We bought our first caravan a couple of months ago and want to get 1 or 2 awning(s) for next season. We think we will prob want a largish porch one for 3-6 nights and a large traditional style one for 7-10 nights. I know Isabella are considered the best but even second hand are more than we'd like to pay. Ideally I'd like to get both for £500ish max. I gather Dorema and bradcot are good. Any advice on the type to go for or features to look for. I've seen some Royal large porches for less than half price but don't know if they are a good make. We were previous tenters/trailertenters but the world of awnings is a new one to us.
------------- From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
We had a full awning, a canvas porch awning and a lightweight sunncamp 260 porch awning. We found ourselves always using the sunncamp lightweight for ease of use and it was big enough for two of us even on extended stays.
Awnings can be a mine field, but you seem to be on the right track already as you know what you want.
We had a full awning, but never used it to it's full potential (except for 1 very wet evening when all the neighbours bundled in to keep dry), so we sold that last year and purchased a porch awning.
We also have a Fiamma sun canopy.
The porch awning serves when the weather for the week ahead is forecast to be poor, or during the colder months, and we use the canopy during good weather.
Personally we found the lightweight awnings problematic in bad weather, which is why we bought a proper heavy porch awning, but it all depends on your own requirements.
Regarding makes, yes Bradcot are very good but this reflects in the price. If looking at Dorema, try looking for Starcamp (do no confuse with Sunncamp). Starcamp awnings are made by Dorema, and are excellent quality and value, for about half the price of Dorema http://www.starcamp.nl/. Ultimately you get what you pay for. Ebay is a good choice at this time of year for 2nd hand ones, but make sure you fully check it before parting with any cash and finally, make sure you buy the correct size awning for your van and if purchasing a porch awning, you need to take into account the location of windows, lockers, and fridge vents too so they are not obstructed by the awning sides.
Thanks for the replies so far. We're a family of 4 and will be holidaying in France so thought the more traditional style awning would be cooler there and can become more of a canopy with panels zipped out. Do others have issues with the lighter weight ones on hotter holidays? Originally I had been thinking of an inflatable awning but now think we need to get cheaper ones.
------------- From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
Try the latest Kampa Rally awnings, we have both the 260 and the 390 but ours are older models, and have given very good service over the 6 years we have had them. The latest Kampas have the option to zip out panels like a traditional awning , ans even with ours that just roll up or back, we have been fairly cool in the heatwaves of around 30C that we have encountered a few times in the Uk. They also have the benefit of being very quick and easy to erect, and of course also save on weight. Kampa have also added the option of having a bedroom annex should one be needed.
We also like the fact that they are fairly generic when it comes to changing your caravan, and the 390 is almost a full awning on our 462 Elddis.
Julia
Post last edited on 04/01/2014 10:15:00
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Topic: Awning advice
), so we sold that last year and purchased a porch awning.
