Fly sheet..awning ...which one ?

macberran

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Not looking for a Fiamma roll out awning. If stopping briefly I am looking for a stow away cover/flysheet that I can fling up PDQ 3 x3m or there about. I have roof rails to work it from and can google but just wondered if members of this forum have experience or indeed use such a cover...thanks .
 
Your use of "Awning" and "stow away cover/flysheet" confused me somewhat when I first read this post, but I think I now understand,
"Awning" usually means something with a roof and three sides. In many cases the sides can be left off leaving so you just have a roof. They are supported by a separate metal frame. Erection of the frame and attaching it to the awning is a complex operation and provides fellow campers with hours of visual entertainment. Some awnings now have an integral inflatable frame.

Fly sheets are traditionally attached at the top of a structure and the far end pegged to the ground so they are triangular in cross section. The are mainly used in conjunction with ridge tents to keep rain away from the tent. Sometimes used to connect two MoHo together by using one between two adjacent vehicles.

"Fimma" usually call their product a "Sun Canopy" and it has a roof but no sides (you can add sides and it is then generally referred to as a "Room". The legs and the rafters are built in and unfold as part of the winding out process.

To get a sun canopy or awning 3m wide is unusual. Flysheets are often just tarpaulins so any size is possible.

Fiamma (& other Canopies) are the quickest and easiest to erect especially single handed.

My recommendation is to save up and get a roll out sun canopy.
 
...or you could simply buy a DD Tarp and a couple of poles and some guide ropes, you can also get fastenings to attach to your roof rails - another bonus being that they pack up really small. (I have one of these) there are plenty of Youtube videos on them too.

 
They actually do one for campervans but it would require a beading rail - would that be an option?

 
They actually do one for campervans but it would require a beading rail - would that be an option?



No Rob..I could but just trying to avoid that. I can google as everyone does but thought I would ask the forum first as there may be someone who has tried, tested etc. I can get fly sheets etc on line from £20 -£300..but I was wondering has anyone opted for this as opposed to beaded rail ...and thanks for the link Rob, appreciated.
 
Our swift 590 used to have a wind out...

Previous owner left it out in the wind and then removed and scrapped it (Slightly Grrrr)

But I'm not sure I'd bother replacing it (and haven't so far)

I keep a 4 x 3 grey sun canopy from ebay (about £20 from memory)

Some guy lines and a set of fold up awning poles pegs and some guy lines...

Top corners of the canopy hook onto the awning brackets...

Bottom two with awning poles through and guy lines...
Can drop a corner down to ground to make a wind shelter etc etc

Doesn't weigh much.... Fast to deploy/stow
Shelter from Sun/wind/rain
And flexible to use, in lots of different ways

Ohhh and cheap....
 
We have a Sunncamp 260 Air Awning works well and quick to put up. As we have a PVC I have had to put a slight curve. in the poles to make it fit the shape of the van
 
Not looking for a Fiamma roll out awning. If stopping briefly I am looking for a stow away cover/flysheet that I can fling up PDQ 3 x3m or there about. I have roof rails to work it from and can google but just wondered if members of this forum have experience or indeed use such a cover...thanks .


Okay..good people out there, as above and not looking for a dedicated or Fiamma type awning. Thanks for the input so far but not looking to inflate tor pin down anything at all really. Yes a tarp..perfect or something else similar, its a temporary as you like for respite from prevailing elements..NOT FIAMMA...forgive me for mentioning the word awning. Cheers.
 
I have a canvas tarp then got an awning bead sewn onto one end. It takes a couple of minutes to slip onto the awning rail, then guy the other end with extending poles. I only use it when on a site for a while.
 
I've had 3 vans with roll out Fiammas or whatever the similar things are called. They are a pain. Ah yes, Omnistor.

I bought a canopy from Temu which works well, didn't cost a lot. It attaches to the roof rails with two velcro strips that wrap round the roof rails. I added a third in the middle. The poles weren't very robust so when they bent as soon as the dogs wrapped their tie out leads around them, I swapped them for a couple I had hanging around at home from a gazebo type thing I've had for years. It isn't 3m x 3m, but then the roof rails on my little van aren't very long. I guess with longer rails you could make up your own easily enough with a tarp, some guys, a couple of poles, and sew on some velcro tie wraps. If you search for "car canopy" on Temu you will see a few different ones, they do come in bigger sizes than mine.
 
I have to say when we had the Jumbo...

We had one of the fiamma caravanstor roll out awnings....

Bought it for £80 on Facebook marketplace....
And on a pvc (even with the extra roof height of the jumbo)

It was a great compromise between a wind out and a sun shade type....

Screenshot_20230413_192743_Gallery.jpg
 
Neither, I've often removed and sold them on ebay, over the years we've only used them twice, last year in France it was just too hot one day, and Liz wanted to sit and eat tea outside, and I think it was in France 24 for the same reason, pointless extra weight for us to drag around, but they are great if you do sites I suppose.
 
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