johnsue Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Hi All We are currently in Spain, south of Gerona, hopefully away for 3 months, slowly working our way down south, following the sun & higher temp. We have a Swift Bolero 680 FB, having the standard Fiamma wind out awning. Our preferred style of motor homing is, when travelling will stay on Aires but then like to set up camp on ACSI sites etc Last year we bought the wind blockers & although good, our experience, being fairly new motor homers, is that the awnings are so vulnerable to change in weather ie wind & therfore have to wind in at night or if leaving the motor home for the day to be safe. As an alternative we are thinking of a lightweight caravan porch awning I understand you can attach to the Fiamma wind out awning without winding out. The model we are looking at ( & have seen on the site we are on ) is a Sunncamp Ultima 260 caravan awning, available on leisureoutlet.com, towsure, amazon etc average price £150 thereabouts. Has anyone got this model or can recommend something similar as don't want to make another mistake in purchasing something not entirely suitable for our needs. Thanks in anticipation of your help & advice. *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 A fewr Sunncamp-related forum threads and a Youtube clip: http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/CONNECTING-A-SUNNCAMP-ULTIMA-260-AWNING/16740/ http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/awnings-for-motorhome/12026/ http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftoptitle-50603-sunncamp-ultima-260-advice-please.html http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftopic-48271-0-days0-orderasc-.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 One thing to bear in mind is that every time you want to leave your pitch you'll have to take it down..............unlike a proper drive away ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowan Lee Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 We used an Outdoor Revolution awning last winter inn Spain. It was an excellent awning which slid into the channel on our wind out Omnistor. However, in the high winds that you often get, we found that the awning pulled against the Omnistor making ominous creaking and banging sounds which at night kept us awake. We could find no evidence of the Omnistor being loose at all and despite attempting to wedge it, we failed miserably to stop the noise. We were very concerned that we might be doing damage to the van and/or the wind out. The other point to bear in mind is that unless the awning is exactly right height, it will be very difficult to peg out so that it is taut. We have now purchased a Riviera Mobil driveaway awning which we plan to use as a freestanding "dayroom" without actually attaching it to the van which has the additional benefit that we can still move the van without dismantling the whole caboodle. This is quite common in Spain, as are kitchen tents. We also have roof rails on our van so it may be better to tie it to the rails if we use it as an awning. Just something to think about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 to late for you I guess, but a heavy cotton drive away awning a better bet for Spanish winds.....lots for sale second hand. You dont have to attach to awning rail, many throw the tunnel guy ropes over van and attach to ground on other side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 JudgeMental - 2013-01-13 7:11 PM to late for you I guess, but a heavy cotton drive away awning a better bet for Spanish winds.....lots for sale second hand. You dont have to attach to awning rail, many throw the tunnel guy ropes over van and attach to ground on other side Or you can just roll out the Fiamma to meet the drive away, and use the windblockers as we have :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Looking at the pitch above, it looks like Dave the pikey has arrived in spain. :D On topic, we have an outdoor revolution one as well, it did rattle in the high winds in spain last year as well. But I just rolled back all the doors in it and the wind just blew straight through, problem solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 peter - 2013-01-13 8:29 PM Looking at the pitch above, it looks like Dave the pikey has arrived in spain. :D On topic, we have an outdoor revolution one as well, it did rattle in the high winds in spain last year as well. But I just rolled back all the doors in it and the wind just blew straight through, problem solved. Even us gypos deserve a holiday ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsue Posted January 14, 2013 Author Share Posted January 14, 2013 Thanks for your replies. The previous backdated thread was useful thanks. I take the points about alternatively looking at driveaway awnings but in our case when we get to a site which has good facilities & the right location, as we both have electric bikes with panniers, we are able to shop locally or if we want to go further afield we use public transport. Have been trawling through the internet & see most specialist caravan & camping retail outlets stock the Sunncamp 260 model so may well go for this. If anybody else has any other recommendations would be lad to hear from you. Just as a point of interest for anybody who is just setting off for Spain & working their way down, currently on Bon Repos, Santa Susanna, the sun is now shining after yesterdays rain, current temp 12. Thanks again for your help. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 That's a porch awning and hardly worth the bother...we have e bikes and like you don't move the van much once down in Spain. But would still only buy a driveway as there are times when we use the van....many buy awnings and use once or twice and either leave in garage or get rid....we managed without one in Spain last year and jury out if we will bother for this year. (We would only use one for long stays in Spain ) http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=8&TopicID=175604&PagePosition=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowan Lee Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 I agree with Judgemental. We have a car, so dont need to move the van, but i still think a driveaway is a better bet as it gives you the option of freestanding or over the top, without any risk to the windout. Also you can give the van a run out every now and then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsue Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 Have looked at the driveaway awnings but don't think really for us. As previously stated we do like to set up camp, this trip we are away for 3 months & now we are down at the mediterranean would normally stay 2-3 weeks on sites if they are ok. With our coachbuilt just over 7m in length, we find it more hassle than it's worth taking it out to shops, site seeing etc . We do a big shop before setting up then manage with our bikes. Looking at the reviews people have given on this thread & previous threads, the Sunncamp has a mixed reception re quality & erecting etc Anymore recommendations from owners of Sunncamp or other makes of porch awning woud be appreciated. We don't need anything bigger ie full Safri type tent & 2.6 m in lengh shouldn't cause too much stress on the Fiamma wind out. *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laimeduck Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 john&sue - 2013-01-15 10:50 AM Have looked at the driveaway awnings but don't think really for us. As previously stated we do like to set up camp, this trip we are away for 3 months & now we are down at the mediterranean would normally stay 2-3 weeks on sites if they are ok. With our coachbuilt just over 7m in length, we find it more hassle than it's worth taking it out to shops, site seeing etc . We do a big shop before setting up then manage with our bikes. Looking at the reviews people have given on this thread & previous threads, the Sunncamp has a mixed reception re quality & erecting etc Anymore recommendations from owners of Sunncamp or other makes of porch awning woud be appreciated. We don't need anything bigger ie full Safri type tent & 2.6 m in lengh shouldn't cause too much stress on the Fiamma wind out. *-) John & Sue I bought this EasiCanopi last year because I too want something quick & easy to put up & take down. http://www.outdoor-revolution.com/accessories/easi-canopi.html I think it could be left standing if another couple of guy ropes were made. (to pull the poles back towards where the van was - - sorry, not well explained - needs a diagram!) I haven't used it yet, so can't comment. But @ rrp £89 & I only paid £50ish so difficult to go wrong. Anyway, worth considering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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