We are touring France this summer and are thinking about buying a Fiamma Caravanstore Sun Canopy (rather than a porch or full awning). If we buy this we will buy the storm straps to go with it but are concerned whether, given moderate wind conditions, it will be strong enough or will need to be dismantled, and also if the awning leading edges are susceptible to wind vibration . Additionally will we be able to travel with the rolled up canopy attached to the caravan? We are new to caravanning and would be very grateful to hear from anyone who has experience of a Caravanstore.
We've recently purchased a second hand van and it had a Flammia left in situ on the awning rail. We were advised it was fine to travel with it there, not much weight to it, its the one which is just under 4M long. It had a couple of little alloy grubs inserted into the awning rail at either end of it to stop it moving around in transit. Would be worth checking this out for sure though.
I've erected it to see what it looks like, and definitely wouldn't recommend leaving it up in good winds with or without storm straps.
Its sturdy, but like a 4M sail when erected. Even if it managed to stay up in high winds, I shouldn't imagine it would do your awning rail the most good.
However, it was impressively easy to put up and take down, I honestly think, as long as it is left on the awning rail, it would take about three minutes to put up from scratch and take down with a bit of practice.
We had one but I found it too heavy to roll up on my own as OH couldn't help a lot. If there was ever any wind we used to have to get up in the night to roll it up. Did have it blow over the top of the van once. Wouldn't buy another one. If you just want a shade then buy one of the dutch ones that slide through the awning rail. If they blow down they dont do any damage.
Sold ours and bought a porch awning which just takes a few minutes to put up.
Having been to France with a full awning,then a lightweight awning then a porch awning we bought a Caravanstore 4m canopy last year. We left it on the van while travelling without any problems.It can be unrolled and erected in 5 mins and takes about the same time to put it back.It provided shelter from the sun and one or two heavy showers.We go to France Easter and Summer for a total of 6 weeks and in future we will only take the Caravanstore. It does need to be well secured at all times though.I think if there was really strong winds I would roll it up only takes a couple of minutes.I taped some extra foam padding to the back of the bag ,to give a bit of extra cushion against the side of the van.
We have used Caravanstores on 2 caravans now. Our current one is 3.6mts long. Both have travelled in the awning rail over thousands of miles with no ill effects. It does take two of us to roll it away compared to our previous smaller model. As far as wind is concerned we always use an awning strap and also peg down the feet and use an additional (To the ones provided) guy ropes. It usually become quite obvious when it get too windy as it starts to flap. However in all the times we have had it up I suppose we have only taken it down half a dozen times.
I bought an Omnistor, very similar to the Fiamma 3 metres long, bought the two allen screwed plugs for the awning rail. Tried it while my van was in my garden, did not like it to risky, replced the plastic cups for rubber type suckers still not happy. I advertised it for sale at half the price I paid and had lots of supposed to want it, in the end I fixed a wood batten and two lengths of awning rail to the rear of my house so now we can have the two rear doors open in the summer.Then bought a sun canopy from NR Awnings
The last time I was in France a caravan near to me had one and during the night we had a sudden squall come across and it flopped the canopy over the caravan roof. The next morning was spent helping two distressed Dutch ladies to untangle it from the tv aerial and roof lights. Not too much damage done to caravan but it put me off getting such a sun canopy.
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
As we are new to tin tenting I also was thinking about buying on of these Caravanstores Awnings and using it for France. But as we do not have any other awning and I think it would be as usefull in wet and windy Ireland as an ash tray on a motorbike. I decided to buy a poarch awning and a canopy instead. As showen below
Thank you very much to all of the people who have replied to this topic , it is much appreciated and very helpful. After reading the replies,we decided to investigate other types of sun copies and decided on a Doreema Solana which seemed to fit the bill. We then rang up Doreema to order one only to be told the maximum size is 1000cm and we need 1050cm!! So thinking caps on again.Isabella do one, the Isabella Sunshine but it is £709.00, too much for our budget I'm afraid.
The NR Sun Canopy on the main page is the one I bought, I made up thicker white cord double guys for each pole and it has stood up to pretty windy weather although we only use it for short stays.
Thank you for the NR postings. We rang up NR and they don't make one for 1050cm, their biggest being 1020cm. I appreciate you taking the trouble to post. I will keep looking.
like David, we have had the Caravanstore on 2 vans now.
Our first one was just the canopy, but we now have a 3.6m Zip model, which can have sides and front zipped on.
We travel in UK and abroad for 3-4 months each year and use the Caravanstore all the time. sometimes we put the whole thing up, other times just the canopy.
We have found it fine in moderate wind, in strong winds we would roll it in if we only had the canopy up.
We peg the feet down with large plastic plates that take 4 pegs each, and we use a guyline on each leg.
I see you can now get storm straps that slide into the slot in the roller. Sounds like a good idea as we find it difficult to use a regular storm strap with the canopy.
Yes I'd recommend the fiamma. We use a lightweight awning on one side and the Fiamma on the other. (Shelter and shade depending on which side you sit)
A storm strap is a must and peg down the legs as well. Twist the storm straps to prevent vibration in breezes/winds and if severe wind is forecast roll it up in advance.
A great bit of kit and minutes to put up and down. Leave it on all season and remove over winter and store. As suggested some padding will prevent rubbing on paintwork in transit. Use awning stops or large thread screws into the rail to prevent movement. ( not through the rail into the caravan of course!)
Keep an eye on the free ads section above - they are often cheap and good on here.
We have only once had to roll it up in the middle of the night due to sudden gale blowing up.
Have used it all over France and UK and would not be without it.
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Topic: Caravnstore Sun Canopy,advice needed.
