We have a porch awning and a full awning with tall annexe both Ventura's. We always use the porch awning for weekends and short stays - woudn't for a one night stopover though. I can put up the porch in less than 30mins on my own. Like others we don't like stepping from the van onto the site.
We also have another reason because our son is disabled and the awning gives us somewhere to store his wheelchair meaning we don't constantly have to put it in and out of the car.
This is our first caravan after 8 seasons with a Pennine folding camper, for which of course we only had a full awning. On our main holiday - if it's warm enough - we tend to live in the awning during the daytime taking our meals there. Never had an annexe for the Pennine and always regretted it.
Won't use the full awning until August but based on experience with the porch don't see it taking too long to errect - the annexe may be fun the first time though!!
We have a porchlite plus for sale (half price of new one) if anyone is interested, it won't extend over the window on our new van which is very annoying.
We've just started caravanning, and the first time we used the van I was in a state of panic after about an hour. There are four of us (two kids) and I was convinced after an hour that this was not for me! There was far more room in our trusty old frame tent - we couldn't move. Then I got the awning up. What a difference that made! Doubles the living area. So I will always put the awning up, even if we're staying for only two nights. I still find it a little fiddly at the moment (takes about 90 minutes to finish completely - with a couple of fag breaks!) but it'll get easier with time. I don't see how I could possibly survive without it.
Please note our porch has got the storm straps on. It is an Inaca Kalahari. A good quality product which has withstood some b***y awful weather. OH can erect it as a solo effort and have it pegged down with curtains hung in 30mins.
Cant believe nobody has mentioned the PDQ awnings. If funds allowed I would certainly invest in one after seeing my brothers in use. Seriously, the thing was up in 5 minutes...!!!
We have a porch awning that I have yet to try despite it accompanying us on a few weekends. We tend to just stick everything in the car overnight. Maybe it because we have come from Tent camping & most of our stuff is very lightweight & folds away very small.
We do have a full awning that we finally got around to using for a week in Cornwall. It certainly didn't take me 2 hours to put it up though...!!!
We were given a very old awning with the caravan that I am thinking of converting into just a canopy that will sit over the door, & will stay attached to the awning rail as per the PDQ awnings.
Just wondered, what is the difference between stepping out of the van and stepping out of the awning in the morning? And what is a caravanstor, anyone got a picture?
Stepping out of the caravan means you let the cooler outside air straight into your hopefully warm caravan. The Porch does retain some semblance of warmth, the draughts are reduced by it and it gives you space to expand into. It also keeps your neighbours at a distance too. I don't particularly want to open my caravan door in my usual morning state and look straight into somebody elses bathroom/bedroom whatever.
The Caravanstor - if you Google it shoud bring you a photo of a suncanopy which just provides a waterproof roof around which, should we so desire, we can put a windbreak.
Ah but you've got a dwty liccle van Frank, you probably need the space and the awning won't be that big. We have a bloomin' great 26 footer so don't need the space. I'm quite happy to manage with just the van - even when we had a 17 foot 4 berth.
Unlike the Pennine Plodder, I actually like opening my door (on a nice morning) and getting that first rush of early morning air, when everyone else is still asleep and the camp's all quiet. All grass and dew. Lovely.
I prefer to be able to open the door into the awning first thing in the morning!! Inside our 'van looks like a bomb site until I've put the bed away and sorted out, and it's nice to know the world and his wife aren't going to see that!! Plus it's nice to go out into the awning to brush my hair - it's long and I tend to thump the caravan roof if I try to brush it inside!! And having the awning on gives Little Scamp somewhere to sit while she's waiting for us to decide to get up (she had her own tent)!!!
We have a Caravanstore Zip and I rave about it - everytime we go away i bore hubby about how great a design it is.
We really need the awing room with 2 boys and it is up in 2 mins if you want the canopy only. Or you can then put the side on and the front or any combination.
If you look at my gallery I think there is a pic of it there with all sides on but the front rolled up.
I love the outdoors so awnings feel a bit dark to me - this is really light and gives you shelter from sun/rain but still keeps the outdoors feeling somehow.
We have only used our folding camper awning twice in 2 seasons ,just seems too much trouble and anyway i would much prefer to sit outside in fresh air than inside an awning .
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Awnings (do you always put up)
