mirrors and awnings

Milenco are good - I use the bigger ones on my Discovery. They have screw clamps rather than elastic bands and such like and are easy to fit. Depending on how large and strong your hands are you may find it helpful to use a tool often known as "water pump pliers", I often need mine to get them undone.

As I recall, the measurement is ground to ground via the awning rail and the makers quote a range of sizes for each model.  Just to keep you on your toes, have you thought whether you want one with poles for a frame or the new inflatable ones?

Hi Gill,

Gill again! I got Milenco mirrors, they're fine. Awning wise, I would go for an air one every time. You're only small (van I mean) so not sure about size. I use a guy called Jeff Bowen awnings in Suffolk. I bought a pole awning from him which was great but a problem to put up by myself if there was any breeze. I then bought a Camptech air awning from him. Lightweight so I can put the thing up on my own unlike some of the more expensive ones.

might be worth giving him a call, he's very helpful.

Gill

I'm surprised no-one from the "Solos" group on here as been along to say "Hello".  It is an informal group of people who caravan alone and they do arrange physical meetings simply by all being on the same site at the same time.

I use the Grand Aero. I have used both the aero and grand aero and I find the bigger ones much better for visibility.

Also, I personally would recommend the convex mirror over the flat mirror, again because I find you can see much more, especially when manoeuvring. 

But that is personal preference.

I said hello on the other thread from Solos - and also suggested not to rush into an awning without taking a really good look - I so seldom use mine - but if I was starting again I would go for a good lightweight porch.  I would get used to the vagaries of the caravan and tackle an awning for longer trips away.  Isabellas usually come up top of the list but I like my Fiamma. 

I go for Milenco mirrors too. 

I have Milenco mirrors and regard them as the best. As for an awning I would try out the caravan without one and see how you get on. Once you have done that you will see if you need one and hopefully how big. You can then narrow down the search for the right one. If you are on your own though an air one is far easier to erect although they can be heavier to move.

Completely agree with everyone about not rushing out and buying an awning.  

Grand Aeros are excellent got them myself but with a small car caravan combination I would consider the smaller aeros. 

How heavy are the aeros for a single woman to thread into the awning rail - or is that no longer an issue?  I know when they first came out the threading bit was heavy?  I don't know how tall the OP is but I know I am thankful for my height even with a traditional awning! 

I use the upper feed in point at the rear end of the awning rail that makes it easier than feeding in from the bottom. The step comes in useful too.

The main problem I had was the glob of mastic in the awning channel left from when the common poor quality parts were thrown together. Took 3 trips to find that  when it finally popped out of the awning rail. 

So it may not be the awning that is causing issues on new caravans or where an awning hasn't been used before.

Funny old lark this caravanning, you have to expect the unexpected given the assembly of newer ones. 

Milenco Aero or Grand Aero mirrors with convex lenses win tor me.