Quick and Easy Awnings

Whitehouse_03

Whitehouse_03

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100
Location
Dorset
Vehicle
T5 SE 180
We have a Vango Cruz drive away awning but I am looking to take my 2 children (both under 5) away without hubby and I have no chance of putting that up on my own with the children! I have considered getting the awning kit / camping room but I think we need something with a base attached so we can use it in the rain too. Does anyone have any recommendations for alternatives please that is quick and easy to put up on my own? Thank you :)
 
I think you are struggling. Decathlon used to do a pop up shelter but now discontinued and not sure if they had a ground sheet. I've the later inflatable shelter, with a ground sheet but only quicker than your Vango as there is no attempt to attach it to the van.
Could a normal camping pop up tent work? Would they entertain themselves in one of those while you cook a meal if it were zipped up, or open facing the sliding door? You could wind out the awning over it to make it feel more part of the set up.
 
I can’t remember the name of the one I liked at a meet last year.
@Speleo62 who makes the cool one you use?
 
Don't forget Kampa travel air are easy for one person to put up and no faffing with poles.
Also the Cinch Hub (copy of instant pop up) is available.
 
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Great recommendations, thank you....I really like the Shelterpod. Once I’ve practiced I hoped it will be quick enough to put up.
 
I have an Easycamp Daytona awning which I put up on my own complete with dodgy hand . You can attach to the van if you wish as well. Very useful for playing in on some rainy half terms although I haven’t used it if just staying somewhere for a night. Depends what sort if camping you are doing. Looked at various pop up’s eg Decathlon ones but watched a fair few struggling to get them to pop down! Happy camping!
 
Does anyone know how waterproof the sheltapod is?
 
Shelterpod are doing a winter deal. Until the 25 May £250 instead of the listed price of £395. You get a lot as standard for the money.
 
I have looked at the dimensions and the footprint of the shelterpod is quite big. If you camp on regulated club sites (like C&CC & C&MH) and many other sites a standard pitch is 5m wide (and they’re very strict about it because of the safety zone between units) you will need to think about the space at the side of the van that the shelterpod requires (or any other awning).

A California is 1.9m wide, the rain sheet (connection part) of the awning is 2.2m, the footprint of the awning (tent part) is 2.6m. That means that looking front on to the van with awning attached at the side, from the non-awning side of the van to the end of the awning the space you need is 6.5m (not including guylines).

You could find a way to attach the shelterpod only using half of the of the rain sheet and no poles but that only saves you 1.1m, so you’re still looking at 5.4m. I don’t think you could get much closer to the van because of the side panels and the guylines required to keep the first pole/sleeve vertical (as required in the setup).

You can attach a shelterpod to the back of the van. Most pitches are longer than they are wide but you still need to make sure you will fit on a pitch. Also bare in mind that with the lower bed up as a seat there’s no access directly to the back door from the inside.

This is just a word of caution as I’ve had several “interesting” discussions about pitch sizes with wardens on both types of club site and others. I don’t have a shelterpod but have 4 different awnings for different camping situations (based on pitch size, amount of storage we need, length of stay, type of site, etc). Once we had to repitch for the sake of a very short distance (talking inches). Sometimes we’ve had wardens step out the distance in Monty Python style and once a warden had a measuring stick and a letter from head office quoting the regulations. Even if you are the right distance and they come to check because they think you might not be or they’ve had the people next to you complain, it’s not a great way to start to your holiday!

So check pitch sizes before you book a site. It would be a big shock to get to a site with all your gear, kids, dogs, whatever, and not be able to pitch your awning and store your stuff.

Some standard pitch sizes (for those with awnings):

C&CC standard pitch size is 5m wide by 9m long (sometimes you can pitch sideways, but often there’s not the space to manoeuvre that way). Bigger than that (including guylines) and you’re considered to be an XL unit who needs a jumbo pitch (not available on all sites).

Camping in the forest standard pitch sizes are 5m wide by 8m long.

C&MHC pitch sizes vary from site to site. If you ring the main call centre they tell you to ring the site to talk to the wardens, so just ring the site directly.

As festivals get more popular some are moving toward smaller pitch sizes that are marked out and some don’t allow awnings at all (eg, Cambridge folk festival).
On some sites you can book 2 adjacent pitches, especially if it’s grass with no EHU.

If you’re not sure, contact a site and speak directly to the owners or wardens. It’s them that will have the say on the day. If they will, get them to send you an email or make a note on their “system” (if they have one) at least get their name in case there’s more than one set of wardens.

As a PS: I think the shelterpod looks to be a brilliant bit of kit and great value for money. I nearly ordered one tonight but didn’t when I saw it’s footprint size. The awnings we have already that I find are easy to put up (even on my own) are an outdoor revolution handi driveaway and Khyam quick erect awnings. I’ve never had an pump up one, so can’t comment on those.
 
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We have a Vango Cruz drive away awning but I am looking to take my 2 children (both under 5) away without hubby and I have no chance of putting that up on my own with the children! I have considered getting the awning kit / camping room but I think we need something with a base attached so we can use it in the rain too. Does anyone have any recommendations for alternatives please that is quick and easy to put up on my own? Thank you :)
It might be worth looking at the Outwell Milestone Pace Air - this is a 'drive up to' awning that doesn't actually attach to the vehicle and so is easier to manage. The do a less costly non-air version too.
 
It might be worth looking at the Outwell Milestone Pace Air - this is a 'drive up to' awning that doesn't actually attach to the vehicle and so is easier to manage. The do a less costly non-air version too.
Interesting, the biggest pain is having to park exactly in the same place with a driveaway. We never connect to the van, we roll out the awning and connect to that if we have space. That way we have a bit of wriggle room, as long as you’re straight, it’s okay.

Have not done it with the Cali yet though. Assuming it’ll be as effective as it was with our Toyota Hiace.
 
I have looked at the dimensions and the footprint of the shelterpod is quite big. If you camp on regulated club sites (like C&CC & C&MH) and many other sites a standard pitch is 5m wide (and they’re very strict about it because of the safety zone between units) you will need to think about the space at the side of the van that the shelterpod requires (or any other awning).

A California is 1.9m wide, the rain sheet (connection part) of the awning is 2.2m, the footprint of the awning (tent part) is 2.6m. That means that looking front on to the van with awning attached at the side, from the non-awning side of the van to the end of the awning the space you need is 6.5m (not including guylines).

You could find a way to attach the shelterpod only using half of the of the rain sheet and no poles but that only saves you 1.1m, so you’re still looking at 5.4m. I don’t think you could get much closer to the van because of the side panels and the guylines required to keep the first pole/sleeve vertical (as required in the setup).

You can attach a shelterpod to the back of the van. Most pitches are longer than they are wide but you still need to make sure you will fit on a pitch. Also bare in mind that with the lower bed up as a seat there’s no access directly to the back door from the inside.

This is just a word of caution as I’ve had several “interesting” discussions about pitch sizes with wardens on both types of club site and others. I don’t have a shelterpod but have 4 different awnings for different camping situations (based on pitch size, amount of storage we need, length of stay, type of site, etc). Once we had to repitch for the sake of a very short distance (talking inches). Sometimes we’ve had wardens step out the distance in Monty Python style and once a warden had a measuring stick and a letter from head office quoting the regulations. Even if you are the right distance and they come to check because they think you might not be or they’ve had the people next to you complain, it’s not a great way to start to your holiday!

So check pitch sizes before you book a site. It would be a big shock to get to a site with all your gear, kids, dogs, whatever, and not be able to pitch your awning and store your stuff.

Some standard pitch sizes (for those with awnings):

C&CC standard pitch size is 5m wide by 9m long (sometimes you can pitch sideways, but often there’s not the space to manoeuvre that way). Bigger than that (including guylines and you’re considered to be an XL unit who needs a jumbo pitch (not available on all sites).

Camping in the forest standard pitch sizes are 5m wide by 8m long.

C&MHC pitch sizes vary from site to site. If you ring the main call centre they tell you to ring the site to talk to the wardens, so just ring the site directly.

As festivals get more popular some are moving toward smaller pitch sizes that are marked out and some don’t allow awnings at all (eg, Cambridge folk festival).
On some sites you can book 2 adjacent pitches, especially if it’s grass with no EHU.

If you’re not sure, contact a site and speak directly to the owners or wardens. It’s them that will have the say on the day. If they will, get them to send you an email or make a note on their “system” (if they have one) at least get their name in case there’s more than one set of wardens.

As a PS: I think the shelterpod looks to be a brilliant bit of kit and great value for money. I nearly ordered one tonight but didn’t when I saw it’s footprint size. The awnings we have already that I find are easy to put up (even on my own) are an outdoor revolution handi driveaway and Khyam quick erect awnings. I’ve never had an pump up one, so can’t comment on those.
Good spot! I thought hard about buying one today too. We're minimalist and can't be bothered with the extra space. Thanks for pointing out what could have been an expensive mistake!
 
Let us know how you get on with it and what it’s like.
Thank you, will do. Thanks for the info on pitch sizes etc too, I hadn’t considered that but I’m looking forward to having a play with the Shelterpod, it’s so flexible I’m sure i’ll find a way.
 
It might be worth looking at the Outwell Milestone Pace Air - this is a 'drive up to' awning that doesn't actually attach to the vehicle and so is easier to manage. The do a less costly non-air version too.
Is it not just a tent if it doesnt attach?
 
Yes, good point . I was wondering what would happen in very windy conditions if a gust came sideways over the top of the van and under the faux-awning canopy bit.
 
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