I have an Elddis Affinity 554 caravan. I am considering getting a Fiamma roll out awning. I have seen quite a few in use. I would be grateful if anyone can answer my question. Before i buy one.
Once fitted to the awning rail, can they remain there all season and when travelling.
Thank you.
Can't comment on the Fiamma but we used to have a Quest roll out "Awning in a Bag".
That stayed on all year round. Very easy to put up but a sod to put away in it's bag.
Drawbacks, I could hear it banging against the side of the van during transit.
When I took it off I found distinct signs of "bruising" on the side of the van. We also found signs of damp ingress along the awning channel caused by the constant pressure exerted by the weight of the awning.
We had a Fiamma Caravanstor on a couple of caravans and travelled down to the South of France several times with it attached to the caravan awning rail. The longer ones are really a two man job to put away. The downside to this type of awning and I would include the Fiamma S45 we had on our two motorhomes is that in windy weather you have to be prepared to take it down at any time of the day or night. We have had to do that but not too often. Some modern caravans can have the S45 fitted, they are easier to roll in an out because they use a winder. If all you are looking for is a sun shade perhaps look at what awnng manufacturers have to offer, they are usually more robust in bad weather.
We rarely use our wind-out awning on the MH. As has been said, we’d never leave it out overnight in case the wind gets up. Rain rarely comes straight down in Scotland, so we considered getting a side or front but decided not to use the awning in the rain. And sun comes at an angle too, so the awning only shades the inside of the MH; in the past, we’ve rigged up a partial front using a tarpaulin to block the sun so that the dog can get shade. Now we just sit on the shady side of the vehicle.
In short, for at least 3 weather events (wind, rain, strong sun), we don’t use it.
The main use for us is marking out the parts of the pitch that we’d prefer our neighbours not to walk over or play ball in. People have stepped over our feet when we’re sitting out at the back door, but no one has ever come under the awning. A wind shield does the same thing.
Can't say I've seen too many roll out awnings on caravans, far more common on MHs/Campers, but vague notion I may have seen one at one of my stays this year, BUT, it could have been a more conventional 'slide in the rail' type tarp, but certainly only a 'roof'!
Points raised above are my impression of them too. Have to say I've assisted a few MH neighbours repair/bodge them over the years when the wind has got to them in their absence/overnight and 'mangled' them - bent arms/disconnected joints seems the main issue. It's a large sail area that can exert considerable force. I've even heard of kindly neighbours retracting them for absent owners to save the damage! It does seem wise if not necessary, to retract them at any hint of wind.
I can see the benefit for a MH/Camper owner who moves on frequently, with their relative speed of deployment/retraction, but the disadvantages seem to far outweigh the benefits if going to be sited for any length of time as most caravaners do. A proper awning/canopy is far more durable, shade giving, rain shielding etc.
Friends with MHs with roll outs seem to have a bit of a battle with semi-permanent marks/staining, when necessary to retract them wet/dirty! Like all fabrics, if tightly packed wet, they tend to go mouldy very quickly.
I've got a lightweight porch awning for my caravan, it only takes around 20 mins to erect/take down, on my own. If I open the front wall of that, I have to say it often doesn't provide shade inside if the sun is in the 'wrong' position, I need to use the open wall on King Poles to make an extension canopy to give proper shade inside. The sides have curtains over the windows, so good all round shade can be obtained. It's stood up to some pretty harsh winds, and can be considered near weatherproof, with minimal driving rain ingress through the inevitable gaps.
We've had a Fiamma 45 roll out on our caravan for five years. Added a side blind a couple of years ago.
As we only camp on the continent it is ideal ... a full awning takes so much longer to rig, and frequently you'd be removing zipped in sides and front.
The roll out takes a couple of minutes ... and so quick for when you want to move on.
Can't imagine caravanning without one now!
Highly recommend.
We had a Thule Omnistor, IMO a far superior item to Fiamma, on two of our caravan. We travelled with it on but took it off at the end of the season, there was never an issue towing with it on.
It did get a bit much rolling it back up so we fitted a Thule cassette type, the type with a wind out handle, to the roof of the caravan and it made life so much easier.
Have now had four of the Thule awnings and can say after first hand experience that there was never any marks, staining or mould even when putting away wet on any of them.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Hello. Remember, When the awning is on, its on, Its heavy, and awkward to remove. The weight of the awning is taken by the awning rail, and the fixing screws. for travel thats ok. but when its out, wind flaps it around. Thats noisy, and this places more strain on the awning rail screws. Some manufacturers recommend rolling it up in wind, but this negates having it.I have had 3, on different 'vans, (the 'vans came with it) and would not have one out of choice. this year I purchased a Isabella sun canopy for my latest caravan, the biggest one they do, and pleased with it.It takes only minutes to put up, (and take down in wind) and is a lot cheaper than a rollout.
J&J
Thank you for the feed back, its given me some thing to ponder on. I have a porch awning and really two takes two to fit it.
My wife passed away last year, I've been caravanning on my own, hence the query about the roll out awning.
I mostly caravan on my own, and well and truly into OAP territory, although still relative strong, fit and able, but fitting awnings etc. is solely down to me.
I've a nice Kampa Rally Air Pro 330 air awning, which with the aid of a Kampa type pulley (DIY version of), I can manage on my own, but it's a PITA to dry at home if packed away wet after use, as so large and heavy, so a few years back I bought a Sunncamp Swift 260SC as a short stay/bad weather alternative. TBH, it's the only awning I've used in past 2-3 years regardless of length of stay or weather! - I've truly come to appreciate it's ease of use.
It is such a doddle to erect and take down, 20 mins at no great rush, it's lightweight and easy to handle, just a single hooped pole in 3 sections - fibreglass pole across roof, steel telescopic poles on the sides. Most time is spent pegging out! Front wall opens up and can be rolled and strapped open, or with additional King Poles can be used as a canopy extension, side doors can be rolled up and strapped open. It's withstood some pretty harsh winds and torrential rain (no puddling on the roof!), so proved itself durable over a few years now.
Sunncamp do an airbeam version at a significantly higher price, but the simplicity and ease of fitment of the traditional poles doesn't IMHO justify spending the extra for the airbeam! And of course airbeams are not without their own issues. Although perhaps only right to mention the fabric is also a heavier weight material than poled version.
I liken the roll out awnings to tarps mostly used when tent camping, they are great under some circumstances, but susceptible to even modest winds, so need monitoring to ensure weather is compatible and always a possibility of needing to take down. My proper awnings have withstood some horrendous weather, that TBF they were never intended to endure, but have always come out of unscathed.
Quote: Originally posted by Trunnion on 03/12/2025
Thank you for the feed back, its given me some thing to ponder on. I have a porch awning and really two takes two to fit it.
My wife passed away last year, I've been caravanning on my own, hence the query about the roll out awning.
I would advise against getting a roll out canopy as you're on your own as they can be difficult to roll back by yourself.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Don't be put off by "they can be difficult to roll back by yourself."
My Fiamma is a doddle for one person ... I'm in my 80's now, and nothing could be easier than roll out/roll in.
And: "flapping around ..." Possibly if you haven't used strapping or supplied lines (usually two, one for each leg) ... the only flapping I've experienced was in a storm ... I quickly rolled back in ... de-rgging leg straps and rolling back in took all of 5 mins.
That's the only time we've had any problems in five years (10 months of continuous daily use)
As for "weight on the side/balance". Again, hasn't affected our towing at all. as usual you balance what is carried before you head off ... easy enough ... and, considering that the awning, when wound in puts the weight directly down a side wall over the wheel ... it's already in 'a good place'
The Fiamma F45S. weighs 11.5 kg ... if you can't factor that in to your overall balance/weight, then something is very wrong!
I reiterate ... it's the best add on facility were ever bought for the caravan.
On the subject of weight and balance, 11.5Kg affixed at roof height is in my book quite a hefty weight to be transporting so high and on one side of the van, can't help but think it must detract from towing stability unless on a very heavy, probably twin axle van! I'm thinking dynamic load when 'energy' is added to the static mass! - much the same as load weight in the extreme rear of a van has on towing stability. It's not as simple as just matching static mass side to side or front to back, it's their location that has impact when towing!
That's near double the weight of my lightweight porch awning, and 65% of my much heavier airbeam porch awning, EITHER of which I consider 'heavy' items and are only ever transported on the floor over the axle, as per recommendations for loading caravans.
Everyone to their own and all that, but not a gamble I'd be happy to take. I've got my van loading to the point where it's never done anything other than give totally rock solid stability in every condition encountered for 8 years now, and some of them like strong gusting crosswinds on high open moorland have been far worse than I've been happy with, but the van has always behaved impeccably.
Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 11/12/2025
Further feed back
Don't be put off by "they can be difficult to roll back by yourself."
My Fiamma is a doddle for one person ... I'm in my 80's now, and nothing could be easier than roll out/roll in.
And: "flapping around ..." Possibly if you haven't used strapping or supplied lines (usually two, one for each leg) ... the only flapping I've experienced was in a storm ... I quickly rolled back in ... de-rgging leg straps and rolling back in took all of 5 mins.
That's the only time we've had any problems in five years (10 months of continuous daily use)
As for "weight on the side/balance". Again, hasn't affected our towing at all. as usual you balance what is carried before you head off ... easy enough ... and, considering that the awning, when wound in puts the weight directly down a side wall over the wheel ... it's already in 'a good place'
The Fiamma F45S. weighs 11.5 kg ... if you can't factor that in to your overall balance/weight, then something is very wrong!
I reiterate ... it's the best add on facility were ever bought for the caravan.
The F45S is a wind out awning. Wound in/out with a handle, and the whole thing is housed in a "cassette" which is bracketed/bolted to the vehicle. It is indeed very simple and effortless for one person.
The OP however, seems to be referring to a roll out awning... housed in a zipped "tube-bag", which in itself is located/secured via an existing awning channel (Not bolted on).
It is literally a large overhead tarp that requires rolling in/out by hand (No handle).
Never used one, but can fully imagine it being awkward for one person to roll in/out regardless of age/experience/adeptness. I'd imagine there's a knack to it, even with two working together!
As it's literally in a long thin bag hanging only by one edge (In the awning C Channel), I'd also imagine there's potential for considerable movement during travel, unlike the cassette of the F45S, which remains rock solid on the bumpiest of campsite approach roads!
Ive got a Telta inflatable canopy fitted on a Eldiss 574, we also have the front and sides which were separate. It is lightweight (7.6kg canopy) and very east to put up and put away by one person. The total price was £742 which I believe is a lot cheaper than the Fiamma.o
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Topic: Roll out awning.
via mobile 01/12/2025 at 4:17pm
