First time we put it up in high winds mind, it took us an hour as the awning rail hadn't been greased and just getting it in took an age. Second time we literally did it in 15 mins as we greased the rail. That time we left it on and we can now put it up and down in 5-10 mins easily. All you do unzip bag, put 3 poles in, bend and attach to clips,then peg, fit 2 poles inside to secure and your done. Really impressed with it aswell, nice size, stayed up in some bad weather. Would definatley recommend.
Jax - sorry to be a nuisance, but want to pick your brain again if poss ? Really like the look of the Movelite Square very much indeed - please can you tell me...
1) their own website quotes 20 mins to put it up - would you say that's about right in average conditions ?
2) if it just gets fed through the awning channel on the caravan - or is there a rail comes with it which you fit to the caravan, and then feed it through that ?
(even after looking at several websites I'm still a bit fuddled about how exactly it attaches to a caravan )
3) would it fit most caravans - they only mention Eriba
Despite being so positive I did not want anything that could not be permanently fixed before ( !) I think this one may well be the best option for us after all. It's very versatile too, even a drive-away option if you have a van or 4x4.
If not we'll go for one of thoseseparate utility ones I reckon.
1. Yes, 20 mins is about right. Me and a friend put it up (including pegging it down) in 20 minutes. I'm partially disabled and can put it up myself, takes longer, but it's not the awning, it's pegging it down that takes a long time with me. Two crossbars feed into two sleeves, put into the pins at the bottom -boing and it's up and just needs pegging down.
Here - go see... you tube movelite square
this is a pic of it being put onto a motorhome though, it's a bit harder I think!
2. It just feeds through the awning channel on my caravan. Will see if I have a photo of it and put it into my profile bit for you! I didn't have to alter a thing to fit the awning.
3. Because it has a sort of 'hoody' - a tunnel if you like - it can go quite high onto an awning rail. Look at the max height, then measure your max height from floor to rail. I'll go measure my awning rail with the roof up tomorrow if that will help!
best of luck. It's worth taking abit of time over choosing the right one I think. I had my movelite when I had a small Bedford Rascal Demountable Romahome. Kept hold of it even though I was looking for a caravan and when I bought one, I was delighted to find that it still fit wonderfully. Been going for 2.5 seasons now, and still in good condition!
Edited to add: actually make that 4 seasons, as I had two in the Roma and nearly 2 now in the caravan! LOL can't count!
Lisamarie - thanks for that info. It really does sound very good indeed, I especially like the speed of erection ( lol ) .. and getting it down again.
Bad news for me is that an awning stored on the van just in a bag would be pretty likely to get ripped off before we got anywhere. We have a very tight turn into our drive off a single track road with lots of trees. Originally I'd thought there might be ones like yours which came in & out of aluminium tube things.
Thanks very much for explaining it all to me. If only they made them with metal holders !
------------- Fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing . Anton Chekhov
Jax very very helpful again ! Sorry to be a while saying so but we've been watching the video and looking at several of the websites with the Movelite Square as well as reading your latest post there. (also stopped to watch Wallander on tv earlier !)....
I think this may well be the right one for us. Our caravan isn't a `tall' one so please don't go to the trouble of measuring for us as I'm sure height won't be an issue. However if you do have a photo & it's not too much bother to also put on your profile that would be great thanks
Btw I know exactly what you mean about the pegging out - mainly it's bending that's my bugbear too, but Mrs Z does most of the bending over -er this post's geting a bit iffy !
Thanks again for all the help & great advice
------------- Fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing . Anton Chekhov
Hi again! Photo is in my profile for you - not a very good one though! I think there's around ten foot height and it still reaches the floor! Mine is the old movelite standard, now replaced with the movelite square. The new version is lovely and more awning like and less tent like than mine, but the same thing in essence. I'd love the new one, but can't afford to replace!
Yes, the drive away kit does indeed mean that you can just clip and unclip it from the awning rail, but I think that will probably be as hard as just threading the beading bit thru the awning rail! It really is easy to do, just find the end, insert into the rail and slide along until it's where you want it to be. Once you have the end in, then you can just literally pull it along the rail by hanging onto it and walking alongside the caravan pulling the whole thing with you.
Having said that though, my caravan is a little Dutch Kip and the awning goes over the back where the door is. Most caravan doors are on the side, so if that's the case, maybe it would be easier with a drive away kit. I don't know anything about these as I've never need one.
The corded bit is approx 2 metres long, 5-6ft max, so you only have to slide it in and position over your door, but I realise that it might be more difficult on the side of a van.
I find the beading bit on the hoody first, and thread it into the awning rail before I start to put poles or anything in... it's literally the first thing I do.
This means that I have the whole of the awning draped across the back of the caravan... then I put in the two long cross poles, then bend them into the corner post things. After that the awning has its shape and all you need to do is pull it away from the van so that the hoody is taut, square it up by means of the black tapes round the bottom edges, then peg down.
Even on my own I can do that bit in 10 mins max.
Don't hesitate about asking more q's though - it's only easy when you know how. The first time I put mine up it was very confusing and only became easier with practice. I reckon it took three goes before I got it right and found the easy way! LOL!
Looking back to your original posting though, Zorro, you will still need to take the movelite off and on each time you want to use it, then pack it away, etc. Only the fiamma and omnistore are permanently attached to the van and simply wind out and in again without having to be put up and taken down. I believe for one of them (can't remember which one) you can buy a motorised winder for them to make taking them in and out easier. If you have to put either the wind out ones or something like the movelite down in the rain, you'll still need to dry them out when you get home!
Jax - this is great information, just what we needed - you obviously think things through
With the info kindly given by everyone, we now realise that the kind of thing we wanted (really fancied one like lisamarie's, or the one hippychick has) only seems to be available with just a canvas bag for fixing to the caravan. Sadly I fear it'd not last too long with our access at home & also the kind of roads we like to travel so ditched that idea.
We did get a full awning thrown in with the 'van (all 2nd hand) but having watched other people put up similar ones, feel they're pretty cumbersome & time consuming to erect, so....
After reading all the info you've provided I think it's very likely we'll plump for the Movelite Square !
We will try out the full awning we have - if we ever get a decent day that is, it's blowing a hooley and pi$$ing down just now If it's easier than we think & in ok condition then great, but somehow I very much doubt it... but thanks to all your great info we'll know know which one to buy - at long last. !
Thanks everyone for all the info & suggestions. Jax you've really been an enormous help - given us excellent info, & though I've had to ask you so many dumb questions it's like nothing's too much trouble for you. Brilliant
Btw, that's a cracking little van you have, not seen anything like that before, looks like a really practical idea, lightweight, compact for storage, real neat
------------- Fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing . Anton Chekhov
It certainly is, Zorro! it's Dutch and the word Kip translates to 'chicken' so I calls it the chicken shed. Actually looked like one when I first got it as well! LOL!
It's 450 unladen, max 650kg, so my old auto almera 1600 can tow it well. Love it to bits!
I'll go and put the original photos back on my profile now, then you can see the decor!! LOL! And you're welcome with the advice. I've had so much advice myself from here over the years, only fair that I repay it! And believe you me, I', still asking some dumb questions! LOL! Let us know how you go on.
Dunno if this might be what you need, Zorro. Threads thru rail but quick to put up. I thought about it when you first posted but couldn't remember who made it. fortunately somebody linked to it in another thread.
Hi Tentz, it certainly would be quick to erect but not really what we're after. Thanks though.
If we have to `thread' I'd sooner spend a little bit longer (but not ages) & finish up with something offering a bit more protection from wind & rain, so we can leave muddy walking boots there or chairs etc . We tend to visit faily wild locations & often get matching weather ! Cheers anyway.
------------- Fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing . Anton Chekhov
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Topic: Canopy/awning you can leave affixed
)
!) I think this one may well be the best option for us after all. It's very versatile too, even a drive-away option if you have a van or 4x4.
) .. and getting it down again. 
If only they made them with metal holders !
very very helpful again ! Sorry to be a while saying so but we've been watching the video and looking at several of the websites with the Movelite Square as well as reading your latest post there. (also stopped to watch Wallander on tv earlier !)....
If we though, that sounds like an easier option. 
If it's easier than we think & in ok condition then great, but somehow I very much doubt it... but thanks to all your great info we'll know know which one to buy - at long last. !
- given us excellent info, & though I've had to ask you so many dumb questions it's like nothing's too much trouble for you. Brilliant 
