California Room versus Driveaway Awning

[Anthony1]

Has anyone owned both, ie a driveaway awning and a Comfortz Room? I am interested in a comparison. I am dithering about one or the other.

I am leaning towards the driveaway, because you obviously don't have to pack it up if you go out for the day. They appear to similarly priced.

I may buy one wall, just to keep the wind away from whichever direction it is blowing.

Thank you

 

[Rich20]

We had the same dilemma and ended up buying both. The California room is great for 1 night stopovers and wind break but no good if you are in one place for a few days. it is a pain putting it up and packing it away when you come and go.

 

[AlisonF]

Quite a few threads on this if you use the search function (magnifying glass).
I use awning room for 1-2 nights and blow up awning if staying in one place longer or have a friend travelling with me and the dogs.

 

[Saesneg Shaun]

We have both. Comfortz Awning room for up to 3 nights. Vango Kela for longer stays

 

[Borris]

The above posts sum it up perfectly.

The only thing not covered in depth is the hassle factor. The bigger the drive away awning the greater the hassle IMO. Yes they are very useful if you are staying in one place for some time but the hassle involved is still considerable. They are usually bulky, heavy and take up too much space in the van. So you may end up needing a trailer as well. Maybe not initially but with the extra space comes the temptation to fill it with all sorts of creature comforts. Some DAAs can even be a challenge to put up especially in the dark after a long drive. Connecting said awning can also be more trouble than it's worth. We've only ever tried once. In our case the disadvantages far out way any advantages of doing so.

Having said all this, a Cali is a small place to spend all of your base time especially if you have kids and dogs to keep happy during inclement weather. We have used ours for entertaining friends and when we meet family. So they are useful.

When it comes to packing it away it's usually a struggle getting it rolled up small enough to get it back in it's bag and it will often be wet so you are going to have to put it up again when you get home in order to dry it out properly prior to storage. In our experience when packing away it's either about to rain, is raining or has just rained. Oh the joy!

So most of the time our drive away Vango Airbeam awning will be left behind.

We also have The Comfortz awning room which always lives in the van. It takes up hardly any space and is quick and easy to put up and take down. If it's wet it's easy to dry it off with a micro fibre cloth before folding and stowing. We use our slider table to do this on. If you are touring it's an ideal room.
It's well made but is a little gappy here and there making it quite drafty but it is only really a porch room. We do sit and eat in ours, we've cooked in it and it's a great space to dump stuff into that you don't want in the van.

So the DAA and the CA are very different propositions. If you are choosing between one and the other but could manage without a larger awning then I would suggest going for the Comfortz product or something similar. However try to see one in the flesh before buying. IMO they are an excellent product but are more of a shelter than a sealed awning.

 

[66tim99]

Consider a Cinch Hub. One minute to put up and two to take down. Doesn’t spoil the view out of your Cali, but is big enough to jettison your gubbins, or to eat in. All 4 sides can be zipped off, or individually zipped up as windbreaks. Can also stand up in it (6ft) , lights built in with solar, and you can put an inner in it and sleep 4.
Free inner tent with code CAMPER10
https://hub.cinchpopuptents.com/ord...Q14ZhRK0TpTNahRKozvRb_GeIHpzFCwhoCCkAQAvD_BwE

 

[NessL]

Consider a Cinch Hub. One minute to put up and two to take down. Doesn’t spoil the view out of your Cali, but is big enough to jettison your gubbins, or to eat in. All 4 sides can be zipped off, or individually zipped up as windbreaks. Can also stand up in it (6ft) , lights built in with solar, and you can put an inner in it and sleep 4.
Free inner tent with code CAMPER10
https://hub.cinchpopuptents.com/ord...Q14ZhRK0TpTNahRKozvRb_GeIHpzFCwhoCCkAQAvD_BwE

If only they didn’t only come in bright green! Orange would be good.

 

[66tim99]

If only they didn’t only come in bright green! Orange would be good.

Interesting ... I’d rather have green than orange, but maybe dark green

 

[ChocolateEclair]

+1 for the Cinch Hub. Although I have the older Quechua version. I tried 4 or 5 drive away awnings but never really liked any. The pop up tent fits under the rear shelf and is literally seconds to pitch and pack away. It functions as toilet tent, shower cubicle, kitchen and storage facility; though not always at the same time.

 

[BeagleMum]

If only they didn’t only come in bright green! Orange would be good.

The bright green has always put us off, wouldn’t want orange either though.

 

[Amarillo]

We have had the Comfortz awning room, a Thule awning room, a Vango Kela drive away awning and a Vango Hexaway.

The Vango Hexaway is perfect for a family for stays >3 nights. We prefer it by far from the Kela which, after heavy use, we gave away.

The Thule awning room (at a vast price) is an excellent awning room, and if you have a wheel cover and van skirt, can even be heated from the parking heater. But it is a faff to put up.

The Comfortz awning room is quick and easy to put up but is noticeably smaller than the Thule and very drafty.

We are considering Brandrup side and front panels for for short overnight stays.

 

[Melanie Day]

We have a khayam drive away awning - we are just packing for our trip tomorrow, it's bigger than I remember.

We are using it as staying 7 nights in one place.

Although we have one night stop over on way down and back so it will stay stored for that.

Comfort Safari sides would be perfect for the one night but didn't want to pack both.

Will probably use comfort sides in August when we are max 3 nights in one place with couple of 2 night stops on same trip.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

 

[flying banana]

Side panel all day long or front panel. Job done. Hate drive away awnings. I bought the van to get away from putting a tent up. Massive faff. Huge pack size. Ruins the view. A pain to pack away when wet and then dry out at home. If theres only 2 of you don't bother. If the sun shines you sit outside anyway. If it rains goo down the pub or sit in the van.

 

[HowieDog]

Gybe bus tent works for us after various combinations. Love the fact it doesn’t have a tunnel and it keeps the van bright and light. A good drive away iption and packs pretty small. Just 10 pegs needed and one valve to inflate. Been in some very strong winds and no issues.

 

[Elly Swanson]

Has anyone owned both, ie a driveaway awning and a Comfortz Room? I am interested in a comparison. I am dithering about one or the other.

I am leaning towards the driveaway, because you obviously don't have to pack it up if you go out for the day. They appear to similarly priced.

I may buy one wall, just to keep the wind away from whichever direction it is blowing.

Thank you

If you just want a wind blocker just get a camping tarpaulin. Much more versatile as can be used for a myriad of things.

 

[Elly Swanson]

You can leave your kit in a driveaway and have a nice empty van for trips out.
If it’s not going to rain you can erect it like a tent a little away from the van.
You can also wind out your wind out awning and connect it away from the van, giving you much more space.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

We have had a comfortz Awning for 6 years and it’s been fantastic. Easy to put up and the 2 ends fit neatly in the chairs in the rear door.
We have an Aldi foldable camping table that holds 2 single burner cookers + a small oven. We have been some quite bad weather and it’s worked perfectly. Takes us about 20 mins to put it up maybe less. Use it when we are staying more than one night.. For us it’s perfect.

 

[Elly Swanson]

Gybe bus tent works for us after various combinations. Love the fact it doesn’t have a tunnel and it keeps the van bright and light. A good drive away iption and packs pretty small. Just 10 pegs needed and one valve to inflate. Been in some very strong winds and no issues.

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Never seen one of those before. Is it connected?

 

[66tim99]

Gybe bus tent works for us after various combinations. Love the fact it doesn’t have a tunnel and it keeps the van bright and light. A good drive away iption and packs pretty small. Just 10 pegs needed and one valve to inflate. Been in some very strong winds and no issues.

View attachment 79297

View attachment 79298

Wow, nice!
Is there a piece that blocks the wind from under the van?

 

[HowieDog]

Never seen one of those before. Is it connected?

Yes, there are a few options. We decided to take off the wind out awning and there is a strip that slides into the rail. There are three connection points to the hinges of the bonnet and tailgate that makes a really snug fit.

 

[HowieDog]

Wow, nice!
Is there a piece that blocks the wind from under the van?

If it’s windy we have some tent material with a bungee and eyelets that does the full length - just some bits we bought off Amazon for a few ££s but woks well.

 

[Algor]

If it’s windy we have some tent material with a bungee and eyelets that does the full length - just some bits we bought off Amazon for a few ££s but woks well.

It looks great! Their website mentions a few additional bits, what is needed for connecting to the Cali?

 

[dripster]

Interesting ... I’d rather have green than orange, but maybe dark green

These are great but flies seem to love that bright green colour!!!

 

[66tim99]

These are great but flies seem to love that bright green colour!!!

Damn that’s a shame, I’m waiting for my order. Wonder why they chose that colour. The various Gybe bus tent colour choices are a great idea

 

[HowieDog]

It looks great! Their website mentions a few additional bits, what is needed for connecting to the Cali?

It’s the fusion panel that joins the van to the tent and can be unzipped to drive away. There are a couple of options for the front too, a fairly clear pvc front, an opaque tent material and a flatscreen mesh. We usually use the pvc in the uk and the mesh of its hot and buggy.