What type of awning full, porch. three quarter.

I had never used an awning in the past and rarely had bad weather After a 3 year break from carravanning and my new partner having moved in to live with me we decided a year later to buy a new caravan. We had been away a couple of years in my old van (I didn't realise we were courting - just good friends LOL ). 

I was happy to buy a second hand van and a new car (my car had been written off a couple of months earlier and we were using OH's Yaris).

OH wanted a new van and so we bought a Swift Charisma 540 and a Nissan X-Trail both at a good price.. (My first new van or car). 

OH wanted an awning - I didn't. With the recent summers she was right. Our first awning was a lightweight large igloo shaped one and lasted 4 years. £110 for 40 weeks away including 34 weeks of very cold christmases - it owed us nowt. It was big enough for a table and two chairs. Even managed 3 chairs when eldest daughter joined us. 

The next year we got a lightweight tunnel type. Wheras the old awning was light and went in the front locker the tunnel fabric went in the locker and theheavier poles in the tow car. Compared to the previous awning it took longer to put up and so after 12 months I said 'let's get a traditional porch'. I spent a month looking at awnings and quite fancied the three quarter awning that fitted at the rear the same a s a full awning but fitted like a porch awning further forard. Whilst I thin they are a cracking idea those I saw on site seemed poorly done. Then I saw a fullsize Dorema awning, secondhand for £50.  We had always thought a full size awning too much faff as we often move site after 5 days. But - at £50 I thought lets try it to make sure it is too much faff, and then sell it again. The day after we picked up the awning I found that a neighbour was selling a good quality awning and, after trying it on the van bought it for £300. It had been used for 6 weeks and was £650 new.

We later put up the £50 full size awning, one ned was filthy and looked as if it had been in a flood. However after a couple of hour work it cleaned uo fine. We decided that, for us, a full awning was like a dancehall and too much faff. We advertised our full sized awning and our lightweight tunnel for sale. The lightweight tunnel had cost about £180 and after 8 weeks use I asked £75. The lightweight tunel recieved a full offer the sameday. When I spoke to the people they were travelling 40 miles to collect and so (as they seemed nice folk) I said call it £50 and I will throw in tea and biscuits. Thefull size awning didn't sell at £75. I thought what a shame as it was in good nick and would have been ideal for somebody with a family and on a budget. So we decided that as we were away for 10 days over Christmas we would use it. Superb.

For most of this years holidays it will be the porch awning. Probably the full awning at Christmas for 10 days unless we manage to find( fingers crossed) a new van with a suitable layout and weight. No luck so far. What awning do you use and why.