Awning Recommendations

[PetenAli]

We have a Khyam as well and use it if away for more than two nights. Quick to erect by one person. On my I phone but will put pics up when I get home tonight.

[PBY]

I have a Royal traveller 3 awning, had it for four years and has always served me very well. I have had it erected now continuously since the end of September in all weathers, be it heavy rain, ice etc and it has withstood up to 50mph+ gusts of wind so far, without temping fate but it is bloody good and spacious! Don't forget your storm straps though!

[skippy1089]

This is our Quechua pop up attached to the door, although usually we have it further back to be a little more sociable.
This is the smaller size and only opens on 2 sides, with the benefit of hindsight wish I'd gone for the bigger model.

Having said that there should be a camping proverb 'the bigger your awning the more crap you will find you can't live without'..

[PetenAli]

Here's our Khyam. This was when we first had it and werent quite so good at putting it up. Now its a lot neater.



When we were in the Picos four of the seven vans had Khyams and Clive and Jenny had a Khyam tent.

[keith]

i have had a couple of different makes. Last year I invested in a Kyham Motordome.

trust me when i say its the only one gauranteed to avaoid domestic disputes.

you have just driven a long way...got to your site later than you had planned...weathers looking a bit dicey....wife and kids have dissapeared and you have just opened your first beer for motivation.

option a = kyham. 10 minutes MAX later wife and kids return to see a fully set up awning looking bob on.

option b = big bag on the ground ...you shouting at the missus "where have you been" "we need to get this up" "thanks for your help"......its all downhill from there on in for at least the next 25 minutes,

have a look around and WATCH someone put up the tunnel types....that on paper can be erected in 10 minutes.....

we also have a pull out Omnistore for days when we dont want the awning...i love it and would not bother with any drive away...but if you need the extra shelter....there you go.

agree with a few comments about the awning spoiling the view...cutting you off from your neighbours and harbouring junk.
i like the Kyham because the sides open to reveal mesh...or open completely.

best of all options IMO

[DarkPoet]

Khyam Driveaway XC - but only if 3 of us away for 3 nights or more



It's a big unit & takes some getting sorted but dead comfy once erect.............................I am of course still talking about the awning

[nin73]

If you're looking for the awning for living space I'd recommend the Quechua Base Seconds pop up tent. They take minutes to pop up and are really spacious, they also have little "peaks" you can fit over the van doorway.

http://tente.quechua.com/en/tent/r-9,a- ... ds-xl.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Silky

Does anyone know if they work ok with a hightop?

[aec]

We have a Royal Traveller Tunnel which I think I picked it up for £90 new and for that price I've been pleased with it. It's a bit tricky to put up (yeah, I've been there, kids laughing at us from the wamth of the van while we wrestle with a huge sail in the wind and rain) but once it's there it holds up well and gives loads of space.

I guess a good meaure of how easy an awning is to use is how many nights you'd consider in one place before going to the bother of putting it up.... With this one, I'd go to the bother for more than 2 nights I think.

[Sleedale]

Well.......

Our van came with a JK frame awning. Nothing wrong with it but took forever to put up and didn't have a sewn in ground sheet. Was just about big enough for the two of us and two small woofties

Then........decided to try to use the Quechua base 2nds pop up and small pop up tent. We already had the base 2nds (along with our bell tent and Touareg tent) but found it was much too small to sit in, relax in but would make good storage, but we wanted something to be able to sit and relax in as well as store stuff so

Then..........


We spent a shed load of dosh and bought a Vango Sapera Air Away - the bigger of the two new blowup awnings, and it's absolutely wonderful. Easy to put up and pack away, sewn in ground sheet, lovely big windows, all 3 'doors' have Mozzie netting and it's a good 'tunnel' size to the van, great place for the loo. Love it.

Horses for courses though, have a good look round, try out a few set ups, talk to folk, then decide. Good luck, it's a difficult thing to get right first time I found