Awning Advice Please.

[MarkandSam]

Help needed please. We put our touring caravan on a seasonal pitch, we have just changed our caravan, now our awning (Inaca Stela 300) is a 1100, the awning size for our new van is 1050. We have found a place that alters awnings, and have assured us they can do this no problem, we have since been told by a caravan awning dealer it wouldn't work, and our Inaca awning would resemble a circus tent! He then offered us £400 for our awning in part ex for a new one. Before we shell out any money is there anyone out there, that has ever had there awning reduced and did it work for you? Thank you

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

If you are talking of actual measurements then the difference between the two is 50mm, that is 2 inches in 'real money'. I wouldn't have thought that 1 inch either end would make that much difference.

The standard sizing in awning is greater than that.

 

[Mel]

As sir WC said, not sure you need it altered. I would try your existing awning first. I have not ever had an awning altered myself but others on here report very pleasing results
mel

 

[Sproket]

I think i would be tempted to put it up & see just what it looks like before making any decision, as the excess will only be at the front & back where it drops to the floor, only then you will get an idea in your mind just how much that it will need shortening or will you be able to live with it as it is only 250mm at each end, as your awning is 1100cms & the vans awning rail could be 1050cms ?
If the pitch slopes you can easily loose some of that ?

It's not like you will be taking it down & putting it back up every couple of weeks or less when touring

 

[MarkandSam]

Thank you everyone for your replies. Will certainly consider trying the awning on the van whilst in storage, if it worked would certainly save us some money

Although a thought before we do this, the awning came with our previous tourer (Bailey Senator Wyoming 2008) awning size 1088cm, however whilst it was on the Wyoming we found it would always collect water on the roof, which made us believe it was to big even for that caravan. Many thanks Again all, Sam and Mark.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

as it is only 250mm at each end, as your awning is 1100cms & the vans awning rail could be 1050cms ?

Is this right Sir Sproket ??

 

[Sproket]

as it is only 250mm at each end, as your awning is 1100cms & the vans awning rail could be 1050cms ?

Is this right Sir Sproket ??

250 x 2 = 500 or 50cms + 1050 = 1100

or you could pull it all to one side ?
I would go for the same amount at each end unless the pitch slopes

At work we still work in imperial

thou ( 1000 ) = 25.4mm

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Woops

My brain is dead after the exertions of the last few days and I was working in mm, forgetting awnings are measured in cms. I will wear the dunce hat in the corner for 2 hours.

 

[MarkandSam]

Well I think we have finally decided what to do

We are going to part ex our current Inaca awning for a new one, though I am very much still after people's advice on which route to go down.
We have been to a Caravan awning dealer today, looked at a number of awnings, Ideal for seasonal pitch use. We have decided on two, 1 is again the Inaca Stela, either the 250 or the 300 depth (currently have the 300) which we both absolutely love, however after taking our current awning in part ex, we've left to pay either £875 for the 250 or £925 for the 300. The other awning we are considering is the Dorema Escada De Luxe, which only comes in 250 depth, and after part ex, we'd have £225 left to pay. We have decided on these, as we are after the zip down outside covers for privacy whilst van not in use. Can anyone help us make our mind up, lol? We have only ever had 1 Dorema before,but we were touring then, not using all season, so not sure how equipped they are to last in bad weather?

 

[Sproket]

Seems like you have all ready made your minds up

 

[MarkandSam]

Seems like you have all ready made your minds up

Hubby probably has, I can't

I would love to go down the Dorema route, but I don't know whether it's an ideal awning for seasonal use (even though it states it's for that job) I just don't know what to do!

 

[woodsieboy]

You could look on e bay,new and used awnings regularly available,or you could try selling your awning on there and probably get more than the Pex you have been offered.We have bought 3 awnings via e bay in the past all were good as new at a lower price than dealer.

 

[MarkandSam]

You could look on e bay,new and used awnings regularly available,or you could try selling your awning on there and probably get more than the Pex you have been offered.We have bought 3 awnings via e bay in the past all were good as new at a lower price than dealer.

Thanks WoodsieBoy. Ebay definately worth a look. We did think about selling our current awning on there, although we don't have any decent pics of it on the caravan, so not sure if people would be interested. Thanks

 

[Martin24]

Had fair luck with selling on preloved so that may be worth a try as well.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi MarkandSam,
I don't want to dampen your spirits but would suggest you think again your options and what you are about to do,
because it is a big ask your expecting from a awning, the vans going to be on a seasonal pitch why does the awning have to be up all the time, considering the time it takes to put it up, unless your going every weekend,
if it is going to be up all the time what about the weather high winds can destroy even the toughest awning so it will need stormstraps
and possibly extra ones, at least half of the pegs should be of the screw peg type, and think of all the wear that may be exerted on the rail of your new van,
after a couple of seasons the fabric may become worn or bleached so a new one could soon look old and unless the awning is pitched over a hard standing would soon get muddy not to mention the dead grass after the first month on site.
seeing the state of some awning that we have seen on seasonals that have been left for a few weeks unattended I would never do it,

 

[Martin24]

Good point there Colin, the people that bought our bradcot concept were going to use it for seaonal pitch, their last one had lasted all of three years!!! It was a shame to think of ours going the same way, still went a long way towards paying for the Isabella Magnum we now have!

 

[kennygee]

I had much the same problem with my awning being just a few centimeters too big. I solved this very easily by putting my caravan on ramps.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

I had much the same problem with my awning being just a few centimeters too big. I solved this very easily by putting my caravan on ramps.

good idea Kenny, it may well do to remember that even the correct size, (and I mean made to measure correct awnings) do not allways seem to be put up right, in the last 6years since we got the last van and awning I can count on one hand the number of times it looked perfect, because every pitch is different, if the van is on hard standing and the awning on grass which is lower the awning looks short but conversly on a grass pitch where the awning side is higher it looks too big, one just has to adjust the sides and upright poles to get the best fit. on a seasonal pitch you have little choice where the awning is put so it may well be that a slightly smaller or bigger awning could be the right one to use, howmany times has the owner or warden of a site told you the pitches are level but actually they are anything but level,
if I were the OP I would try the old awning once the van has been sited just to see, it could well be that a slighty bigger one is better, plus if they decide to leave it up for the whole season they can see how it fairs up to the abuse it will get without spending a wad on a new one,
just a thought,

 

[ton246]

Just my 'tuppny's worth, we are on a seasonal pitch, this will be our 3rd year. When we aquired our caravan it came with a brand new Dorema awning, which we erect on the first weekend in March and dont take it down until, usually Bonfire Night weekend. It as stood up to torential rain / snow & high winds. As long as it is well anchored ( long screw pegs ) and Stormstraps all should be fine. As an extra precaution, during the last bout of high wind, the support rails were coming away from the side of the van ( were they clip to the awning bead ) so a bit of gaffer tape helped them keep in place. We are on a hard standing ( stones ) and as long as you keep re-adjusting pole lenghts, every now and then, to keep everything taut should have no problems.

 

[harrybrook]

Empty post (likely not intentional - probably an Internet Explorer issue!)

 

[Parksy]

Hi Harry

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[harrybrook]

Thanks Parksy
Harrybrook

 

[Parksy]

Glad you were able to join us Harry, welcome to the Practical Caravan forum