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Hi

I'm posting on behalf of my Mam and Dad (they haven't registered yet because their computer has decided to die tonight!)

Anyway, they have just bought a 1990 Lunar Clubman (4 berth) and they need an awning with the ability to have an annex attached.

They are completely new to caravanning, I can't help them because I'm a tent camper.

So, their question is, what make/type of awning would you caravanning lot recommend? They had the rail measured and it came out at 875cm ground to ground. 

Also, do you recommend any online caravanning supplies supplier?

Thanks

Best way to defo get the right size awning is a simple old fashioned way of using two peeps on each end of a, (suitably long), piece of string measuring from the ground at one end of the van, along the full length of the awning rail and back to the ground at the end of that bit too and it sounds like your folks have done exactly that, (having just re-read your post).  Gawd how I wish we'd done that when buying an awning for our new and larger tin tent 4 years ago instead of going on the supposed awning size in the handbook! Still, we did get a really nice awning reduction done in the end after one baggy holiday.

As for makes, they're all pretty a muchness to be honest unless you want a porch awning or one with more of a dome appearance or even a PDQ, (Pretty Damn Quick), jobby. But we tend to like the shape and other odds and ends that come with Dorema ones coz they're also quite deep at 2.5m and we also have an sleeping annexe but you can get tall ones too if you don't want them for sleeping in. 

But whatever you do do not order direct from the Dorema website! Far too pricey.

This bloke's very good and quite reasonably priced too. We've actually bought two awnings from him:

http://www.bowenawnings.co.uk/

He also carries other makes, (all good ones), aswell as stocking a decent array of perfectly good secondhand ones that might be well worth a butchers.

But you can always also look on the  on here coz ya never know what ya might find to suit too?

Loads of other good places to purchase reasonably priced awnings and annexes but do take your time to chose so that you get exactly what suits your purpose. Googly thingy's a good help in searching too.

Happy hunting.

Only NINE more sleeps till Mevagissey. Whey heyyyyy

we have a 1991 Lunar Clubman 2 berth bought a Pyramid Tuscany awning fits well ,dont get one to big as the awning rail is only 220cm high. the tuscany zip in annex is good and will take a double size air bed.

dave

Quote: Originally posted by Harpmaker on 05/8/2009

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I think they may have to look at the height of the awning as well as the make. From reading on here (being in New Zealand, I can only go by what I read on here), modern caravans are quite a bit taller than ones of that age (I have a similar age van) and that may well restrict your choices. There was a thread on here a couple of months ago about awnings for older, lower vans and there were some suggestions for awnings that would fit.

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That only applies to porch awnings, no problems at all with full awning.

I'd personally buy a second hand "good make", on our first van we bought a 5 year old Isabella for £200 off Ebay and it was great, so sturdy and well made, waterproof and easy to put up. 

We then swapped the van and bought a brand new "cheap make" (I wont say which as I dont want to offend anyone) and it was nowhere near as good, the material was flappy in the wind, the canopy was never straight, it leaked in heavy rain and was constantly steamed up with condensation.

We've now got a Harringtons porch awning and are very pleased with it.

I think it also depends on how often you are going to use an awning.  If you are going to use it very frequently then it's probably worth paying a bit more for.

There are other consideration: what type of poles do you want?  The steel ones are heavier but are probably more substantial.  Aluminium are very light but they say are not as substantial.  Fibre poles are somewhere in between.

Look at the pegging points.  It's all personal preference but Dorema have ladders which just clip over a little plastic 'T' shaped 'thing'.  We got fed up of having to put the ladders back on the 'T''s every time we put up the awning - they would never stay on. A Eurovent awning has adjustable straps and you attach a (substantial) rubber 'band' to the end.  Seems much more sensible, but, it has been known for the straps to come off.

Some awnings have roll up panels, some you can zip right out.  (There are less of the former about these days).  If the panels zip out, it is much easier to manage the roof part of the 'canvas' and then zip in the panels when you have the 'roof' up.

Consider how the awning poles attach to the side of the van.  Most modern awnings now have an extra piece that looks a bit like the section that fits in the awning rail.  This is to attach the retainer devices for the poles.  Some are better (safer?) than others.  I think the Dorema 'quicklok' system and the Isabella equivalent are good.  The Eurovent sysyen seems more open and less substantial. 

Some awnings have integrated storm straps, others don't.  Most full awnings will allow you to add an annex these days, but you will need to check.

Most awnings come out from the van 2 1/2 metres, but you can get those that are 3 metres.  Some are even larger and have unusual shapes.  Generally the larger and more complicated an awning looks, the more difficult it is to put up!

Here's hoping that these few ideas might be helpful when you speak to a sales person.  If you buy off the internet, I would always go and have a look at one 'in the flesh', so to speak, before making that internet purchase.

Best of luck.