Roll up awning

[Ivorwetwun]

Anyone have any comments on the new Quest Rolli caravan awning. I believe it's similar to the Fiamma.
I don't know if I fancy touring with it attached to the van but a lot do.
Are they safe in the wind?
I just hate putting up awnings and these seem a little easier and quicker

 

[Martin24]

Absolutely no experience of them at all but......... I don't like the idea of the weight on one side and at the top of the van. I have heard comment that this sort of thing is not ideal in the wind but seen other comments on here about how wonderful they are. I don't think anyone likes putting the awning up but it's a choice we have to make if we want the extra space. Personally I wouldn't have one!

 

[TonyG]

Hi Ivor
we have the Fiamma. and have to say we have had no issues at all. we have been to France twice last year with it attached to the van towed over 5000 miles and it never moved. so easy to unroll, excellent purchase

 

[RayS]

I'm on my second Fiamma - first lasted 6 years with considerable use (100+ nights/year). Excellent but be sensible in high winds.
Always fit a tie down strap. The Fiamma rafters and OK but much better and much cheaper is to make you won form washing line telescopic poles as availabel in most markets.
Saw off the top of the nylon hook meant to hold the washing line. Drill dwon into the remaining plug and inseet a round galvanised nail (drill hole well smaller than nail). Saw off flat head of nail leaving about 1 inch spike. This fits into hole in centre or roller and on each upright meant for rafters. At other, ground, end of poles, increase diameter by wrapping round insulation tape until a nice smoot fit into rubber suction cups sold to fit awning poles. These go against caravan side in pockets in the awning bag. These poles are easy to tension and do not loose their tension as the Fiamma rafters tend to.

Finally, buy one size larger than you think you need, so long as you have at least this lenght of straight rail along the top ofthe van.

 

[TonyG]

I'm on my second Fiamma - first lasted 6 years with considerable use (100+ nights/year). Excellent but be sensible in high winds.
Always fit a tie down strap. The Fiamma rafters and OK but much better and much cheaper is to make you won form washing line telescopic poles as availabel in most markets.
Saw off the top of the nylon hook meant to hold the washing line. Drill dwon into the remaining plug and inseet a round galvanised nail (drill hole well smaller than nail). Saw off flat head of nail leaving about 1 inch spike. This fits into hole in centre or roller and on each upright meant for rafters. At other, ground, end of poles, increase diameter by wrapping round insulation tape until a nice smoot fit into rubber suction cups sold to fit awning poles. These go against caravan side in pockets in the awning bag. These poles are easy to tension and do not loose their tension as the Fiamma rafters tend to.

Finally, buy one size larger than you think you need, so long as you have at least this lenght of straight rail along the top ofthe van.

Oh Ray, when i saw your post i thought yes another flammia man. but then i read it... a flammia zip costs circa £350 why then do you need to penny pinch with the rafter poles. do you not think this is spoiling the ship for halpeth of tar, botch up and make do!!! you have forked out all that money and then spoil it with your washing line poles!!!! sorry mate but cannot see the sense, kippers and curtains spring to mind

 

[WatsonJohnG]

You are advised by Fiamma to take the canopy down in high winds and I have always found this necessary when using the top without sides
If you don't guy it as soon as you erect it they seem to be programmed to blow up and onto the roof
After its happened once you make sure to use the guy lines
We had ours permanently on the caravan side with no stability issues
We had the Omnistor 2000 bolt on 3 m canopy on one side of the caravan and the 2.8 m Caravanstore Zip on the other and towed to Spain with no problems

 

[3.0ghia]

just purchased a 4.5 metre quest elite roli awning, we watched as an older couple whom pulled onto the pitch next to us last year set about and had the awning up with in a few minutes and deceided to purchase one for this coming season. we keep the poles and sides seperate to keep the weight to a minimum although some people do load them into the bag on the van. the frame is very rigid because it has the three roof poles and four sturdy corner poles as well as the side and front fixings which all interlock we have lagging on the side uprights against the van which make it a tight fit against the sides, well impressed with it overall

 

[anotherDavid]

We too have a Fiamma, it is a 3.6 meter model and to date after towing around 40000 miles (and using it about 8 years) never noticed any instability. I believe the CC is opposed to them and I can see that in theory its not the best place to carry extra weight but neither is a rear mounted bike rack and I have towed a similar distance with one of them carrying 2 bikes, again without problems but then I rarely go over 50mph . Regarding high winds we have been a little concerned occasionaly but never yet taken it down , in fact if it was that windy I would be loathe to try it

 

[RayS]

Hi Tony, with my first awning I used the Fiamma rafters (at condsiderable expense) They are the twist to lock type and it is difficult to maintain outward pressure on the two halves at the same time as twisting to lock - for which you need a pretty strong grip. I found the Fiamma rafters would not maintain their tension for more than a few hours, then worked loose and one end or thee other fell down with great risk of damage to the side of the van. I have prety strong wrists and gan get the rafters good and tight but they refused to stay that way. It seems that if the awing moves slightly - as it does in a moderate wind - the end loading is relieved adn the tension mechanism tends to release.
Hence my alternatives which have never given me any problem. They do not look as bad as you suggest. I forgot to mention I fit lengths of grey 15mm pipe insulation which minimises rubbing and fretting or the canopy on the rafters and in this repsect too are better than the Fiamma original.

 

[TonyG]

Hi Tony, with my first awning I used the Fiamma rafters (at condsiderable expense) They are the twist to lock type and it is difficult to maintain outward pressure on the two halves at the same time as twisting to lock - for which you need a pretty strong grip. I found the Fiamma rafters would not maintain their tension for more than a few hours, then worked loose and one end or thee other fell down with great risk of damage to the side of the van. I have prety strong wrists and gan get the rafters good and tight but they refused to stay that way. It seems that if the awing moves slightly - as it does in a moderate wind - the end loading is relieved adn the tension mechanism tends to release.
Hence my alternatives which have never given me any problem. They do not look as bad as you suggest. I forgot to mention I fit lengths of grey 15mm pipe insulation which minimises rubbing and fretting or the canopy on the rafters and in this repsect too are better than the Fiamma original.

Hi Ray
Fair play to you. i had a centre rafter fall down last summer, broken two wine galsses that were on the outside table, thank goodness they were empty, would hate to waste the wine! maybe your idea not so barmy after all!!