Moped
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Interesting that on the subject of best/worst purchases £900 was spent on a wind out canopy used twice in 2 years. So a worst buy.
Our first motorhome did not have one and we felt the investment would not be worth the money. In addition it would have taken our van height above 3m with the additional costs this would add to European motorway tolls and maybe ferry crossings.
As we had a full width garage we invested in a £200 pop up gazebo, with sidewalls to provide shelter, to use when on a site for more than say 4 days. When daily touring, aire parking or wild parking it would stay unpopped in the garage.
Now our second and current motorhome had a wind out canopy fitted as standard with the van height still being under 3m. We thought nice to have but will it get used?
A big yes it gets used most times which surprised us. So puzzled as to why those who have one don’t use it?
We use it virtually on every French or Spanish site we stop at, summer and winter. Great sun shade or for keeping rain off permitting outdoor living even in the wet.
We use it on any European aire we visit which has sufficient space between vans to wind it out, even partly if not fully. Sort of preserves your outdoor space when vans come and go.
We don’t use it daytime or nighttime when parked to avoid the “are you camping” type questions from the police.
And we don’t use it are when parked up in the U.K., when we are generally day to day touring around arriving late and leaving early, or parked up on the continent in a public place or in a aire that is tight for space.
So if our next motorhome did not have one fitted as standard, we would purchase one and get it fitted. Now that we have had the experience of having a canopy, we can see it’s benefits, so we have changed our opinion regarding their merits.
What we would never want is an awning or drive away awning of any description. It is simply too much faffing about. The pop up gazebo takes 5 minutes to erect and take down so the £200 investment in that was worthwhile.
But £1000 for an awning? For us forget it. Spend the money on a wind out canopy and pop up gazebo with sidewalls if your motorhome has storage for it. This provides a totally flexible outdoor living arrangement.
That is my view anyway but others of course are allowed to disagree!
Our first motorhome did not have one and we felt the investment would not be worth the money. In addition it would have taken our van height above 3m with the additional costs this would add to European motorway tolls and maybe ferry crossings.
As we had a full width garage we invested in a £200 pop up gazebo, with sidewalls to provide shelter, to use when on a site for more than say 4 days. When daily touring, aire parking or wild parking it would stay unpopped in the garage.
Now our second and current motorhome had a wind out canopy fitted as standard with the van height still being under 3m. We thought nice to have but will it get used?
A big yes it gets used most times which surprised us. So puzzled as to why those who have one don’t use it?
We use it virtually on every French or Spanish site we stop at, summer and winter. Great sun shade or for keeping rain off permitting outdoor living even in the wet.
We use it on any European aire we visit which has sufficient space between vans to wind it out, even partly if not fully. Sort of preserves your outdoor space when vans come and go.
We don’t use it daytime or nighttime when parked to avoid the “are you camping” type questions from the police.
And we don’t use it are when parked up in the U.K., when we are generally day to day touring around arriving late and leaving early, or parked up on the continent in a public place or in a aire that is tight for space.
So if our next motorhome did not have one fitted as standard, we would purchase one and get it fitted. Now that we have had the experience of having a canopy, we can see it’s benefits, so we have changed our opinion regarding their merits.
What we would never want is an awning or drive away awning of any description. It is simply too much faffing about. The pop up gazebo takes 5 minutes to erect and take down so the £200 investment in that was worthwhile.
But £1000 for an awning? For us forget it. Spend the money on a wind out canopy and pop up gazebo with sidewalls if your motorhome has storage for it. This provides a totally flexible outdoor living arrangement.
That is my view anyway but others of course are allowed to disagree!
will do to build your perimeter walls. 
