Best Awning

gshughes · Apr 17, 2015

Have just bought a T5 130 SE in the last few weeks and looking forward to first camping trip.

Apologies if this comes up a lot but couldn't find it with a search, what is generally considered to be the best reasonably priced small to medium sized awning? Ease of pitching and ease of attachment to van are probably the two most important features as we generally don't tend to stay too long at each site,

Many thanks,

Gareth

Gavinskii · Apr 17, 2015

For a small sized awning, which you want to put up and collapse quickly, I would recommend a wind out awning (like Fiamma) with a Comfortz awning kit.

marshian70 · Apr 18, 2015

Gareth
It depends on many factors. What is best for one may not be best for another.
As per the above, these are good and quick, but if you want to go out in the van, it all has to be taken down and anything stored in it put elsewhere.
The next option is a driveway awning. Regardless of type, they all attach to the van in the same way (there are even options to do this). For speed, consider an inflatable one. If you do a web search for inflatable drive away awning you will find several - Kyham, Vango, outdoor Revolution are all good makes. Would you need space for sleeping in it, how many? This will dictate choice.
Finally, many people enthuse over the large pop up shelters, Decathlon in particular. These do not attach to the van but are quick to erect, self standing, and can be placed wherever you wish to suit. Probably best to try and narrow it down to one of these three first and then look at what is available.

LisaKent · Apr 18, 2015

We had a drive away awning and TBH they are hassle! The Vango Kela takes up so much room in the back of the van you would not believe, it also weighs in excess of 17KG!

We decided to go for the Comfortz side awnings with a door and a 2 man pop up tent which we find a much better option.

Drive away awnings are OK if you plan to stay on a site for a week but the Cali is designed for touring so we tend to never stay on a site for more than two nights anyway

Nigel · Apr 20, 2015

I have just bought a vango airaway awning and planning to try out out next month before the Isle of Wight festival, it has a two man sleeping tent to go inside however it is not small. We bought it for the trips where my son and his fiancee come away with us. will let you know how easy/or hard it turns out to be however there are clips on you tube that make it look fairly easy!!!

robertpr · Apr 20, 2015

We got an Outdoor Revolution Movelite Duo. Beyond easy to put up and not bad to get down. Not suitable for a 1 night stay though. Impressed with it.

Claire · Apr 25, 2015

Does the Comfortz side awning zip together? Do you put your 2 man pop up tent inside? I am looking for a simple solution to sleep in so any thoughts appreciated.

Gavinskii · Apr 25, 2015

Claire said:
Does the Comfortz side awning zip together? Do you put your 2 man pop up tent inside? I am looking for a simple solution to sleep in so any thoughts appreciated.

Yes, it zips together and is really well made. I must admit to thinking it was expensive before it arrived - however once I set it up you could tell this puppy had been really well designed using top class materials and and fixings.
I have not tried to put a pop up tent inside it, but I can see no reason why it wouldn't fit.....infact for certain times, that is a cracking idea!

COAST22 · Apr 27, 2015

robertpr said:
We got an Outdoor Revolution Movelite Duo. Beyond easy to put up and not bad to get down. Not suitable for a 1 night stay though. Impressed with it.

Hi, did you fit it to a wind out awning rail or direct to the van? I tried an Outdoor Revolution Movelite 2 but the awning canopy was a poor fit despite messing around with the adjuster straps. Is the Movelite Duo a good fit? any photos? Cheers, John

Mouse · May 3, 2015

I am considering buying the 'tent room', side panels which fit to the awning by Comfortz for our California. What are the advantages/disadvantages of the tent room as opposed to say a driveaway awning? Not sure what we would use the tent room for? Does anyone find it a 'must have'?

We're new to this and there's only the 2 of us so we don't need too much space.

sue.h · May 3, 2015

we have the outdoor revolution movelite (square I think)
and have had no problem with it.
the advantage of a driveaway is just that ! you slide the awning flap out of the rail fitting and drive away. the awning also reserves your space on the camping site. we use it to leave the tables, chairs, bbq etc

we chose this over the side panels as you have to dismantle to go out for the daym and there is nowhere then to store those bits and pieced that you dont want to pack away for a few hours whilst you are off site.
hope that helps

marshian70 · May 3, 2015

Agree with the above. If you do not intend driving anywhere whilst away, then the tent room is probably the option to go for, otherwise consider what you will have to pack away every time you want to go out in the van. For us the driveaway means we can leave everything we don't need on site.

Mouse · May 3, 2015

Thank you for your help. Food for thought . . . .

Mouse · May 3, 2015

I've had a look at the Comfortz 'tent room' and I've also looked at the Brandrup side/front awning. There's a very big difference in price. Does anyone have any experience of the Brandrup set up and if it's worth the extra money? What more do you get over and about the Comfortz set up which is about £300 as I recall?

marshian70 · May 3, 2015

Mouse said:
I've had a look at the Comfortz 'tent room' and I've also looked at the Brandrup side/front awning. There's a very big difference in price. Does anyone have any experience of the Brandrup set up and if it's worth the extra money? What more do you get over and about the Comfortz set up which is about £300 as I recall?

Brandrup stuff is very expensive. I have no direct experience of the Comfortz tent room but have have some of their other products and would not hesitate to recommend them. I've sure you would not be disappointed if you went for their version

calikev · May 3, 2015

Comfortz is well made and customer service is second to none also
Its guaranteed for a year.

Mouse · May 3, 2015

Thanks guys, I'll give it a go.

jamesC · May 4, 2015

Hi Gareth,

As has been mentioned here previously the choice and styles available are massive and your choice will depend very much on the type of camping/touring you like to do.

In the 2 years I've owned my Cali I have tried an Oztent, a Khyam Motordome, a Vango Airbeam and a Thule G2 Residence, and I also have the brandrup sides (which I don't consider to be an awning as they do not give you an enclosed space.)

All of them are amazing, but have compromises to overcome.

Things to consider are,
price
pack size
pack weight,
Ease of erection
Ease of dismantling
Drive away
Built in ground sheet
Resistance to storms
Quality
Appearance
Will anybody be sleeping in it
Windows
Others could probably add to the list!

Once you have had a think about what is important to you, I'm sure the forum members will have plenty of experience to share.

Good luck!

James

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