We have recently changed caravans and are now working through the whole 'what awning to get for the new van' dilemma.
We have always had a full awning but have never had a van that needed an awning bigger than 925. The new van is much bigger and I am beginning to wonder if a full awning is going to be too big for us. I have spotted a few second hand Isabella Magnums for sale and am beginning to wonder if this would be more suitable. As far as I can see, the magnums are 340 wide and 250 deep. We usually have a table and 2 chairs to eat at in the awning and the hubby has to be really careful about sun exposure after having skin cancer a number of years ago so prefers to sit on his gravity recliner in the awning rather than outside. I prefer outside if possible but if the weather is not great, then I would also have my gravity recliner in the awning.
So, that is a very long winded way of asking will a table with 2 chairs and 2 gravity recliners fit comfortably in a Magnum porch awning or will it be too squashed.
Hi
I have a merlin which is around the same size.
Did not want to put up a bg awning with this van, as not getting any younger, and cannot see point in a huge awning, to just fill with crap.
This awning as been ok table 2 chairs, and just the right size. Even 3 chairs when grandaughter is with us.
The magnum is a great awning we’ve owned one. Just be careful if you buy used though as there are 2 depths, 230
And 250 and many owners struggle to tell the difference. The 250 is a much better size and will sell at a higher price.
We are users and great fans of the Magnum after buying it in 2002 when moving to a longer van [A=1000 CM]. Back then only the shorter stand out depth version was available.
You will not be able to simultaneously deploy two recliners, two dining chairs and a decent sized table, but as we do fold flat the diners or recliners when using the other.
I have to say we can since 2002 count on two hands the occasions we have used our full sized awning. [I had ours extended, in hind sight an unnecessary, expensive move]. Since 2002 I suspect we have used the Magnum about 15 outings a year, so circa 225 times. And unquestionably it gets used where if we only had the full size I would not do so with anything like the frequency, the coping with a damp full size awning as we age becomes a disincentive, whereas even the wrong side of 75 I am happy to cope single handed with the Magnum, and prepared to hang that amount of fabric up in the garage to air, should I need to.
With caravanning I am very much into de-hassling and de-clobbering life as much as possible, and even our narrow version does that but as said needs a modicome of adapting ones use of space.
I very much doblt you will regret buying one and if carefully buying in the pre-owned market would lose much money should it prove not your thing.
We use a Magnum, sometimes with and sometimes without the tall annexe. Without the annexe you get plenty of space for dining or sitting and with it erected behind the front windows of the caravan you can still look out sideways from these front window without the awning being in the way. We also bought one of the sets of awning rails and put them up high in the carport so we can easily dry the awning out on return home, though the car does get wet then.
We are on our second Magnum now after starting with a Minor which proved to be a bit too small. Really love it, easy to erect and lift when not in use. Plenty big enough for us even when we had our golden retriever, well made and and solid as a rock. We have opted for an Eclipse sun canopy for our holiday in France this year as my wife has had an encounter with skin cancer early last year. The options of 4 door opening positions is useful too.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
Ive just bought a magnum,its lovely still being able to look out of the front windows,Ive got the 230 which is the Moonlight ,The bigger 250 is called the Magnum Coal and is more expensive,mine was £275 on ebay and is like new,absolutely great
We spent ages inside a Magnum 250 And decided that it was just a bit too small for our needs. Additionally, due to the window pacement on our van, it would come down the middle of one of the windows so we ruled it out. However, we also found a 1025 full awning on display which is the size we need for our caravan and it felt absolutely massive so we ruled it out too as being too big!
Dilemma!
Then we discovered that Isabella are making the Magnum this year in two widths, the 340cm the same as last year but also a new 400cm width which seemed perfect so we found one on display, went to see it and were hooked. It was a bit more expensive than we wanted but I feel we got a good deal considering it was new. Can't wait now for the Easter holidays to try it out.
Glad you got fixed up Pixie, I'm sure it will give many years of pleasure.
The new 400 size would have been the one I'd choose too as one side of our current one comes down over a window. That size wasn't an option for us when we bought ours so maybe an idea to upgrade later when they appear on the second hand market.
Dave
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
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Topic: Will an Isabella Magnum 250 be big enough
