Sun Canopy

[Mr C]

Just come back from having a great trip to france , Normandy then down for 14 days in the Loire, we had great weather (for once!) our second trip to the continent. After having our aluminium poles bent on our full Bradcot awning in Cornwall 2 years ago, we brought a Suncamp lean too and have been very pleased with it, but we noticed a number of caravans did not bother with any awning in France, and put up a sun canopy, with sides, we felt our porch was ok but it got very hot and we ended up opening it all up anyway, so we like the idea of a light easy to put up canopy but with a little privacy and shade, just wonder what anyone else thinks, has found.
Thanks for any advice

 

[JohnM20]

Hi Hugh
We have a sun canopy that we used for about a week whilst in France, having used the full awning the previous, less sunny, week.
We found it to be very good although there isn't much privacy, but then, privacy doesn't seem to be much of an issue on the continent. We used it to sit under to read or to have our meals. It kept off the glaring sun and, on the one occasion that it rained, kept the rain off as well. If it was particularly windy one that has zip in sides may be beneficial but, to be honest, we were glad of the breeze when the sun was hot.
Ours is the design where the sides taper down to about a foot wide at ground level. It takes about 5 minutes to put up or take down. Its an NR canopy and cost £137 including VAT and carriage (direct from NR). The only addition that I have made is to use an additional three guys so that I can tension it up suffiiciently.
Hope this info helps.
Regards
JohnM

 

[John_miller]

We've been using a sun canopy abroad for years now and wouldn't have anything else. Ours is the very simple one (Dorema, I think) with just a top cover & no sides - 3 poles with guy ropes. Like the other John, I doubled up on the guy ropes. It's light, takes up little space and is quick to erect and take down, easy to dry and affords us plenty of shade most of the time. Only problem we find is when we're facing the sun, late in the afternoon, the sun gets under the canopy. Use of parasol judiciously placed often cures this but we're thinking of getting some form of sheet we can hang across the front toblock out the sun.

John M

 

[John_miller]

We've been using a sun canopy abroad for years now and wouldn't have anything else. Ours is the very simple one (Dorema, I think) with just a top cover & no sides - 3 poles with guy ropes. Like the other John, I doubled up on the guy ropes. It's light, takes up little space and is quick to erect and take down, easy to dry and affords us plenty of shade most of the time. Only problem we find is when we're facing the sun, late in the afternoon, the sun gets under the canopy. Use of parasol judiciously placed often cures this but we're thinking of getting some form of sheet we can hang across the front to block out the sun.

John M

 

[JTQ]

We carry Isabella's excellent "Shadow" sun canopy, another that’s just a few minutes to put up and take down. It not only functions as a sunshade but is also good in inclement weather at keeping the rain off the entrance area. As has been said these types of units don’t shade that well with the lower sun angles of morning, evenings and winter. Isabella do a drop down net front screen to cater for this however its not been something that has sufficiently troubled us to warrant the hassle to carry and put it up etc; seems to compromise the big asset of its simplicity.
It does not feature sides so does not offer the privacy element but this we deal with by using a free standing wind break.
We also sometimes use the “Shadow” for extra shading by placing it on the opposite side of the van when in hot climes when using an open awning on the door side. I have seen it used as a front window shade on the Continent.
It comprises only a simple sheet and in our case three GRP poles. [Shorter models use two poles].

Link:
http://www.isabella.net/uk/suncanopies/isabella-suncanopies-shadow.html

Edit: I stand corrected there now does appear to be an optional "side", in the photos available in the pdf file. Again I question if the extra hassle is worth it.

 

[Philspadders]

we use a canopy from riversway leisure. three poles and bit of material £50 inc postage for a 3.5m version.

 

[rosgrech]

It not only functions as a sunshade but is also good in inclement weather at keeping the rain off the entrance area.

I quite agree, after using a full size awning, a large porch awning and a lightweight porch awning over the years we came across a secondhand Isabella sun canopy on Preloved and it is the best money we have ever spent. Easy to put up, about 3 metres deep tapering down to about a metre deep towards the caravan sides. Absolutely brilliant - the dogs can sit outside (tethered) come rain or shine and it's cooler out there for them when it's really hot - I can hang washing out for a blow without worrying about the odd shower - we can offload coats and boots before getting in the caravan - dine out there - doze off in the chairs. We're not bothered by what some people think as a lack of privacy because we like being part of the site, seeing what's going on and chatting to passers-by and enjoying the panorama of views - that's why we are there! If I could find a way of attaching a photo to this comment then I would.

 

[Guest]

We also use a sun canopy, ours was a cheapie from Towsure. Easy to erect and also easy to drop if the warden advised an 'orage' was imminent (Thunderstorm to the unenlightened). Also 1 piece of canvas that can be brushed and washed while on the van and put away. The weight difference is significant as well. Many people with full awnings found that it became too hot inside and they ahd to remove the side and front panels, so what was the point of carrying them?

When abroad I watch the locals as they probably know what works best, and follow where appropriate.

 

[Olive1]

When we bought our caravan an awning came with it we have put it up at easter for one night(another story) and whilst away one weekend my husband saw a few people using the canopy so I went and asked one of the how they found it and low and behold he had one at home he didn't use anymore so we ended up buying it what a bargain! It is now a permanent fixture on the caravan and my husband said it was the best money we have spent. We put up a few windbreaks around it and that gives you some privacy as well as trying to curtail our 1 year old! We would probably use the awning if we were staying on a site for more than a week but as someone else stated carrying your awning certainly adds a lot of extra weight.

 

[RogerB]

We've done the big awning thing and wanted something light and easy to erect.We bought a Paha Que shade shelter from Indigoblueleisure.co off ebay .I offered them £83 and £10 p+p.Delivery was quick,quality is A1 and its light.It has no sides but is intended as a shelter from the sun and was perfect in the S of France.Check it out.Just search for PAHA QUE SHADE SHELTER on Google or ebay(recommended)

 

[RayS]

The Fiamma Caravanstore is a bit heavier than the others mentioned but very easy and quick to put up and, given an awning strap across the front, will withstand quite strong winds. We have used one in conjuction with a couple of windbreaks for long Spring stays in Spain for 6 years and much enjoy the outdoor living without the bulk of a conventional porch awing.

 

[ajmacintosh]

I agree with Ray. We too have a Fiamma Caravanstore canopy and find it so easy to erect and does what it says on the tin. we have had ours for nearly two years and use it on every outing. Of all the caravan accesories we have purchased its beaten into second place only by our Cadac

I would however advise to use an awning tie-down strap as they are liable to lift in moderate winds.

 

[DianneT]

During the winter we had a canopy made by a local firm, grey and maroon, exact match of our Doreema large Porch. It is very versatile as we can thread the awning rail fitting through the awning rail and with three poles, guy ropes and Storm Straps it stands up to any wind and rain. If we want we can fit it to the Porch Awning poles and have an extra canopy at the front of the awning giving us the best of both worlds. Cost us £80 and excellent. Used it all over Europe this Spring/early Summer.

 

[nelmo]

We've got a Dorema Capri and it was pretty good in France this August. However, the problem was that when it was raining and windy (it was the Vendee - clue in the name), the rain was blown under the canopy so almost everything got wet. Also, as others mentioned, in the evening, the canopy didn't block out the low sun.

I'm actually considering buying a full awning and just taking the sides off/on as the weather dictates....would seem to be the best compromise? Or is doing that hard work on a full awning (never had one before)?

 

[Mr C]

I think putting up a full awning is more trouble than its worth unless you have young children/big family or stopping somewhere for a long period. After our alloy polls got broke in Cornwall, we brought a Sun Camp lean too and its worked well for us till we had great weather in France , we saw people with canopies and decided that was the way to go. I have the Bradcot Sport 960 canvas on ebay at the moment, plus an unused Annex if anyone is interested, keep looking for a sun canopy going cheap but no luck so far.