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Post by roamerog on Apr 7, 2009 13:01:31 GMT
We (me and the missus) have a Romahome Duo Hylo which came with an Avon Quicktent. This tiny porch awning is fine for general use, but we are thinking of taking two grandchildren with us for just the occasional trip, so we need a CHEAP easy to put up freestanding drive away awning, just big enough to sleep two.
The Movelite Square looks good but I am not sure if it will fit my Duo Hylo. The ads say it is suitable for small motorhomes up to 230cm high but the Hylo is a bit more than this with the top up, and judging from the pictures the sleeve looks too low and possibly too wide. Has anyone used this awning with a Hylo? I am also unsure how easy it would be to secure the sleeve to the back end of the van. Can anyone suggest an alternative awning? The Movelite XL looks far too big.
Can anyone with a Hylo advise me?
Thanks, Roger
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Post by peterholden on Apr 7, 2009 14:20:19 GMT
We have a movelite (the original not the square) but our van is a hitop. Our problem is that 240cm by 240cm seems a little small. We are looking at the XL but are not sure if it would fit our van.
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Post by Graham on Apr 7, 2009 21:01:55 GMT
Hi Roamerog
We've got a Dimension with a Movelite Square so can't really help you but welcome to the forum, hope someone answers your querie soon, surely someone with a hylo has got one.
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Post by barry5933 on Apr 9, 2009 8:10:02 GMT
The standard Movelite worked fine for us on our Berlingo based HyLo. We always erected the awning with the roof down and about 2" overlap of the flap onto the roof, took guy lines from the holes in the ends of the roof flap and hooked them into the cab door handles then lifted the roof. The flap appears very taut, but it needs to be! After raising the roof, the two guys from the roof flap can be pegged down to stop the flap sliding off (effective except in VERY strong wind!) and the rest of the skirt can also be secured. There is an enlarged version of our avatar picture in the Photos section of the forum smallmotorhome.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=2236showing it in action. Hope this helps Barry |
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Post by roamerog on Apr 9, 2009 21:22:13 GMT
Thanks Barry!
That settles it, I shall be shopping for a Movelite sometime soon. Our Hylo is Berlingo based (as I should have said) and your picture shows clearly that this is just what we want.
Cheers
Roger
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Post by timbak on May 20, 2009 12:09:55 GMT
I too am looking for an awning to go onto our newly bought Hylo. Thanks for this it looks like the Movelite is just the job.
Happy camping
Tim (a brand new member!)
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Post by Graham on May 20, 2009 16:22:02 GMT
I too am looking for an awning to go onto our newly bought Hylo. Thanks for this it looks like the Movelite is just the job. Happy camping Tim (a brand new member!) Welcome to the forum Tim, lots of useful advice on here about all things to do with Small Motorhomes, so hope you stick around. Graham |
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Post by timeshift on Jun 17, 2009 18:42:49 GMT
I'm thinking of getting a Movelite Square for my lovely new Hylo - does anyone know if you need the driveaway kit or not? I can't work out if you need it in order to be able to drive away, and whether there is anywhere to fit it on the hylo if you do.
And while I'm shopping, are there any other essentials I should get? I'm going to get a connection cable and some chemicals for the loo but that's all I can think of.
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Post by Derek on Jun 17, 2009 20:15:41 GMT
I'm thinking of getting a Movelite Square for my lovely new Hylo - does anyone know if you need the driveaway kit or not? I can't work out if you need it in order to be able to drive away, and whether there is anywhere to fit it on the hylo if you do. And while I'm shopping, are there any other essentials I should get? I'm going to get a connection cable and some chemicals for the loo but that's all I can think of. Hi, welcome to the site. On site with a Movelite awning as it SHOULD be fitted!   Barrys pre-square Movilite on his Hylo, don't think you need the drive away kit, just put the sleeve over the edge of the roof and keep it on with a couple of guys going forward. As for essentials, don't forget the kettle ;D Derek |
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Post by timeshift on Jun 17, 2009 21:40:10 GMT
Brilliant, thanks. Saved me a few quid (which I need now, having spent my life savings on the van!)
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Post by timeshift on Sept 2, 2009 9:50:29 GMT
Yuk what a nightmare the Movelite was. Just as bad as pitching a tent - which is the bit about camping I hate. I am too short to get it over the roof so I'll need to pack a stool next time and I didn't find it an easy pitch at all.
I ended up thinking "why did I bother buying a van if I still need to do this?" The only bit worse is trying to get it all back into the bag afterwards, which just seems physically impossible - a bit like reverse childbirth.
Think I might sell the awning and buy one of those lovely little pop-up tents, as the main reason for the awning was to give us somewhere to put all our gear, the Hylo being so small inside.
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Post by glenw on Sept 2, 2009 10:18:39 GMT
Think I might sell the awning and buy one of those lovely little pop-up tents, as the main reason for the awning was to give us somewhere to put all our gear, the Hylo being so small inside. Have you tried putting a pop up tent away?!?!?! if you though the movelite was bad ;D ;D We had a movelite on our romahome and found it quite easy to put up and take down, but there are 2 of us. we also didn't take the inner with us so found that putting it in the bag was easy that way. The movelite doesn't fit very well on our new van so we bought a cheap pop up tent from decathlon. we use that as a store and pitch marker if we leave site. It is really simple to put up, obviously, but there is a nack to getting it away, which once mastered, make you look a real pro to other campers.  |
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Post by jayjay on Sept 2, 2009 12:21:00 GMT
Yuk what a nightmare the Movelite was. Just as bad as pitching a tent - which is the bit about camping I hate. I am too short to get it over the roof so I'll need to pack a stool next time and I didn't find it an easy pitch at all. I ended up thinking "why did I bother buying a van if I still need to do this?" The only bit worse is trying to get it all back into the bag afterwards, which just seems physically impossible - a bit like reverse childbirth. It gets easier the more you do it! I thought that the first time I put mine up, but last time out it only took about 15-20 mins. I'm also a shortie - what I do is stand inside the camper with the door open and pull the white reinforced bit (can't think what it's called but it would slide into a rail on a motorhome) towards me and then pull it over the top by reaching up through the skylight, then I shut that bit in the skylight while I put the rest of it up!  The Handy tent from Argos is pretty good just for putting stuff in. item number 340/0047 at £22.99, wont break the bank! You tube video for putting up and putting away gelert quick tent - just type into search engine on you tube. I've got one of these but have only ever taken it and not used it - put it up and down plenty of times though, just to show my expertise! LOL!! ;D |
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roamingsue
50+ posts.... 3 wheels on my wagon!
Posts: 68
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Post by roamingsue on Sept 2, 2009 20:57:21 GMT
Think I might sell the awning and buy one of those lovely little pop-up tents, as the main reason for the awning was to give us somewhere to put all our gear, the Hylo being so small inside. Have you tried putting a pop up tent away?!?!?! if you though the movelite was bad ;D ;D Pop up tents are really quite easy once you have the knack. I made an agreement with a sales guy that if I could be taught to put a pop up tent away, totally alone,then I would buy the tent. 5 attempts later I bought the tent! Since when I have taught my children who managed it more or less straight away! |
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Post by viv on Sept 2, 2009 22:15:16 GMT
We always take the Movelite but very rarely use it. If the weather is bad we usually sit inside the van and if it is good we like to be outside. Would probably not have bought one if we had left it until now. Also it makes us feel shut in a bit. I like to sit or cook with the door open and often position the van with the a view to the back so I can look out.
I suppose if we were staying for longer than a few days then it might come in handy on wet days.
I can manage to get the poles in but need someone to stand underneath to stand it up, can't quite manage that bit.
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Post by barry5933 on Sept 3, 2009 9:27:41 GMT
I suppose if we were staying for longer than a few days then it might come in handy on wet days. I can manage to get the poles in but need someone to stand underneath to stand it up, can't quite manage that bit. We always used the Movelite when we had the HyLo (unless it was due to be very windy) and frequently used it as an extension to the kitchen. Puting the table out there enabled one person to be chopping/preparing and microwaving (I know, very decadent) while the other was inside doing the "proper" chefwork. With the blinds rolled up, or the door panels open, it was just like outdoor camping. It was also very useful for leaving all excess clutter (table, microwave, bike panniers, etc etc) out of the van overnight and for leaving it behind on site if driving off for the day. Erecting and dismantling is definitely a 2 person job. We have developed a routine and now the tent can be up and positioned in a few minutes (never timed but probably no more than 5) leaving one person to complete the pegging down while the other one is setting up the van for living/sleeping/eating or whatever. Incidentally, we lift the centre from outside, having pushed the poles through and inserted the pins in one end of each. Lift the centre and pull the "tube" down over the poles towards the other end and insert the pin. It is easier done than described. (Someone ought to video the procedure and post it on this forum, but it is beyond my capability). Now we have the Dimension, we don't need the awning so much, so we tend to not use it if only staying for one or two days. It is still very useful though for storing excess baggage. |
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Post by timeshift on Sept 3, 2009 13:15:36 GMT
Well I think I'll keep the awning, as it will come in handy if we want to go away with friends and use it as an extension tent, or if we are going to a festival with a group as it makes quite a nice social area. But for general use I shan't bother again - it's definitely a two adult job to pitch and it makes setting up a much slower job, plus it takes up a lot of space in the van.
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Post by roamerog on Sept 13, 2009 23:26:33 GMT
Just to update you all we did buy a Movelite (secondhand and cheap just to hedge our bets) and have tried it out on a very wet week in Cornwall. Definately not as easy to erect as the Avon Quicktent but we did appreciate the extra space to put out a table, chairs, crate full of boots and shoes etc. and to be able to close up the awning with everything under cover while we were off site. What was most noticeable comparing it to the Avon was that the Avon is tailor-made for the Hy-Lo and fits properly around the sides and has a groundsheet upstand that fits snugly under the back bumper. The Movelite dosn't have anything to close off the space under the back of the van, and the sides fit more loosely, with big gaps at the sides of the elevated van roof. The sleeve only just fits onto the back of the van roof if the van is backed right up into the opened door panel of the awning, so the door panel cannot be zipped up during the night. With all the gaps the awning was more open to wind although we didn't particularly notice any rain getting in (and it was definately put to the test) but we did find a damp patch and paw prints on one of our canvas chair seats! We didn't try the inner tent but it was obvious that if it had been erected there would not have been space to open the van door.
We are going to carry on using the Movelite, at least for longer trips, as for just sitting and storage it is fine, but for sleeping in, and the original idea was to put two grandchildren in it, as an awning it dosn't really work. Any comfort would be for the local creatures not the grandkids. It could still be used as a separate tent but that sort of defeats the object.
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Post by Graham on Sept 14, 2009 8:54:58 GMT
Hi Roger
Are you sure you fit it to the van correctly? What you call the sleeve is actually the tunnel which should fit on a gutter (if you have one) right on the edge of the van, this gives a little tunnel area before you get into the actual awning. It's a bit difficult to explain and we have got a Dimension but when we put ours up we stretch the tunnel (sleeve) to the van and there is about 2 or 3 foot clearance for the doors to open on the back. Then at night you can zip the door section of the awning so that the awning is water tight. The inner tent then goes in that section.
We used it for our grandchildren and it worked a treat. They are a bit young to sleep in their on their own so Grandad drew the short straw and had to sleep in the awning with the eldest while Granny slept in the van with the youngest. I have to say I had a lovely nights sleep and was very snug. Once you are in the inner tent it is completely enclosed with no draughts etc.
Graham
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Post by Derek on Sept 14, 2009 16:56:23 GMT
Hi Roger We used to have a Hylo and I found that these clamps could be fitted on the bottom edge of the rising roof. They fit round the rubber seal without crushing it. They are two for a pound guv in the markets etc.  If you clip two at the back of the roof and have a cunning plan to fix the top edge of the movilite tunnel to them (sew some tapes on?), you should be able to have the van further out and maybe zip the dividing door. Another option would be to use a J rail but that sounds like hard work. Hope this makes sense Derek |
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Post by roamerog on Sept 21, 2009 14:34:23 GMT
Hi Graham,
Hi Derek
Thanks to you both for your advice. The Hylo does not have a gutter or awning rail on the back edge of the roof, and I would not want to try to fit anything that would potentially damage the van. I know that stretching the tunnel over the top of the roof is not the proper method of fitting for the Movelite, but it seemed feasible as it is the prescribed method for the Avon Quicktent which has a similar tunnel. In practice, the tunnel was raised to the limit of its height, and pulling it over the roof, even if by only 3-4 inches, did reduce the length of the tunnel.
Derek's suggestion regarding clamps sounds like a good idea and I am going to experiment with this at the next opportunity (rivet the clamp handles to a length of awning rail maybe?). Fixing the edge of the tunnel to the lower edge of the roof should leave more room, but I have to admit I can't see it making enough difference to allow the van door to be opened while the awning is zipped up. We shall see.
Regards,
Roger
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