How to pitch

figbat replied on 10/05/2021 23:35

figbat

Posted on 10/05/2021 23:35

First caravan break in a couple of weeks - the outfit has arrived and is sat on the drive, I am working out how it all operates and worrying about all the details.

We have a hard standing pitch with awning booked, but haven’t yet picked up an awning. I have my eye on one but at 3.6m deep it seems big - I’m worried it’ll overhang the pitch, which I understand is a no-no. Can guylines/storm straps reach onto the grass?

In researching all this I see talk of a ‘peg’ - I assumed there’s some kind of marker denoting where you should locate the van and this will ultimately determine how much space you have on the pitch to the side, which may have to accommodate the awning and a car.

Will a large awning like that cause problems at some sites or is it nothing to worry about? The outfit is 2.23m overall width.

85 replies

replied on 13/05/2021 10:05

Posted on 11/05/2021 19:51 by cabbiemick

if i was you i would buy a air awning with a kampa awning pully you can pull any size awning one handed with the pully once on put 12 volt pump on set it at correct psi go and do water and electric then just peg it down job done no arguing with the better half as you do it solo

Posted on 13/05/2021 10:05

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MikeyA replied on 13/05/2021 10:52

MikeyA

Caravanner

Posted on 13/05/2021 10:52

figbat, - Just a few questions and problems that you may have not considered.

1) with a family of four where will the awning travel?

2) If the caravan is carried in the caravan, where will it be moved to if on arriving the weather is awful ( wet or windy) and you decide to delay erection?

3) Will there still be room for your family to use the car if the awning is still in the car, because the weather is still awful?

replied on 13/05/2021 12:12

Posted on 13/05/2021 10:52 by MikeyA

figbat, - Just a few questions and problems that you may have not considered.

1) with a family of four where will the awning travel?

2) If the caravan is carried in the caravan, where will it be moved to if on arriving the weather is awful ( wet or windy) and you decide to delay erection?

3) Will there still be room for your family to use the car if the awning is still in the car, because the weather is still awful?

Posted on 13/05/2021 12:12

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1 person likes this

commeyras replied on 13/05/2021 12:17

Member

commeyras

Caravanner

Posted on 13/05/2021 12:17

Mikey, although I travel with my awning in my car many people travel with it in the caravan over the axle of course. Smaller heavy stuff can be put in the boot - but Figbat may have a large SUV or Estate Car! The problems you have raised are relevant but I am sure most people solve them quite easily. If it's wet on arrival unload car and then put awning in boot. Wet on days out and need space in car awning in caravan. But how often do we have to make that decision, in my 40 yrs caravanning can't remember ever having to.

Figbat don't worry you will soon get on top of your lovely new hobby which your family will enjoy, mine did when they used to come with us and loved getting involved, although they were perhaps less keen on a hot day and the pool beckoned!

Just seen AD's post. Yes a roof box is an alternative. But I don't have one so did not consider it!

replied on 13/05/2021 12:25

Posted on 13/05/2021 12:17 by commeyras

Mikey, although I travel with my awning in my car many people travel with it in the caravan over the axle of course. Smaller heavy stuff can be put in the boot - but Figbat may have a large SUV or Estate Car! The problems you have raised are relevant but I am sure most people solve them quite easily. If it's wet on arrival unload car and then put awning in boot. Wet on days out and need space in car awning in caravan. But how often do we have to make that decision, in my 40 yrs caravanning can't remember ever having to.

Figbat don't worry you will soon get on top of your lovely new hobby which your family will enjoy, mine did when they used to come with us and loved getting involved, although they were perhaps less keen on a hot day and the pool beckoned!

Just seen AD's post. Yes a roof box is an alternative. But I don't have one so did not consider it!

Posted on 13/05/2021 12:25

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MikeyA replied on 13/05/2021 13:14

MikeyA

Caravanner

Posted on 13/05/2021 12:25 by

Mention of hot days reminded me of our last episode with an awning , September 19 we arrived on site in Croatia temperature was in the upper 30s . We should have delayed until it cooled down but carried on regardless. We had to break off 3 times and go cool down in the sea to complete it.

Posted on 13/05/2021 13:14

Don't worry AD you won't have that problem this year!

replied on 13/05/2021 13:23

Posted on 13/05/2021 13:14 by MikeyA

Don't worry AD you won't have that problem this year!

Posted on 13/05/2021 13:23

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DEBSC replied on 13/05/2021 16:50

DEBSC

Caravanner

Posted on 13/05/2021 16:50

figbat some general advice from a long term caravanner 're awnings: You may want to change your caravan in the future, a large porch awning will probably fit most vans, saving you having to change awnings if a full size one doesn't fit any new van you may purchase - A lesson we learnt. An air awning is far easier to erect. Always carry rock pegs with you, some pitches are very hard to hammer pegs into. Never leave shoes or other like items on the floor of the awning, an overnight downpour may flood your pitch, leaving items floating. Lastly, breakfast in the awning in the sunshine, just lovely. Enjoy.

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Navigateur replied on 13/05/2021 17:18

Member

Navigateur

Caravanner

Posted on 13/05/2021 17:18

In the years when caravanning involved two adults, four children and a very large dog I needed a deep awning as children liked to pitch tents inside it rather than bunks in the caravan. To avoid the huge weight (even with side and ends zipped out) I fitted an additional awning rail about 1/3rd of the way from the rear and used a shorter, though deep, awning.

Best of both worlds, plus when caravan was recoved after theft it was easily identified.