We do a lot of pub stopovers and where even a wind out awning is a no-no so travelling light is important a lot of times. We're just starting to get used to it in the Cali after 20 months.
Our previous van was a Toyota Hiace (a lot slimmer and shorter and difficult to manoevre the bed) so times without an awning were challenging with 2 dogs, especially in UK weather. It wasn't an easy or comfy van to sit or eat in, either. So after 12 years in that, old habits were hard to break and we took far more stuff than needed when we first got the Cali.
Now we're getting used to the Cali being easy to pack and so much easier to store stuff and move around in, the penny's slowly dropping and we're using it more efficiently. Having the 2 tables and the chairs that stow in the van so cleverly is genious and have saved a whole heap of space. Top loading fridge makes a big difference too. As a van we find the Cali's so easy and a pleasure to "live in". Plus we only have one dog now.
I do though have a thing for cooking outdoors and like to use different methods, mixing and matching equipment and fuels, so that takes an extra bit of space and needs to be outside the van. We do a lot of festivals (April to October, some 4 or 5 days) in the UK's unpredictable weather so an awning is great for our comfy chairs, wet coats/ponchos, boots etc. Our smallest awning is the Outdoor Revolution outhouse handi (pole and sleeve). It's only 2x2m plus tunnel, is great just for storage and packs easily in to a tiny bag as it's only tent material and no bulky poly windows or fancy trimmings.
So, I suppose it's where you go and when, who's travelling with you, what you like to do when you get there, and what you need to take that dtermines whether you need/want an awning. With the cali though whether it's hot/cold, wet/dry it's a lovely environment to sit in and relax, so needing an awning for that is no longer a requirement for us. We just now need a bit of storage and a "buffer zone" between the elements and the van for our wet stuff and dog.
...have you encountered sites that limit the size of the awning, or demand a particular orientation for the van/awning which doesn't work? I like the idea of a front facing awning (same as front windscreen) but not sure of how this works with parking orientation? Also does a sown in ground sheet often limit its use?? Thanks for any gems of wisdom and or strong recommendations
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