We've just enjoyed our second break in our lovely 'van. It came with an awning which is great for extending the living space but we have nothing to put it in it. I'm having trouble trying to work out what we need in there. Table and chairs? "Comfy" chairs? What else?
Anyone willing to share pics of the inside of their awning all set up?
Thanks
Sorry, I haven't got any pictures but we have table and, reclining chairs and boxes of varous things inc shoes, dogs things (if they are with us), a wash basket. We also have a small table that we use for the slow cooker and kettle, a bin, pop bottle carrier. Its quite suprising the amount of things we get into a large porch awning?
Most people have table chairs, for use either in the awning or to move outside on a nice day. We eat in ours if we cant eat outside. We also have hooks for coats that hang from the rails (S shaped), we have a box for boots/shoes near the caravan step. Cadac is stored in awning, but not used inside. Dog bowls on a mat in one corner. I try to keep ours as clutter free as possible, as its only a large porch awning, not a full length one.
I have seen many awnings on site set up like full size living rooms, tv and everything. ALot of families also use the awning as extra sleeping space, a family I know put a pop up tent up inside the awning for two of their children, and take it down during the day for the space.
Hi, sorry no pics but we haven't had our caravan and awning very long but I've been in a few. Some people turn them into full on dining rooms with a long rectangular table surrounded by folding chairs. lamps etc. others have it as a kids play room - so its whatever you think will work for you best. We divided our space into two, we had our aluminium picnic table on the left for the kids to play at with a bit more space around them and we have our reclining chairs & side table on the other side - so I guess it just means we can eat or play inside or outside the van - obviously if the weather is good we can then just shift the lot outside the awning - just makes everything so much more flexible & when the kids are just in bed we aren't disturbing them. Oh and OH keeps his waeco 'beer' fridge in there too!
Ours has table and a couple of chairs, shoes, jackets, dirty laundry bag, twin tub on longer trips, dog bowls when she is with us, bin, airer, bikes or scooters. In fact anything I don't want inside the caravan. It can be quite messy, even if it is clean, whoops.
we stuck everything in ours dog cages and there bedding sack of dog food all there coats bowls ect. our wet coats hung from hooks and hats hung from one of them spinny hanging dryers wellys. table, chairs, mobility scooter, dirty washing bag, Infact theres nothing in the van that cannot go in the cupboards so everythings in there
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First thing in the morning - chairs all round, small folding tables down the middle and all last night's empties! Chairs gradually return to their owners as the morning wears on, then the dining table comes out, along with the dog's mat and toys. If it's not warm enough to eat our evening meal outside, it will become a dining room, with up to 5 tables lined up down the middle (with all the chairs to go with them), then a washing-up space (chairs and all but 3 tables moved out of the way), then the dining tables get put away, the chairs and small tables come out again, and the cycle begins again!
Our big awning is our social area (our group consisting of us, my parents, and 3 or 4 other couples)! The only 'permanent' fittings are a folding cupboard, the bin and, for longer breaks, a 3-way fridge.
Hi
We are having similar discussion at the moment as Mr uses awning to sleep in so its "his space" for that, but then in the day it becomes a "joint space" for eating, relaxing maybe watching DVD in the evening.
Being of the female variety I attempt to make it a bit more like home, which is probably why I don't find weekends away particularly relaxing at the moment!!! I like it to be "reasonably" tidied up so that when we do anything like preparing a meal, at least I can find stuff and what should take 20 minutes doesn't eat into half of the day (excuse the pun!).
Any tips for improvement on how we set up would be welcome too. Thanks!
We have an Outwell Country Road drive away awning attached to our campervan. This gives a small tunnel between the awning and the van which is a great space to put the portaloo at one side with a curtain to separate from everything else.
The other side of the tunnel is a small table which has a space to stack dirty pots ready for the wash sink. Underneath is an area with a cool box for the beers that have overflowed from the full fridge lol
Inside the awning we have a table eating zone/chill out zone/DVD table at night. Two fold away chairs and a sun lounger which we move about according to weather inside/outside.
The air bed is down at night and packed away propped up against sides in day to give us a bit more room. Thought about bedroom extra zip in space, but took half of awning up and as I don't mind seeing Mr in his big pants, it isn't really a problem for us - we'd rather have the flexible open space.
The one thing I feel is missing is some sort of storage for folded clothes, shoes and hanging a few items. small holdall for clothes is a bit squashed but lack of space in van dictates.
I have been looking at Outwell wardrobes (because they seem to fold quickly but £££ for the privilege) Cheaper makes look like they will be fiddly to put up. Don't want to spend loads of money or take precious space up so ideas welcome please!!
I have tried to resist the urge to buy yet another piece of equipment, but being pathologically tidy (I know I am seeing a counsellor!!) and until I have adopted the camping "chill out mindset" I cannot relax with bags, shoes, plastic carriers for rubbish, dirty washing, sleeping bags, toilet bags etc in such a small space.
Now a nice little cupboard in the corner with a place for everything and everything in its place, perhaps with a little lamp on it and a flower arrangement............. that would go a long way to helping me enjoy the weekends away. And you men know the thing.......... if the Mrs is happy then YOU will be happy lol
Any suggestions.................. thanks send them to "the nightmare to be on a camping weekend with"
Wow, some of these sound truly impressive! Ours must look so sad in comparison and the groundsheet simply refuses to lie flat which adds to the disheveled air.
Need to get at least one table and maybe some chairs for eating rather than relaxing in.
Quote: Originally posted by scaryt on 30/7/2010
Wow, some of these sound truly impressive! Ours must look so sad in comparison and the groundsheet simply refuses to lie flat which adds to the disheveled air.
Need to get at least one table and maybe some chairs for eating rather than relaxing in.
Which is why we always lay down the groundsheet and peg it down taught before we erect the awning.
Quote: Originally posted by scaryt on 30/7/2010
Wow, some of these sound truly impressive! Ours must look so sad in comparison and the groundsheet simply refuses to lie flat which adds to the disheveled air.
Need to get at least one table and maybe some chairs for eating rather than relaxing in.
Try and get chairs that will do both jobs, save alot of space and weight. Caravan table would be fine, if its big enough, easy to put a cloth over it if you want . If not keep an eye on the sales for a lightweight one. You dont need lots of gear, just whatever works for you.
You can buy groundsheet pegs in accessory shops, or just use ordinary ones. A mat near the awning doorway is also useful for dirty feet.
Garden / patio type table and chairs, cool box, bin bag for recycling and a (3W) fridge for beer and soft drinks (leaves the fridge in the van for foodstuffs).
Thank you all for your responses. It's giving me great ideas for our awning.
I really like your layout Andi and am very impressed with the sofa! I like the idea of having a more table/eating/playing end and a more relaxing end.
I'm glad to hear that it is possible to peg the awning down, I was worrying about totally ruining it. Especially like the idea of getting that pegged out before putting the awning up.
I only just bought a porch awning - a sunncamp 390. We are going to use it as a dining room and a sitting room. I expect we will have camping chairs, table, dab radio, a 3 way fridge on electric to supplement the caravan fridge but no groundsheet. We had a folding camper with an awning and a breathable groundsheet seemed almost pointless (grass poked through it, water came through it, mud stuck to it by the bucketload). Kids scooters will no doubt be strategically abandoned throughout the awning for tripping over but hey! thats half the fun! We just hope the 390 fits the side of the van well enough to keep out most of the enevetable wind/rain. People who review this type of awning either love it or hate it.....
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Topic: Anyone got pics of INSIDE their awning?
