we have just returned from our 1st week away in our new (to us) avondale dart 556/6, it came with an old awning that took us hours to put up, then with the heavy rain on Wednesday, we returned from a day out to find it in a crumpled heap on the floor, so off it went straight to the tip, LOL, we would like to purchase a porch awning, but as the door is near to the rear, are not sure if any will fit, have been looking at these http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/membershop/bd_easiporch.asp
but not sure if it will fit, so if anyone can let us know if it will fit please let us know
Our door is near the rear and we were trying to decide between that one and the Compactalite , chose the Compact. You can move them to where you want them, find it very easy to put up/take down also has plenty of room for table and 2 chairs. Has 2 side and 1 front door.
I have just posted this to a similar question in the Equipment forum, so have copied and pasted into here.
We ave the Easi Porch awning that we bought from here just two weeks ago. Excellent delivery service (came within 48 hours). Ours is a small 2 berth 13 ft Monza with the door to the rear end of the 'van. The awning is near enough full size on our little 'van LOL!
We used the awning for the first time just last week and I actually put it up on my own!! Took me about 5 mins to erect but then ages to peg down but only because we were on the hardest hardstanding ever!! I just couldn't knock the pegs in lol. We were very pleased with the awning , it was quite a windy weekend and the awning withstood it really well. It is a decent size with three windows and a front door. There is room enough for a couple of chairs and a table and to put all your boots n stuff.
I would recommend this awning and especially to order from this site!
We had the same van a couple of years ago, before it was stolen, and had the very same dilemma. We spoke to Harringtons (Chester) and they recommended the Ventura Cadet, which we duly purchased via the free ads on this site.
The problem you have is the spacing of the rear nearside bunk window, the door and the window for the nearside dinette. Most porch awnings require the van wall to make the seal, so the width of the awning is important.
The Ventura Cadet worked for us and we still use it on our subsequent van.
jo parker, have had a look at the compactalite, and that is more what we are looking for
carterma, you are right, these are the exact things that we are worried about, may be best to phone our local Avondale dealer and ask if the compactalite will fit, as this does seem to be the style that we prefer.
we have the same caravan 2004 model for the main awning we have always had the apache as this has 5 roof poles and is very easy and quick to put up, for weekend trips we have the scenic plus awning this is great it is up in no time at all and you can position where you want on the caravan, we always have it right to the back of the van and then it comes half way across the the side window great awning and plenty of room hope this helps
thanks for your help, we THINK that we have decided on the Sunncamp Ultimo 390, a little larger than a porch awning but still not a full size one, not sure how it will cope with winter camping, but we only go away for weekends in the winter anyway, so we will see how it goes
Yep theCompactalite porch awning is brill! http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/membershop/bd_compactalite.asp We have one for our Dart 510 5s, loads of room in it and if it's wet when oh takes it down before we leave the site he just bungs it in a bin liner and hangs it on the line when we get home then puts it back in it's little bag. It's a good price too, we paid £150 last year. Oh and we use ours all winter, and like I said it's so easy to get dry.
------------- a tent, folding camper and 6 caravans later ... June
we have the same caravan and we brought the easiporch, but the fit is not very good. My husband spent hours trying to get it right but in the end we just have to live with it. The awning windows have a crease's in them or otherwise it has a gap by the caravan. It's a great size, we use it for three nights or less it just doesn't fit the dart 556/6!
We have exactly the same van. I went to the show last year armed with a tape rule and measured the awnings when they were in situ. The problem is as you said the small gap between the door and back windows and then fitting nicely so as not to impede the side dinette window. The only one at the time that would exactly fit the bill was the Sunncamp Scenic Plus it take 15mins to erect (2 people). Ensure you buy the latest model as there are the older type which are harder to fit the poles into.
But I 100% guarantee this will fit your van and you can fold the sides back and front to leave just a canopy
Hi the clarkes what did you decide in the end? If you go for the scenic plus shop around you may even be able to get one on here second hand. But as I said earlier ensure that when you put up the vertical poles they have a continuous seam to guide the poles as the the first ones didnt have that and fitting the poles was a bit of a pain. but good luck.
LOL still looking, we do like the Sunncamp Ultima 390, our local dealer says that it will fit, just not too sure myself you need 3.4 metres of straight???? awning rail, as our van is in storage, i have not managed to get a look, if not the Sunncamp Scenic Plus is the next on our list, the other problem is we have not yet found a dealer who has the 390 in stock (at the right price), can only find it in green.
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Topic: avondale dart, awning help
Belinda
that we have decided on the Sunncamp Ultimo 390, a little larger than a porch awning but still not a full size one, not sure how it will cope with winter camping, but we only go away for weekends in the winter anyway, so we will see how it goes
