Are there any makes that are easier to put up than others?
One of the reasons why we have swapped from a large canvas tent was the time taken to put it up and down, whilst trying to occupy two small children.
We might wait and buy in the new year, but want to keep an eye out for any clearance bargains which may pop up in the meantime.
I think it depends on what you are looking for from an awning really. We swapped from tent to caravan this year and found that an awning is a completely different beast to a tent - I think first time with any awning will be stressful sorting out poles etc but once you have them labelled and have had a few practice runs you can have it up in around 20mins. Its a bit different to a tent though as at least your kids can be inside playing or watching tv whilst you put it up - which has made life much easier for us setting up.
We have a Bradcot Active easy alloy and an Isabella Magnum and we find them no trouble at all - OH did the Isabella by himself last trip which I thought was fab
Quote: Originally posted by chilephilly on 15/11/2010
We have a Pyramid Tuscany - OH calls it "a divorce in a bag". The holiday hasn't begun if he hasn't tonked me on the head with a pole!
With practice Awnings do get easier, like Tents :) Colour code the poles 1st time and that will make it easier for next time.
I agree with Fiona, get the caravan sorted 1st so that you can stick a DVD on for the kids giving you time to put up the awning.
I always let dh lead and i followed which makes it easier just having one person in charge :)
Just remember that putting up the awning can cause bad feeling so be prepared to just forget that bit and once it's up the extra space really does come in handy when you have kids :)
Myself & the other half never have had any problems putting up our old awning until the last place we went too. It didn't help that we were still half asleep either much to the amusement of others on site.
That said like others have said soon as you get it up the first time just colour code the poles so the next time it makes it easier.
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I have no experiance with these awnings and i think you would need deep pockets
I wonder what would happen in stormy weather, maybe they just spring back into shape, anyone out there used one ???
To be honest, I don't find any of them particularly easy to put up, but I have found the full awning easier since we took all the wing nuts off the fibre poles and replaced them with these:
As far as I'm concerned, whichever awning you have, the most difficult part is the pegging out, and the difficulty depends upon what the ground is like and if it's flat or whether a slope. My answer is get good rock pegs and a small lump hammer!
P.S. Another major factor in putting up the awning IMHO is the weather!! The wind and the rain in the UK, and the extreme heat in Provence etc., each add their own difficulties - I know which I prefer though!!
We've only had experience of one awning, as we're on our first caravan, but it's easy enough to put up - after a while you get into a routine. It's made by NR, who claim to be the only company that actually makes their awnings in the UK. If the awning sustains any damage you can take it back to the factory in Todmorden for repair. In a campsite in Spain a couple of years ago a German couple came and watched as we put it up, they were thinking of buying an awning but wanted to see how easy it was! Needless to say with an audience we made a complete hash of it!
------------- Il vaut mieux vivre ses reves que rever sa vie
I've had a Trio Mexico full awning for years and whilst I have two smaller awnings I much prefer to use the Mexico. The controlling factors are wind speed on erecting and dismantling and ability to dry it if wet. It has withstood 70mph winds and 3 inches of snow at different times! The lightweight porch awning gets used if only going off for a couple of nights and the weather forecast is rain for the duration and light winds. If stronger winds and wet I use the winter 'snow' porch awning which takes nearly as long to erect as a full awning but has less 'canvas' to work with in the wind. I don't think there is any one ideal awning for all conditions. In the summer the tent comes out if the weather is good and the caravan stays at home!
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
TBH, the biggest problem I have with our awning is threading through the rail, first time was a right struggle,
I bought a spreader tool and used that, its easier, but still the hardest bit (mide you I grew up with a ruddy great frame tent, now there was a challange)
Full Awnings are never simple - they are designed to get you so frustrated that by the time you have finsihed and sit in your chair, glass of wine in hand - you get an immense smug feeling - what a wonderful way to start your holiday!
However - practise makes perfect and mark your polls with coloured electrical tape - I have gone from over an hour the first time to be fully set up in 20-25 mins!
------------- If life passes by in a blink of an eye - SLOW DOWN !
Quote: Originally posted by devonfletch on 18/11/2010
However - practise makes perfect and mark your polls with coloured electrical tape - I have gone from over an hour the first time to be fully set up in 20-25 mins!
When you mean 'fully set-up' do you mean just the awning, or everything in it too, like tabels, chairs, groundsheet, internal electrics, waste bins etc., etc. It would take us about an hour (or just under) to put up the awning and another hour to get all the stuff out, but that would include water, waste, electric to the van, setting up the TV, Cadac etc. If you can do the lot in 25 mins. then I'd better book myself in for lessons. Do you leave your panels in to put up the awning, or do you zip them in as you go. Sound incredibly quick to me - I don't know how you do it. It would take me about 25 min. to put up the large lightweight porch awning.
Quote: Originally posted by devonfletch on 18/11/2010
However - practise makes perfect and mark your polls with coloured electrical tape - I have gone from over an hour the first time to be fully set up in 20-25 mins!
When you mean 'fully set-up' do you mean just the awning, or everything in it too, like tabels, chairs, groundsheet, internal electrics, waste bins etc., etc. It would take us about an hour (or just under) to put up the awning and another hour to get all the stuff out, but that would include water, waste, electric to the van, setting up the TV, Cadac etc. If you can do the lot in 25 mins. then I'd better book myself in for lessons. Do you leave your panels in to put up the awning, or do you zip them in as you go. Sound incredibly quick to me - I don't know how you do it. It would take me about 25 min. to put up the large lightweight porch awning.
Ooh no when I said 20mins earlier in the thread I meant just the awning up and the groundsheet down on a grass pitch. On a hardstanding it takes longer as OH drills the pegs in.
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Topic: Full awnings - easiest to put up?
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