Hello!

[Bingle]

Hello, my name is Ian and wife Kate. We previously owned an Esterel 2-berth folder which was great; easy towing and enough space for the two of us. We have now downsized and bought a Sprite Cadet 2 (about 1962?). This is the one that is 8 feet long and has the door at the rear. If anyone else has owned one, I would be interested to hear? It came with all its original gas fittings, grill, hob and wall light. I intend to remove these carefully (except for the light as a feature) and rely on hook-ups, as we did with the Esterel. The only thing I would like to buy next (subject to cost) is an awning to fit. Problem is, most small awnings are 200cms wide and 235cms high. The Cadet is about 193 wide and, coincidentally, 193 high to the rail. We are looking at a S/H Porchlite Plus with a view to modifying it but, if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, then these would be welcome! Best Wishes, Ian.

 

[Bingle]

Sorry, meant to say that most small awnings are 220 cms wide! Ian

 

[VicMallows]

I agree that finding really small awnings is difficult. I have a full awning for my Elddis Avante 362, but was considering a small porch awning for short stops. My maximum width to avoid the window is 180cm. The only one I could identify is the Sunncamp ULTIMA, and this is no longer available new. Even that would be too high for you.
All I really need is some additional outside storage which is quick and easy to erect. One of my various spare small tents erected alongside the 'van would suit my requirements, but this often falls foul of campsite regulations .... or is charged extra ..... even though a MUCH bigger full awning is perfectly acceptable

 

[LizziePope]

Hi there, Ian and Kate! Thank you for posting and welcome to the Practical Caravan forum.

 

[Martin24]

Whatto and welcome. Sorry for the delay but I have major PC issues at the moment.

Have you tried the classic and/or vintage caravan clubs for advice on getting an age appropriate awning that will fit nicely?

 

[Beachball]

Hi Ian and Kate Welcome to the Practical Caravan Forum

 

[Bingle]

Hi and thanks to those who responded! I have had a stroke of luck in that a small porch awning was advertised on Ebay with a "Buy it Now" of £35.00. Yes, I bought it immediately and found that it was only 2 miles from where I live! It is a "Riversway X-Treme Porchlite Promo", quite a mouthful for such a small awning... It's 200 x 195cms, which is about as close as I could get to suit my caravan. Only thing is that it is for roof rails 230-245cms high. Mine is 193cms. I am going to have to lower it somehow and I'm sure that it must be possible. Has anyone else had experience of this awning or perhaps have modified any awning to change its height? Many thanks, Ian

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

I am going to have to lower it somehow and I'm sure that it must be possible. Has anyone else had experience of this awning or perhaps have modified any awning to change its height? Many thanks, Ian

When I had an old Lunar Clubman it had a 'boat shaped' roof and therefore a lower awning rail. I obtained an NR awning of the right floor plan but it was too high, as yours is. Fortunately the bottom 18 inches of the vertical walls were made of stout rubbery type plastic, so I had the local camping shop (which did tent repairs) sew on extra pegging loops about one foot above the existing ones (but on seams). This meant I could tuck the plastic under (extra wide sod cloth) without cutting anything off. When we changed the van 3 years later to one with a standard height awning rail the porch awning was still usable.