[Closed] Fammia f45s type awnings

They're great if not windy. We use ours to sit outside as a shelter from the sun, or have BBQs under it in the rain. You can also leave your towels hanging off them to air dry whilst you're out for the day. They great for just leaving up and you tables and chairs out rather than tidying it all up each day.

Only negatives are you need a tie down kit for the wind and maybe a rafter pole if it's a big one.

My girlfriend insisted on getting one fitted to our motorhome. Seems absolutely pointless to me, but ho hum. We've managed a massive 1 night away in it so far due to lockdown so not used it yet (we are living in the motorhome currently whilst renovating a house, so at least it doesn't totally feel like wasted money)

If you've got a drive away already then I'd say don't bother. The main plus point on a motorhome seems to be that it can keep the sun off the fridge!

We have one.

The only place we really use it is at bike races.

We have a rail and 3mx3m tarp with a kador strip sewn one side. Massively versatile with 2 or 3 poles.

Used to have a f35pro which I also loved and used all the time but was less versatile.

(also have a drive away air beam awning but that rarely get used unless we are staying on one site for 1 week which is rare these days)

I'd not have a van without one. They provide shade if there's sun, and cover from rain for sitting outside. But more importantly they provide a bit of cover so if there is any rain you can have the side door open without it getting wet inside. The driveaway awning on the other hand was a ballacheas it mean you had to be spot on in reparking the van or if became a PITA to reattach and took up a load of space inside the van when you needed/wanted to move.

We have an F45, came with the van.

I've actually used it more as a sun shade if I'm honest.  Really not good in the wind but that's to be expected I guess.

I've got a F35 on my T2 and have the sides and front - we use it for events and over-nighters as it's quick and easy to erect. Did get caught in a squall when taking it down where one of the poles and brackets got damaged, but spares are available / easy to repair. If you have the sides/room on an F45 you can stake it down pretty securely. I also have a Vango Airbeam awning which I'll only generally use for multiple nights because putting it away/drying it out can be a pain.

I have one, used mostly as a sunshade , also have a drive away one for use if the weather is forecast to be not so good whilst we're away.

it does get rolled back up if the wind gets up though even with the storm straps fitted they waft about a bit.

[url= https://i.postimg.cc/nzGkPZqX/IMG-3260.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/nzGkPZqX/IMG-3260.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= https://i.postimg.cc/fyHvMK2Z/IMG-3567.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/fyHvMK2Z/IMG-3567.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= https://i.postimg.cc/zfWpTTBS/IMG-3569.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/zfWpTTBS/IMG-3569.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

As above wouldn't be without one. Good shelter from the sun, great for cooking and eating under. At race events allows working on the bike in all weather's. We always anchor it down with a storm strap and two big spikes from ebay.
If anything it could do with been a bit longer but it was the longest that would fit at the time.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Wouldn’t be without one. We use ours all the time to the point where it’s part of the arriving for the night routine. The only alternative I would consider are the bat  wing ones which wrap around the rear of the van well as the side

We have a rail and 3mx3m tarp with a kador strip sewn one side. Massively versatile with 2 or 3 poles.

I'd do this next time.

I'd be gutted if I'd payed anything close to retail for a fiamma tbh.

Anyone that's ever tried to put away a frozen fiamma will agree.

I've got one of these canopy's from https://wildearth.online/

Basically the same as what 'db' described. It's essentially a lightweight tarp made out of good quality ripstop fabric with a kador strip sewn on one side. Takes minutes to put up and down and isn't expensive. My only negative feedback on it would be is that the poles are powercoated steel and do suffer from a little surface rust on the edges.

It survived a very gusty night on isle of skye (too many beers and I forgot to put it down before bed!) where a fair few awnings were a little wonky the next morning....

We had one on the T5, after faffing about with various tarps etc I finally fitted one and wished I had sooner.

Excellent in the sun & rain. Strapped down properly it was ok in reasonable wind.

We rarely stay in the same spot for more than a night or two and it’s perfect for that.

New van I haven’t fitted anything yet but I do plan to.

we have one too, albeit on a bigger van (boxer). we use it loads so, mainly as sun shelter when it's scorchio or for rain (without to much wind). Always wind it in a night or if the wind gets a bit fruity. they're better than a tarp type of arrangement as they take seconds to deploy or wind back in and no hammering pegs into the ground.

On a campsite in France last year  big MH arrived and he wound out his awning.  Sitting down around dusk and wind was getting up, didn't think much of it.  That was until I heard a mighty crash, wind had caught the awning and ripped a big hole in side of van with awning still attached - literally like a can of sardines bring rolled back.  Must have caused it's worth of damage. Made mental note to get tie down out for ours, and deploy.....

We've got one on our 5.1. Makes a big difference in both hot weather and in rain. And you can add fairy lights for magical evenings.
I have a roll of compriband to seal the gap over the side door as the tumblehome means that when it does rain and the door's open there is a bit of dripping.
In the last year we've hardly used the van though unfortunately.

Thanks everyone that's all really helpful. Quite jealous of your van @tracey 🙂
I may go for some compromise if it for occasional use and not bother with the expensive option. How does the 35 model compare with the 45 and are there any other brands to consider?
Thanks again

Thule Omnistor but it tends to be more £s

Also look at Fiamma Caravanstore - it's for attaching to caravans via a rail but someone in the VW van world will have figured out how to use one

F35pro is manual in that you must kind of roll it fully out and the attach the roof supports. It can be a pain for 1 to do but it’s possible.

F45 you have a winder which is much easier for one to set up.

We modified an old tarp with some tent poles on the side of our T5 for a while - was ok til it was windy or rained. Considered a Fiamma F45 wind out but ended up getting a Dometic P1000 in October last year - meant to be as good if not better than Fiamma...found a great online deal. It’s a wind out type that came with all the fittings/brackets etc...will be fitting in April and fingers crossed will actually get to use it this year!