 years now and take my awning down in October then put it back up in March. One of the big problems over the winter is the weight of snow on the roof. Fine if you can clear it regularly but I know a couple of people who have lost their awnings (both Isabella awnings) because the poles buckled under the weight or the seams split. If we want to use our van over winter, we use a porch awning.
I agree with Ronni54's comments about leaving the awning up all year round.
Pre pandemic we had been on seasonal pitches for around 10 years but we took the awning down at the end of October and put it back up end of March each year.
We had a couple of Isabella Universal 420 (porch) awnings. They are pricey but worth the money. Steel frame which is heavy but makes it very strong, we also purchased the winter storm kit (set of extra poles) to support the roof with the weight of the snow. They stood well to some extremely strong winds over the years.
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Topic: Awning left up all year round?
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via mobile 16/2/2022 at 3:17am
