Low Awning Rail

Raising the wheels with drive-on blocks does seem a simple solution, but that would make the bottom rail too high for the skirt to reach the ground.

You will need a "run" from the awning rail to the front of the awning to get run off for rain, so have you considered whether you would be able to use an awning with a front height of under 2 meters? Even ones with an apparent good "run" can collect water and snow. While leakage is a possible problem the poles can buckle under the weight.

A modern awning could be modified to make the sides and front all a bit shorter but the cost would be considerable and make the resale value of the awning nil on the general market. If you do want to go that way there are adverts in the club magazine (and others probably) for companies that specialise in doing this.

The Club rules did formerly allow free standing tents as toilet and catering accomodation, so you could consider pitching one right against the side of your 'van to get an awning effect. Just need to arrange the tent door to line up with the 'van door.

If you need an awning altering, try Trio Pair http://triopair.com.  Bradcott gave me their details and they did an amazing alteration for me when I bought a larger van.  I think there is a standard charge of £180

I would look at second hand market. 

Hi All

Still getting so many different views.Have even run and spoke to some other Avondale owners who of course had their awnings supplied with van! so that didn't help as Trio aren't made anymore! So either we take a chance and but a 850 in the hope it fits ground to ground and have done with it? or get one altered at a cost? or just use our sun canopy and a windbreak its a little antisocial but hey ho!

Hope its works out, maybe buy a good cheap second hand one and if its doesn't work then you haven't lost much and could always resell it?

Trigano do a 'low height' awning, with a rear frame which solves the problem of pooling against the van - details here:

https://www.caravanstuff4u.co.uk/full-awnings/3362-trigano-honfleur-low-height-awning-380-size-2.html  I imagine they have other sizes too.

I also saw an Avondale of a similar age to yours offered on ebay, with two awnings.  You could contact the seller and ask about the awnings as a separate purchase.  There is another today, for £400 complete with full-size awning.  I think ebay might be your best best for finding exactly the size and height you need if you're prepared to look at second-hand.

Looking at Trigano again, it might not be suitable, but is perhaps worth an email to them or to CaravanningStuff4U.

If you do get one second hand (eBay and others?) and it does not fit or you get a better one, you can always sell it on.

 Hi All

Secondhand great idea but still have to get a 850 size which is proving near on impossible but will keep checking Gumtree and Preloved

Well, there are 18 used 850 ones on eBay but some of the prices are rather high.  As is carrage, but you could find out where the sellers are located and collect.

There are of course other caravan forums you might try.