Yet another newcomer

[frankie]

Hi all. We've finally just made the decision to get a small motorhome - our only previous experience is with a hired campervan in Australia and lots of trailer tent camping when the kids were young. Would really welcome any advice on buying and especially comments on drive-away awnings. Can you get them to fit all vans? How successful are they?

[glenw]

welcome to the forum frankie! feel free to ask as many questions as you can think of, someone else on here will be sure to have the answer!!

As for driveaway awnings, we personally only have experience of the older stlye movelite. We found it very easy to put up, in fact the first time we put it up was at a forum meet at Wolverley, in the dark and cold, and it was up and in place within 30 mins or so. Driving away from it was no problem and driving back to it was easy too. We didn't use figure of 8 channels etc to hold it tight to the van, we just used guy ropes to pull it towards the front of the van and hold it in place.

We have now sold our romahome and got a slightly bigger van, but we kept the awning in the hope it will fit the new van.

I know others on here have the movelite and a couple of other types of awning, whilst others just choose to put up a small storage tent next to their vans.

hope thats of help,

Glen

[Graham]

Hi Frankie

Welcome to the forum it's great to have you on here, most people on here have Romahomes and they get very good comments, I don't think we've had anyone who is not happy with their Romahome.

Awnings depend on which small motorhome you choose, as Glen says the Movelite is very good, lightweight and easy to put up, just leave it on site and drive away. We have also had a Harrison awning but I believe they aren't made anymore. We found them quite heavy and a lot more bulky than the Movelite.

Hope that helps, if you have any more specific questions I am sure someone will be able to help you, we have a wealth of experience on here.

Graham

[caz]

Welcome to the forum, Frankie. I'm very new here too, and still have a small caravan at the moment.
A few years ago I had a Ford Transit based Autosleeper with a pop top. I bought a traditional type drive away awning (the heavy canvas one, bit like a frame tent). I found the canvas was too heavy for me to lift on my own and because of the pop top it wouldn't go on the back, only on the side. It attached by the "figure of 8" strips to the van's gutter, and they were always falling out. When coming back to site, it was very difficult to get the van exactly where it had been before, and the awning wouldn't attach again unless it was spot on.

I'd recommend something like the Movelite or other lightweight awnings instead, or just get a utility tent and pitch it near the door.

[sunshine1]

Welcome and Hi Frankie,

I am new to motor homing too! Only bought Sooty last summer!

I am sure you will find this forum helpful and friendly!

Sunshine1

Ellie

[frankie]

Many thanks all for your useful comments - and so good to hear from women motorhoming on their own. i certainly intend taking off on my own as well as with husband and didn't fancy towing a caravan - we had almost decided to get an Eriba. I'm now off to Spain for 10 days which will hopefully be our last flying hol for a while! Full steam ahead for the motorhome search on return.

[karenw]

Welcome to the forum.

I'm another solo female motorhomer (and 'wild-camper') often taking off to Wales, Yorkshire and East Sussex.

Enjoy your overseas trip and then have a happy season of motorhoming - it's great going solo!!

[caz]

Outdoor Revolution seem to have added to their range of freestanding awnings and utility tents since I looked last - see:

www.outdoor-revolution.com/awnings.htm

More choice now, not just the Movelite.

[lunnie]

The Movelite is the new square Caz