Freestanding Drive Away Awnings

by Frank.Hatfull Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:33 am

We are considering buying a freestanding awning, for wet coats, wet boots and Poppy the Muddy Labrador.

The ideal would be:
Small.
Very rapid to erect
Easy to attach to our Devon which seems to have a slot int the roll out roof awning.
Easy to disconnect and drive away from
Easy to reconnect when returning.

Is there such a thing?
I can imagine it is very difficult to accurately relocate the motorhome in just the right place to reconnect.
It must be a bit like docking at the space station!

Any advice or recommendations would be very welcome

Many thanks. Frank & Mandy

by Cymro Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:45 am

Frank.Hatfull wrote:
I can imagine it is very difficult to accurately relocate the motorhome in just the right place to reconnect.
It must be a bit like docking at the space station!

It's very easy: set up the first time you park on grass with the awning. Erect awning and secure to van. Just get 2 small metal tent pegs and a length of cord. Insert one peg into the ground alongside the centre of the front offside wheel; do the same for rear wheel; stretch cord and tie to both pegs. Do a good job, because you'll keep the pegs with the cord attached for future use.

Drive away, leaving the awning in situ. Drive back, and approach the awning so that it'll be on correct side. Look down through driver's door and aim vehicle so that your driver's side's wheels just run to the inside of, and parallel with, the cord. Stop when front wheel is centered at the front peg. Awning will be perfectly aligned.
Cymro

by Frank.Hatfull Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:49 am

Thank you for that excellent advice.
What are the best brands for awnings?
Are the air frame ones any good?

by Cymro Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:54 am

Am out of date with awnings - had a Harrison heavy cotton one for last motorhome but I'm sure others will advise.

By the way, I should have explained that the little metal pegs should be driven right into the ground, so it won't matter if you drive over them and the cord whilst docking.

Is that a Tilley hat I see in the photo? Says it all!

by daisy mae Sat Nov 07, 2015 1:17 pm

Air frame awnings are very heavy plus you have to take the pump, so more to store, they do take up a lot of room, we bought one for the caravan, never used it and sold it on, too heavy and took up too much room, never even erected it after taking it out of the bag we realised this wasn`t for us,

Kampa are a very good make and do several drive away awnings.

Everyone is different and what suits one doesn`t suit another, probably a good idea would be to see some erected and then look how they are when packed for storage, and picked up dealers should have them on show.

by Gromit Sat Nov 07, 2015 2:34 pm

Hi Frank & Mandy

Devil's Advocate here again! smile!

Your van is virtually identical to ours, which is why we don't have an awning of any kind. We wouldn't be able to store it out of the way, and (like many caravanners who provide hours of free entertainment when they arrive on site ) our first task on arrival would be to erect the awning, or it would be a real pest cluttering up the habitation area.

Just a thought which might save your hard earned cash, but I would certainly take the van to the accessory shop and try one for size before buying it.

Dave

by KMRTOPAZ Sat Nov 07, 2015 6:21 pm

I have a Khyam Motordome Tourer, 2.5m square. Full 2m ht. Look up the Khyam website which refers you to a U-tube video of the erection routine.
After some practise, I can now erect it in about ten minutes, attach to the van and peg out fully in another ten minutes. Detach and secure to drive away in 2mins. Re-attach on return in 3 to 4 minutes using the routine described by Cymro, above........excluding the several failed attempts to get it lined up properly !!!
I use a Kardor strip to attach to a Fiamma awning.....also explained in the Utube clip.

by Frank.Hatfull Sun Nov 08, 2015 6:24 pm

Thank you all for the input
Khyam certainly seem to do a very reasonable small awning, that is just right for wet dogs and wet coats.
Thank you
Frank

by Peterm Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:58 pm

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Try this 3mx3m shelter with 4 zip on sides from Decathalon at £119. Packs small, not too heavy. Seems good quality. We have had it up in garden, but not used it yet. Most flexible tent we tried. Easy to erect poles.

If sites insist it is attached to the van just tie the guy ropes to the wing mirror. As Ken Dodd says "they can't touch you for it, Missus."

Peterm

by Swansea Jac Wed Nov 11, 2015 4:42 pm

Or, maybe a bike cave, even cheaper? We saw one attached to the passenger door of an autosleeper, ( just untie to drive away.) Used for storing muddy boots, muddy paw cleaning, and wet gear hanging. Easy to erect and dismantle, and loops to peg it down . Very lightweight, folding down to a tiny roll.

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by rose49f Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:10 pm

Khyam every time.

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These people helped me to right size and what I needed it for. But Khyam do sell out quickly.

by Peter Brown Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:18 pm

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There is a post in the thread linked above that shows the drive away awning we used. When we moved onto a coachbuilt van (INCA) slightly larger than yours we found we didn't need it and appreciated not having to put it away wet!

We took the carpets out of the van (and stored them for when we would sell it) and used a couple of rugs so it didn't matter if the floor got wet.

We do use the wind out awning as a rain or sun shield and have windlockers ( [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ) should we feel inclined to use them - they don't take long to set up.

They key point is if you want to leave things on site in the awning whilst you are out. Personally, on the basis you never know what the day will bring, we usually take everything of value with us.

Freestanding Drive Away Awnings

Freestanding Drive Away Awnings

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