Fiamma awnings

[Rionavid]

Has anyone any experience of fitting and the use of these porch awnings. Do they slide into the awning rail? Is there any other type on the market

 

[Chris4]

They fit into the awning rail. I have one, the idea sounds great but frankly I'm not hugely impressed. There are small metal stops, held in place by screws, that fit into the awning rail to stop the awning sliding about. Mine corroded and snapped off leaving the stops stuck in place. Took hours to free them. I now carry the awning inside the caravan - rather defeats the object though!! Also, the Fiamma is very flimsy and should be taken down if windy. You can get a simple Isabella awning for around

 

[RayS]

Sorry to disagree with Chris, but find that if you recognise the limitations the Fiamma Caravanstore awning is fine. Mine has been on the outside of the van for over two years. I have fitted a foam rubber pad to prevent the (folded) awning rubbing on the van in windy conditions, and always use an awning tie-down strap with one turn round each of the end rafters.

Yes, it will not stand the full bad weather conditions of a full or conventional porch awning, but for two of us travelling in a 4 berth van (where an awning is not essential) it is far more convenient that a conventional one. We can get it up (the awning, that is) in about 5 minutes and the strike time is similar. This plus a windbreak serves us very well an saves space for more valuable drinkable cargo.

You need to lubricate / move the stops fom time to time and also lubricate the bag zip if it sits outside all year. I have replaced the centre rafter pole with a converted clothes line prop (

 

[Chris4]

Sorry, stand by what I've said. One of my friends had a brand new Fiamma. One of the legs broke and the thing crashed into the side of the van. I know of another person whose van was damaged by the awning bouncing against the side of the van in transit. Another person had the paint rubbed off the side of the van over a period of time. I guess this was due to the awning rubbing back and forth during transit. I carry my awning on top of the car or in the van.

 

[BJ]

I have one of the Fiamma awnings (because of my wife's disability). I fine this a great sun awning, which I can erect, or put away with minimal help from my wife,

It is good as a sun awning but is not intended to be a full enclosed awning. The side blocker is good if you have to place your van so the sun comes on at an end you do not want it.

Never had any problem.