Bavnelly Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 We are off on our first trip tomorrow. Blow up awning came with the caravan but we have never used it. Wondering if we are being too adventurous taking it with us, having never attempted one before- although we have watched plenty of YouTube’s!! Also, if we decide not to take it, presume we will need to let C&M site know when we get there, as pitch is booked with awning? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnaldo Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 Unless you really need to check if the awning fits correctly, I’d leave it for your second trip out, especially if you’re not going for long … you’ll probably have enough to do! I wouldn’t worry about letting the site know if you’re not bothering with the awning - from what I’ve heard a lot of people book an awning pitch hoping to get a bit of extra room. John 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joanie Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 first don't worry about telling anyone about the awning. It all depends what you want the awning for, are you going to use it as a living space or for dogs. If you don't need it this trip then leave it at home, unless you are out for a while then you can take it with you and put it up when you feel like it. The thing with caravanning is that you do more or less what you want to do , with a little consideration for your fellow campers. Hope all goes well for you , good luck. Quote Happy Days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubble2015 Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 You will have enough to do with getting organised with your new caravan. Leave the awning at home and take a couple of bottles of wine so you can celebrate when you gave set up the caravan. Enjoy! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Grandad Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 I can't see any advantage to leaving it at home. If you take it, could you leave it in the car? Then, if you have the time and inclination to experiment with erecting it, you can. If it's at home, you can't 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MalH Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 The last thing you want with a new caravan is the prospect of having a wet awning to take down coming home. I'd have to be convinced the weather would be good before using any awning this time of year. 1 1 Quote Nissan X-Trail Tekna + Coachman Festival 450 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevan Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 This time of year, many seasoned caravanners (except those with dogs!), leave their awnings at home! Too cold to use and difficult to dry. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ern Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 Personally I wouldn't take an awning at this time of the year. As a first timer, I recommend you leave it behind this trip and concentrate your efforts on getting the basics just right. Enjoy your trip. Someone earlier suggested you take a small notebook but I disagree. You need to take a big one! 2 Quote Ern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
664DaveS Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 Its a lot of work to dry a wet awning, you need a big undercover space. They will get damp at night even if there is no rain. Awnings are known as "divorce in a bag"!! 1 Quote Hyundai Tucson Hybrid+Bailey Unicorn Cadiz Mini Cooper convertible -fun Car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveat92 Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 26 minutes ago, Stevan said: This time of year, many seasoned caravanners (except those with dogs!), leave their awnings at home! Too cold to use and difficult to dry. Totally agree. It's also too cold to sit out in it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommanderDave Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 I would not use a awning this weather unless your prepared to dry it out when you get home usually they need laying out in a garage to dry as they go mildewy if packed away . Just concentrate on setting up the caravan the first time and enjoy it . Bonded to inform the site if you don't put up a awning . Dave 1 1 Quote Jeep Commander 3. 0 V6 CRD Isuzu D- Max Utah Auto Elddis Crusader Storm 2000 Kgs, Unipart Royal Atlas Mover . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David in Cheshire Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 (edited) Unless you are staying a while I wouldnt inflict the additional stress of awning erection on myself on a first outing. Edited November 16, 2019 by David in Cheshire 1 Quote David Various vans 78-2019, currently Hobby Excellent 540 FU and Mercedes E220 CDI Estate www. caravan-europe. co. uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 We dont put ours up at this time of the year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Plodd Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 Wouldn’t bother myself for all of the reasons already given. Andy 1 1 Quote Experience is something you acquire after you have an urgent need for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1957 Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 (edited) Do not worry about the CMC site and mentioning an awning pitch unless you want to when you arrive, they cost the same. I booked one at my last outing and did not take an awning, they were not bothered but it meant I had a larger pitch which was better and helped when reversing the caravan so the pitch peg was at the rear right corner of the caravan. It also meant I could park the car at the caravan door side. Edited November 16, 2019 by Paul1957 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteG Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 If you're on the pitch next to me then I would say "yes, go for it" - gives us some entertainment to watch while sipping our G&Ts! Otherwise, I would agree with the earlier posts. At this time of year the chances of getting packed up at the end of your stay with a dry awning are slim to non-existent, and drying it at home, garage or whatever will not be easy. That said, putting up an air awning as a first timer is probably easier than wrestling with a bag of poles! You'll be keen to give it a go, so whatever you decide, enjoy your stay. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benfica Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 Take it with you. You have to start somwhere so why not this trip. You don't have to put it up but if the weather is ok and dry it will be no good left at home. There will be plenty of helping hands to give you all the help and advice you need. You can always take it down if the weather looks like turning bad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Medes Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 Agree with most, leave at home at this time of year Quote Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuningdrew Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 I’d always recommend leaving the awning at home first time out unless you’re going for a week or so in which case you could have a go after you’ve spent a couple of days getting to know your van. Air awnings are relatively easy to put up which goes in your favour. Downside is they suffer terribly with condensation so aren’t particularly pleasant to sit out in at this time of year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard_Y Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 Do you detect a consensus here? Thoroughly agreeing with the "leave it behind" crew. Why make your first trip more hard work? It'll be fun getting used to the routines of the 'van, and having some time to relax in it. Mind, we regard ours as an accessory for those rare occasions when we need more space for the family to visit, otherwise it stays at home. Not because it's a big caravan, it's not, but one of the reasons for moving from tents was being tired of taking down large amounts of wet fabric and having to dry it somewhere. Enjoy your trip and all the subsequent ones, with or without! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy T Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 On 16/11/2019 at 21:18, Paul1957 said: Do not worry about the CMC site and mentioning an awning pitch unless you want to when you arrive, they cost the same. I booked one at my last outing and did not take an awning, they were not bothered but it meant I had a larger pitch which was better and helped when reversing the caravan so the pitch peg was at the rear right corner of the caravan. It also meant I could park the car at the caravan door side. Also there are more awning than non-awning pitches usually and so booking an awning pitch gives more choice of pitches Quote Alan 2005 Nissan X-trail 4WD diesel and Swift Charisma 540 2012 Lunar Clubman ES 2018 Lunar Clubman ES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMilner Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 This time of year I would only put up my awning if I was staying more than a few days - A week minimum. However I generally put up my canopy, just to offer a sheltered space from the raid outside which may be of benefit to you. The problem will be rain and condensation - I use a squeegee to remove the water from the canopy and a dog towel and invariably will take it down a day or two early if there is a natural break in the weather. I would take it - Put it up if you have a few dry days in the forecast, just for practice. Otherwise don't bother. Being inflatable it should be very easy to put up. Quote Olympus II 620-6 & Mitsubishi Shogun Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hp100425ev Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) CMC sites don't bother whether you have booked an awning or a non-awning pitch, as long as you go on the type of pitch you have booked, and as long as you don't put up an awning on a non-awning pitch. We always book an awning pitch even when we have no intention of putting up an awning, unless we know that non awning pitches are better placed than awning pitches eg lochside pitches at Bunree. Edited November 18, 2019 by hp100425ev 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuBob Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 On 16/11/2019 at 15:30, Johnaldo said: .. from what I’ve heard a lot of people book an awning pitch hoping to get a bit of extra room. John Its not just about getting 'more room', in fact some 'Non-awning' pitches on C&M sites have as much room than the adjacent 'Awning' pitch, thats because the space between the pitches dictates whether each pitch becomes awning or non-awning. The main reason for choosing Awning pitches is simply that there are usually more of them available .. ergo .. more choice when you get there .. Quote "its not the space in your Caravan, it's the space your Caravan is in, that counts" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisn7 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 When you get home lay out the awning poles as per the diagram and put some coloured electrical tape round the ends of the poles where there is a common joint. This speeds up identifying where poles go.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.