Nervous about an awning....

[Craftsman]

Have ordered a Bailey 625 and want an awning fitted, only to be told Baileys dont have any provision for an awning to be fitted built in during the manufacturing process?

So have been told I need some special brackets and I assume the body will be drilled to fix the awning in place.

I am a little nervous about this to say the least and wonder if anyone else has experienced similarly and if there is anything to consider before putting holes in my lovely new van?

The awning is a Fiamma t45 4 metre.

 

Thanks for any advice.

[pepe63xnotuse]

Hi..

These are the type of brackets that are usually used:

 

http://www.fiammastore.com/Fiamma-F45-Ti-to-F45Ti-L-and-Zip-Awning-Adapter-Brackets

 

Unless Bailey state otherwise,I wouldn't have thought that there'd be a problem with fitting one?...as long as "best practice" was followed ...with brackets picking up on structural members(if presesnt),holes sealed correctly(and possibly "tubed"),internal spreader plates used etc..

 

You will however get "advice" from folk(myself included ;-) ) saying that you should save your money and not bother with one...because unless you spend most of your time parked up in sunnier,calmer climes,for "real-world" UK use,they can be a bit of a liablity,becoming a sail in anything above dead-calm... (lol)

 

We've had them on all three of our vans(we fitted one to our first,the last two vans came with them already fitted)..and personally,I'd just opt for a decent one piece awning rail and use a simple tarp/canopy...

Yes,"windouts" are handy at times but by the time you straped/guyed them all down properly,you may as well put out a simple canopy.....(..which would do far less damage if the wind got under it...)

 

Just my views,of cause.... :-D

[ips]

totally agree with everything said by pepe

[Craftsman]

Thanks ips and pepe. I think I might wait and see now having read your comments. No need to buy now is there, can always stick one on if I want to later.

 

Saved some dosh!

[Mike88]

An awning can be useful for those who park up for weeks on end and, let's face it, many do. I have just done just that in Spain even though I move around a lot at other times of the year. An awning is a must have in my experience.

 

A canopy is probably nearly as good though - and certainly cheaper - but even then if you fit an awning rail you have the same problem of screwing it to the van and a fairly unsightly awning rail to boot.

 

On a new van I would have a proper awning but that's only my choice. An Omnistor or Fiamma awning fitted properly with the correct kit on the side of a new motorhome should pose no problems.

[snowie]

Hi Craftsman;

I am also inclined to agree with pepe; having twice now had to get out of bed in stormy conditions; obviously at 2am to wind the Fiamma in!

I like the tarp type that you see on Eriba caravans,

regards

alan b

[ips]

If your going to want extra outside space and your in one place for more than a couple of nights then consider a drive away awning. Available from £170 ish no rail or holes needed on van.

[pepe63xnotuse]

Mike88 - 2012-11-02 12:03 PM

...A canopy is probably nearly as good though - and certainly cheaper - but even then if you fit an awning rail you have the same problem of screwing it to the van and a fairly unsightly awning rail to boot.

 

On a new van I would have a proper awning but that's only my choice. An Omnistor or Fiamma awning fitted properly with the correct kit on the side of a new motorhome should pose no problems.

 

But Mike,there's no reason why having awning rail fitted should result in anything "unsightly"....

(..I was picturing a "proper" one piece length,complete with end mouldings,from the likes of O'learys or Magnum etc...)

 

..and these Fiammas/Omnistors aren't "proper awnings" anyway..they only become "awnings" once you start shelling out even more money on the Privacy Rooms or Blocker Panels...until then,they're just expensive sunshades....

 

Just how much would a 4mtr Fiamma cost now,bought & fitted?...£650+..£750+..? I'm only guessing...but what ever it is,I'm pretty sure for the same amount you could buy a driveaway awning,a "tarp" canopy...and still have enough change for Gaslow refillable system..... :-D

[747]

There is a 6 metre awning on my van which is never used. It acted like a spinnaker in light breezes and was more trouble than it was worth.

 

This year I bought a 2 metre square Gazebo for £60. It can be erected in a couple of minutes by one person and there is the option of fitting the sides or not (held in place with Velcro). You can get 2.5 and 3 metre sizes and we have found it to be a much better option.

[pepe63xnotuse]

We started using a pop-up Quechua Base tent this year...

 

http://tente.quechua.com/en/tent/r-9,a-31,sejour-base-seconds.html

 

..and when used in conjunction with one of these:

 

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/membershop/bd_easicanopy.asp

 

...we've found that we've got most bases covered... :-D

 

(..although the Quechua isn't exactly something you're going to stash away in an underseat locker,

"just in case".... :-D )

[Mike88]

As a panel vanner perhaps I think differently to others. But the thought of carting around a driveaway awning, tent structure or even a canopy negates the nimbleness of panel vanning where you literally are free to drive from place to place with no clutter.

 

What if you don't want to use the tent, canopy etc; it means you have to lug it around and find somewhere to store it while you sleep which is difficult in smaller vans. With a fixed awning/blind it is always there and you wind it out when you need it.

 

Of course if you have plenty of space then the alternatives mentioned are fine. In that regard a Bailey 625 does not have much floor space for storage when the double bed is in use meaning that when on the road you have the difficulty of what to do with the tent, canopy and/or driveaway awning during overnight stops.

 

Incidentally I am assuming that the original poster was referring to a blind rather than an awning with fixed sides.

[AliB]

I have an awning with a motorhome attached to it.

 

A good awning with the proper storm guys and pegs takes less than 5 minutes to erect and put away. I would not be without one.

 

Floppy can of peas and drive away tents are not for me.

 

As there are those who like and those who dislike awnings, Craftsman, you need to decide for yourself.

[Noodles]

We have an awning on our motorhome. Anyway on holiday recently, it was quite breezy but we'd bought a tie down kit.

We put the awning up on the Saturday by 3am Monday morning the awning had been wound back In cos yours truly (been a light sleeper, I thought I heard the tie downs go ping ) woke hubby up, he was so annoyed that he got dressed and went outside to wind in the awning. My brother who was parked next to us in his MH laughed the next morning, he said to my hubby that I should have got it in I have to agree perhaps I should have done) suffice to say the awning didn't make another appearance during that holiday : :$

[Mel B]

We've had wind-out awnings on most of our vans, however on some we hardly used it and so weren't going to bother on our Accent PVC, however, as we will be using it for longer trips but still travelling around most of the time using aires, obviously putting up a free-standing type awning isn't an option, but sometimes it is possible to wind out the 'fixed' awning as some aires are like mini-campsites. In the past we have also found a wind-out awning useful when it's raining as we could put it out just a bit to be able to BBQ under, and we need shade for the dogs so if we do sit out, they can slob out under the awning too. As we now have a PVC taking a free-standing awning with us, although possible, isn't ideal 'just in case', although we do use one when we go to motorhome shows and such like so still have one for that purpose.

 

I suppose ideally you need to think about how much you used one in the past and how likely you are to use one in the future and also whether another form of 'awning' would suffice instead.

[Guest pelmetman]

3 am, p*ssing down with rain, blowing a gale 8-)........................been there.........once or twice a year *-)

 

 

Still wouldn't be without our awning :D

[Brian Kirby]

As others have said above, for UK, the wind-outs are of limited use because of their susceptibility to wind. This has to be taken seriously because a strong gust can lift the whole caboodle over the roof of the van, which does lots of damage to the van, and wrecks the awning! IMO, the tie-down kits are a waste of time and money. They will prevent the above scenario, but because they "give" under tension the fabric still balloons up, causing the rafter arms to flex is it does so. Having watched ours do that a few times, I decided it was definitely not what awnings were designed for, and wound it in! Can be very difficult to get those angle pegs into hard ground as well, and completely impossible on stony ground - plus you have to get them out again. :-)

 

For UK use, I'd suggest something like one of these http://tinyurl.com/ceucksp though I have no personal experience of them. They have been very reviewed, and are stated to be very quick and simple to erect. If you want to secure your pitch while out, what better? Can be fully guyed down if necessary, and the zip in walls can be used as required to give shelter from wind/rain.

 

Generally, on mainland Europe, particularly in southern Europe, it is less windy, and we have left our wind-out wound out, and un-guyed, out for several days and nights at a time in settled weather (not near coasts though, but we are not that often near the coast, and especially don't do this anywhere where winds called Mistral, Bora, or Tramontane blow, as they blow-up fast, and violently, at pretty much any time of day, night, or year!)

 

I almost invariably wind it out whenever we stop, unless windy - especially if it is raining, as I it so much nicer to have dry ground outside the van door. Whenever possible we eat outside: I don't like sitting in strong sun to eat, and it provides welcome shade. Of course, many sites have trees that provide shade, but trees harbour all kinds of little things that "drop in" (plus somewhat incontinent birds), and I just prefer the protection of that awning, in preference to trying to remove whatever from wherever it lands! But, that's me. Hope this helps.

[Colin Leake]

We like our wind out awning and often use it for protection from sun or rain. We have a so called sun blocker that slides in the grove in the awning rail and is fixed to the ground with five steel pegs and bungee ropes. Provides additional shade, weather protection and increases stability. However we never leave it out if there is any chance of the wind getting up whilst we are out or overnight. Only takes a moment to wind it in or out so why take the risk.

 

There is now an electric version with no legs that is supposed to wind itself in if it gets too windy. Don't like the sound of it myself. Even in good conditions it must put an enormous strain on the side of the motorhome and what happens if it goes wrong?

[WildBill]

If you do decide to get a wind out awning, let the dealer fit it as he then takes on the responsibility if it does not conform to the manufacturers recommendations.

 

We had one fitted when we picked up our van in March but have not used it yet due to the bad weather this year. We plan to spend time in sunnier climes next year so it will come in handy then.

 

We had one on our panel van and we also bought a drive away. We used the drive away once but the Fiamma was invaluable in Italy.

[Guest pelmetman]

Brian Kirby - 2012-11-02 7:05 PM

IMO, the tie-down kits are a waste of time and money. They will prevent the above scenario, but because they "give" under tension the fabric still balloons up, causing the rafter arms to flex is it does so. Having watched ours do that a few times, I decided it was definitely not what awnings were designed for, and wound it in!

 

My awning used to do that when strapped sideways............. but my 99p tie-down kit works much better now I have them pointing in front of the awning Brian ;-)

 

It's all to do with the angle of the dangle :D

[malc d]

In miserable, wet, but not windy weather , we often just wind our awning out a couple of feet and clip the legs to the fixtures on the side of the van.

 

This keeps the rain out of the doorway as we go in and out.

 

As there is not much awning ' exposed ' to the weather it is not affected by light winds.

 

 

 

[snowie]

Mel B - 2012-11-02 6:00 PM

 

We've had wind-out awnings on most of our vans, however on some we hardly used it and so weren't going to bother on our Accent PVC, however,

 

In the past we have also found a wind-out awning useful when it's raining as we could put it out just a bit to be able to BBQ under,

 

I suppose ideally you need to think about how much you used one in the past and how likely you are to use one in the future and also whether another form of 'awning' would suffice instead.

 

With a PVC Mel, you'll find a wind-out awning very useful in rainy conditions. I wind ours out maybe only half a meter, and it protects the inside of the van when we open the sliding door, otherwise it's a deluge!!

 

It's also very good for cutting the low sun out when you want the door open; depends on your layout and how you set your camp up when you arrive on a site, and how long you will be staying. On balance I think ours would be missed if we didn't have it,

cheers

alan b

[Guest JudgeMental]

We go south for proper summer weather (yes out there if you travel) and an awning essential. Its really not difficult to wind in if it gets windy....If I leave it up, I drop the front low with one leg even lower to aid water run off

[derek pringle]

JudgeMental - 2012-11-03 7:33 AM

 

We go south for proper summer weather (yes out there if you travel) and an awning essential. Its really not difficult to wind in if it gets windy....If I leave it up, I drop the front low with one leg even lower to aid water run off

 

Totally agree with this Eddie, this is exactly the way I use my canopy. This is an important word as it is meant to be a sun canopy and winding it in at night for peace of mind takes a couple of minutes.

I think the manufacturers do not recommend leaving it out overnight for points raised in previous posts.

cheers

derek

 

[Mike88]

derek pringle - 2012-11-03 9:02 AM

 

JudgeMental - 2012-11-03 7:33 AM

 

We go south for proper summer weather (yes out there if you travel) and an awning essential. Its really not difficult to wind in if it gets windy....If I leave it up, I drop the front low with one leg even lower to aid water run off

 

Totally agree with this Eddie, this is exactly the way I use my canopy. This is an important word as it is meant to be a sun canopy and winding it in at night for peace of mind takes a couple of minutes.

I think the manufacturers do not recommend leaving it out overnight for points raised in previous posts.

cheers

derek

 

Do people really take their blinds in at the first puff of wind? I've just returned from a 2 month trip to Spain and didn't roll my blind in once. Neither did any of the 100 or so other motorhomers on site. In my 10 years of use I have only rolled in my blind in high winds and find that most do likewise.

 

I use an Omnistor tie down kit with 12 inch pegs which is effective.

[Guest JudgeMental]

I think you need to read Brians post..Wind can still rip the guts out of an awning even if tied down. where we go each summer at lake Garda thunder storms are unpredictable and having lost one awning I am not keen to repeat the experience...

 

In Spain last April/May I did not put it out once as wanted to sit in the sun not the shade, so no I dont take it in all the time just take the precautions described in last post, but if weather looks iffy better to be safe then sorry.