We have just ordered a new caravan (hurray!) and are selling our old one (sad!) so are looking at new awnings.
When we bought our last awning (in 2003) they were all blue, green or burgundy and those were the only colours for a long time.
I notice now, though, that shades of grey are the most common amongst what's on offer in new awnings.
Our new caravan is a Swift Challenger Sport 586 and either a grey or a burgundy awning would match well.
I am wondering though what grey awnings feel like, inside, on a grey day? Our caravanning is mostly done on the west of Scotland and the weather is (occasionally, haha) a bit dull.
Would a burgundy coloured one feel warmer and more welcoming?
On the other hand, if increasingly the fashion is for shades of grey, will a new burgundy coloured awning look dated more quickly than a grey one?
I appreciate that in the grand scheme of things, this is probably on the trivial side, and if that's all I've got to worry about, etc, but I'd be glad to hear folks' opinions if they have them anyway.
I know what you mean! We have a porch awning that my OH named the calf s**t awning (photo in my gallery). Yes it's a bit garish but it is really "sunny" inside, even on a dull day!
I have not looked, but a full awning must be over a £1000 nowadays. A few years ago I had an ABI sprinter which I bought at the NEC. It was a real bargain and they threw in a new awning (NR Executive). I eventually part chopped it for an Avondale. I kept the awning and put it up for sale. I always clean the awning skirt and roof and must admit it was in excellent condition and put in the price a little higher expecting to be knocked down. The guy took one look at it and paid in full with no haggling. Which started me thinking and in the end I went looking for a second hand jobby and got a fantastic one for a fraction of a new price. The point I am making ois that there are real bargains to be had if you spend the time to look.
------------- A barman is just a pharmacist
with a limited inventory
burgundy is my choice but ive seen awnings somewhere that are grey and black and they look quite slick ,dont know what make it is ,im sure it doesnt matter what colour it is ,its personal choice ,
I'm not keen on the grey and black ones, they might look smart and modern (which is the intention, I guess) but not very holidayfied, if you know what I mean?
We live in a time when homeowners follow the trends of laminate flooring, leather dining chairs and one wall of wallpaper with big flowers on. I think caravanning is going the same way and the result can look more like a waiting room or office than a holday vehicle, in my opinion. I mean, black for an awning?! Do people then get black chairs and accessories, as well?
Thanks folks. I'm glad to have found that my dilemma met with understanding.
We're now complicating things in our new awning deliberations by thinking that we should (if we can make the sums add up - or down) perhaps go for the 300cm depth awning - we need all the space we can get. There are six of us plus two dogs, going for three weeks in the summer, with bikes, kayak, outdoor chairs, laundry airer and lots of other stuff we always seem to feel is essential. And we tend to end up with a lot of visitors too.
So, we'll maybe have the colour decision taken out of our hands by finding the best quality 300m awning that fits our van...
But thanks all the same, everyone.
And, Caz, I love the calf-sh*t colour, lol. I can imagine it feels nice and sunny inside, even on a grey day.
I usually like to go with the colour coding on the caravan as a general guide so the caravan and awning become a match if possible. If you look at my profile you will see I have a Dorema full awning in green which matches the caravan but I'm not keen on the grey and black awnings at all really. Green at one time used to be a popular colour and that's probably because it blends more in with the landscape but it doesn't seem so popular these days. If I had a choice between grey & black or burgundy & maroon it think I would tend to go with the latter but it depends how fussy you are with matching other items too such as chairs and table etc. because black and white are primary colours with grey being in between the two so with these colours anything goes basically. I bought my awning new from the Dorema factory clearance at just under £400 last year which is a size 10 (900 cm) which we are pleased with for the money.
Definately a coloured awning. I wish manufacturers were slightly more adventurous with their colours. I would love a bright orange and lime green retro 60s/70s awning for my van!!
Quote: Originally posted by HEJC72 on 05/2/2012
Definately a coloured awning. I wish manufacturers were slightly more adventurous with their colours.
I would love a bright orange and lime green retro 60s/70s awning for my van!!
Me too, like the old tents, I'd love an orange awning with big flower power curtains, I'm fed up with dull colours, ours is blue and it's nice, but it's dull, lots of caravans all white with dull awnings, I want retro sunshine , I had a burgundy one it was nice, but I always think burgundy is just as old fashioned now.
However that's just my choice, each to their own.
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
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The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
Last season, on a pitch or about a dozen vans...at least 4/5 were grey. They did look smart but wondered if we were being "assimilated" in our sleep :) Dorema do a nice grey/charcoal one :)
Oh yes has to be coloured - my worst colour is blue. Its been with me since the tents could never ever own a blue tent or awning - grey hasn't crossed my mind before but now it has couldn't do that either. I like the Kampa's new colours i.e. chocolate and gold but they wouldn't do us any deal whatsoever at the Manchester show so we went with a burgundy outdoor revolution instead.
Having just thought on our Bradcot full awning which came with the van is both blue and grey ha! and I don't mind that but its probably because we generally only use it in the good weather so its light and bright or with panels zipped out so we don't notice but its definitely predominantly light grey as opposed to the blue which I really don't like!
We had a grey trailer tent and on a dull or rainy day it was so miserable and drab. When we bought a van I was so chuffed to get an awning with colour...we had a Dorema, green with a pale grey roof, it's so light and airy compared to the tent. Ours is 2.5m deep ( I think), it fits easily onto most pitches, not sure whether a 3m one would be an issue on some.
We had the Dorema Montana factory clearance with steel poles as mentioned by others, very pleased with it.
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Topic: Awnings: Coloured or Grey?
that in the grand scheme of things, this is probably on the trivial side, and if that's all I've got to worry about, etc, but I'd be glad to hear folks' opinions if they have them anyway. 
