Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 12/7/2011
The only disadvantage of having a sun-canopy-only set up is that, in the event of driving rain, which can still occur on a warm day when in France, your belongings have to be shifted up against the van side and you have to retire into the van. The facility to insert one end panel and only one of the front panels can give you fresh, open air comfort. Something like the Dorema Panorama sun canopy, or the Isabella Ventura, can take as much time to erect as the basic canopy of a conventional awning; with little difference weight-wise. And the full awning can be manipulated according to weather changes in a way that a sun canopy never can. During our recent 7 weeks in France, we did have some heavy rain on occasions and it stayed too warm in the van. Under these conditions, nothing less than the full awning would have been acceptable. Hence my earlier comment; we have learned from the continentals.
Bertie.
I wonder how many people use canopies? When I asked a question some time ago about what folk do about pegs when they take the panels out of an awning, the majority said they didn't take out the awning panels, preferring just to use a verandah pole. If fact, some went as far as saying they would never leave the awning panels out for any length of time because of the possibility of damage caused by inclement weather. Surely a canopy is less secure than a awning with the panels out.
I've never had the slightest interest in a canopy or even a porch awning for that matter. I think that a full awning is that versatile you can virtually convert it into a canopy but with stronger support plus it cuts out the draught all the way round. If the weather turns you can easily zip the panels back in plus your belongings are out sight in a full awning. If venturing out just for a weekend I may just take a gazebo as it can be erected and dismantled in no time at all.
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 12/7/2011
I've never had the slightest interest in a canopy or even a porch awning for that matter. I think that a full awning is that versatile you can virtually convert it into a canopy but with stronger support plus it cuts out the draught all the way round. If the weather turns you can easily zip the panels back in plus your belongings are out sight in a full awning. If venturing out just for a weekend I may just take a gazebo as it can be erected and dismantled in no time at all.
I agree with not being interested in a canopy when an awning can do the same job and more IMHO. It did make me surprised at the number who said they never took their panels out, when I asked what folk did about the pegs that were left behind. Don't take a gazebo, haven't done this for years, but we do have a large porch for short stays.
I agree with Tango55 and DSB.
We decided to try out the awning as a sun canopy on our first outing at Easter. Weather was scorching and it was good having the canopy, but then we went out for a meal and got back to the site just before a thunderstorm. I quickly zipped in the front panels, no time to peg out but it kept everything in the awning dry for the night. I pegged out the next morning and put up the verandah poles.
Dont think we will be buying a Sun Canopy.
Quote: Originally posted by juliev on 12/7/2011
I agree with Tango55 and DSB. We decided to try out the awning as a sun canopy on our first outing at Easter. Weather was scorching and it was good having the canopy, but then we went out for a meal and got back to the site just before a thunderstorm. I quickly zipped in the front panels, no time to peg out but it kept everything in the awning dry for the night. I pegged out the next morning and put up the verandah poles. Dont think we will be buying a Sun Canopy.
Now, the big question! When you took out the awning panels, did you leave the pegs in the ground or take them up? Leave them in the ground and they are easy to trip over. Keep taking them up and and putting them back in (apart from being time consuming), eventually you get a hole where the pegs go. What do you do?
I usually leave the pegs in the ground so when the panels are re-zipped, the location points for the straps are already there without having to re-pitch them. Mind you, I rarely take out all the panels in one go and either have the two large panels removed at the front or the one single panel to the left which is at the front of the caravan. This of course depending on the weather at the time but having a dog as well I find that this set up suits us best.
We extensively use one or other or both our canopies, Isabella "Shadows".
No they cant stand the level of wind gusts a good awning can nor can they protect things under from water falling sideways. They can however be slipped down in a minute so if wind threatens it is so easy to be secure.
Clearly they are not things used to house a lot of clobber under just a table seating and shoes and these can be slid under van or put in car so horizontal rain again is not a real life issue.
Note these are not those dreadful contraptions in a bag that cant be secured single handedly in ten times the time it takes to slip off a Shadow.
When we use our Magnum and want one or more side panel "out" we unzip these in a way that leaves the start of each zip in place. Then carefully roll the side down; windows within the roll and rest it on the ground fully pegged. Then if it is required it is simply reinstated by pulling up each zip. Could not be much easier but you have to step over the rolled side so don't get too inebriated
I didn't think we'd use a canopy either until we bought our in-laws one and saw how they used it so we bought a 2nd hand one off eBay and have proved myself wrong, we can only mainly do weekends and dont arrive on site until about 6pm Friday evening & it's not worth the faff of an awning but we do need shelter for the table, bbq, chairs & coolbox and the canopy really is up in less than 2 minutes then on Sunday morning when we leave it takes the same to roll it up & if it's rained we can just let it hang flat to the van, wipe it with a towel and it's away.
As for sturdiness I presume it's less so that a "proper" awning with the sides out but so far it has stood up to decent wind ok and I think the fact it's so thin the wind whistles past it easier so seems to flap less.
We used to put the porch awning up but from unrolling it to the last peg it can still take 45 minutes or so then if it was wet we had to get it all unrolled & dry at home.
As there are now only the two of us, we have no need for an awning with having a large caravan, except for in the winter months when we carry a lightweight porch awning. The rest of the year we use a Fiamma Caravanstore and would not be without it especially when in France & Spain
------------- Regards
Terry Birch
Our tourer days are over and we have moved on to a Hobby Motorhome
Quote: Originally posted by chilephilly on 12/7/2011
Pssssst..... David....
I don't have a sun canopy.....but I am now the proud possessor of a 6m flagpole and a very natty windsock AND a Staffordshire flag!
Shall I start an Alcatraz Flag Show? (Or something...)
We are now the proud owneres of 7m flagpole and a staffordshire flag! No windsock though. Have you got a stake or a clamp on a frame for flag pole. Im not sure how to stand it up?
We have taken a canopy to France for the last few years. We use an Isabella Sun Blue, which does have removeable sides.
The canopy is quite a lot lighter to transport. It uses the same CarbonX frame as we use for our full awning, but the fabric is lighter as well as not having any front panels.
We put storm straps on the corner poles if the weather is windy and we have never found it to be not up to coping with the weather.
It is quicker to put up - less pegging, zipping, and no curtains to faff around with, nor any groundsheets - and we don't boil to death in the heat when setting it up. It just has a nice feel to being more 'outdoorsy'.
The only downsides I have noticed is that you have to keep your belongings tidy, since they are on view and if the evening goes off a bit chilly. it isn't cosy to sit in like a closed-up awning.
I wouldn't use a simple tarp type of canopy. I would worry about leaving one up whilst I was away from the van in case it broke loose and damaged the van, nor would I want one which stays permanently attached to the awning rail for towing. Again, I would worry about damage to the van.
we have bought a Dorema Panorama sun canopy (similar to the Isabella Blue) for France. At £103 from ebay only used three times we're hoping its a good buy. We bought it for exactly the same reasons Mr UM gives. Its alot lighter than a full awning and we like the outside feeling. We've managed with the inlaws motorhome wind out omnistor canopy (with no sides) the last three years so the Dorema should be fine. We do intend to buy a full awning but after the expense of the caravan, mover and all the other bits we're waiting til the autumn to hopefully pick up another ebay bargain.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 13/7/2011
we have bought a Dorema Panorama sun canopy (similar to the Isabella Blue) for France. At £103 from ebay only used three times we're hoping its a good buy. We bought it for exactly the same reasons Mr UM gives. Its alot lighter than a full awning and we like the outside feeling. We've managed with the inlaws motorhome wind out omnistor canopy (with no sides) the last three years so the Dorema should be fine. We do intend to buy a full awning but after the expense of the caravan, mover and all the other bits we're waiting til the autumn to hopefully pick up another ebay bargain.
Ooo Savanne. You're a little devil for those ebay bargains....
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Topic: Do you use a canopy instead of an awning
