Good evening all; when purchasing our new Jayco Sterling (21 ft) last year knowing we would be in WA and now in Qld thought we wouldn't need an annexe!(! HO HO ! )so just got a long and one side shade awning. Have been on Sunshine Coast since beginning of April and obviously last few days has been a tad wet. We are planning to get a full annexe as soon as affordable. Question: has anyone got one to suit our van and can you tell us does it fit on all pads in parks? Someone who recently purchased another brand van said they got annexe made on an angle so as to fit odd side pads?? Any advice would be appreciated, Cheers,
Cruising Granny said
09:09 PM May 22, 2009
No they won't fit every site.
I had my roll out awning and full annexe fitted in Broome while parked on a level slab. Van and annexe were both parked on the slab.
I'm now in Cairns with the van parked next to a slab which is slightly higher than the wheel base of the van. I've had to make some adjustments when I put the walls up to keep some of the wet season out of the annexe. I also had to make adjustments to ensure the water actually ran off the annexe roof, and the fall of the roof has been reduced by the different heights of the van and annexe.
Does that make sense? Oh well just ask more questions. I'm sure I'll explain it better next time.
In some parks the slab is level with the ground where your van is parked. In others the slab is raised by quite a few inches/cms. While the legs or poles are height adjustable, the walls will still be the same length.
Just talk to the annexe man and I'm sure he'll come out and measure to fit. If not, you will have to measure the full drop of the legs to determine the full drop of the walls.
Are you considering canvas or vinyl? Canvas rots very quickly in the tropics. Vinyl will go mouldy, but it's easily cleaned, and will live longer than canvas.
Maybe this has helped. If not, keep asking questions.
Cheers Chris
twobob said
09:49 PM May 22, 2009
I am not a van person, more your motor home. I would have thought an awning was better than a annex, if you are travelling.
An annex is for longer term, where you can store gear. An awning is just the cover over, for sun shade and wet conditions. It is not dependent on the surrounds.
Some awnings can be enclosed, but thats extra gear.
sgntbilko said
06:47 AM May 23, 2009
I have the Jayco 20ft Sterling. Instead of the Canvas annexe, I have a shadecloth annexe.
I find that it is light to carry, protects you from the wind and also the rain.
Less in cost and it is light is easier to put in place. When wet just needs shaking instead of packing away wet and then having to dry like a canvas one. Still has everything, eg the skirting along the van etc.
Could be worth considering. I have the GREY coloured one and it blends nicely with the Van.
Has also has a door in the front as it is fully enclosed.
As cement slabs vary in size, there will be some you can use your annexe on and other you cannot.
Just some food for thought.
Take it easy.
Cupie said
08:34 AM May 23, 2009
I have a vinyl annex fitted to my 21'6" Jayco.
When I am staying over for >3nights I go to the trouble of fitting the walls (annex).
Given the wide variation in slab sizes & relative heights, the answer to your question IMO is NO. I have not encountered a set up that is suitable for all occasions. In my case the problem is always with the slab length not width.
Some of the things that I do ..
Position the van so that the slab end is lined up just inside the van door end of the annex wall.
Use packing to get the wheels level with the slab, if there is a big difference.
Get the van perfectly level .. N-S & E-W.
Ensure that one end of the awning is lower than the other for water run off. A well built annex will cater for this & will probably have marks made on the awning arms to make sure you set it up right. Make sure that the awning is stretched tight.
Tie down the walls with stretch ties. I used rubber bands cut from old inner tubes, twisted to adjust for length & fixed down with stainless steel pegs made from old electric oven shelves. I have recently found some interesting tie rubbers in the shade cloth section at Bunnings. I'll give them a go on my next trip.
Where I can't tie down the ends due to extra length of the slab, I use a ridge pole (the ones with eyes both ends) pegged into the ground & sitting on top of the slab. Walls are tied down to the pole using re-usable cable ties - from the gardening shop.
Even with the annex walls fitted I still use guy ropes to tie down the awning. I double peg the guy ropes with one peg angled away from the van & the other angled in line with the length of the awning. I slide short pieces of white conduit over the springs so I don't trip over them.
If you are looking to fit an awning, and you are in the SEQ region, look in the phone book for 'The Awning Man'. He will come to you to measure & fit and won't rip you off.
I like the 'shade cloth' sides, especially for the hotter areas and they are much lighter than canvas or vinyl. As soon as I have saved up enough I will get a set. In the meantime I'll have to make do with my annex that has around 80% of the walls that roll up giving a similar result as shade cloth courtesy of the mesh covered 'windows'.
Hope this helps.
Wombat 280 said
08:13 PM May 23, 2009
RobCol wrote:
Good evening all; when purchasing our new Jayco Sterling (21 ft) last year knowing we would be in WA and now in Qld thought we wouldn't need an annexe!(! HO HO ! )so just got a long and one side shade awning. Have been on Sunshine Coast since beginning of April and obviously last few days has been a tad wet. We are planning to get a full annexe as soon as affordable. Question: has anyone got one to suit our van and can you tell us does it fit on all pads in parks? Someone who recently purchased another brand van said they got annexe made on an angle so as to fit odd side pads?? Any advice would be appreciated, Cheers,
I try to get a site that doesn't have a concrete slab but one that is made of eco matting on a compacted road base slab , they are normally about 25 mm above the surface and you can still drive pegs through them to hold down the annex Not all parks have them but some of the updated ones are going that way , obviously it's cheaper to install.
Took tickets in a RFDS raffle at our local show and won an Eco mat the best prize ever just the bees knees would highly recommend them . If buying one get one that's longer than your van and the extra bit serves as an annex door mat .
The Military use them for chopper pads to keep the dust down and surprisingly they work .
Great idea of Cupie with the pole across the slab as a tie down point
Every park has a different set up. It's ok if you go to the same park year after year, but when you're on the road all the time, you take what's available.
You have to adjust to the circumstances. If I'm only parking up for a couple of days or a week I only use the awning (roll-out). Being parked up for a longer time I set up the walls.
You will always have to make some adjustments. When the length varies there's not always somewhere to peg the walls down. Galv pegs will do the trick.
At the moment my end walls are tied down, with pegs at each end, and a rope threaded through the holes at the bottom attached firmly to the pegs. This method has stayed in place during some of the wet season squalls, minimising flapping and the risk of damage.
You can only work with what's there. Cheers Chris
Basil Faulty said
03:25 PM May 24, 2009
No they don't... the question I would like to ask is how do you keep your annexe stable in high winds? Pack it up? Extra tie downs? Ours is brand new, used it only once a Aussie Traveller, pain in the butt in windy conditions and yet when I look around everyone elses is staying put. It's the type that is walls around the rollout awning. I also found out from reading the fineprint that my awning is not covered by warranty if I unhook the polls from the van and peg them down.
Cupie said
06:12 PM May 24, 2009
Basil Faulty wrote:
No they don't... the question I would like to ask is how do you keep your annexe stable in high winds? Pack it up? Extra tie downs? Ours is brand new, used it only once a Aussie Traveller, pain in the butt in windy conditions and yet when I look around everyone elses is staying put. It's the type that is walls around the rollout awning. I also found out from reading the fineprint that my awning is not covered by warranty if I unhook the polls from the van and peg them down.
Tie downs ... I use two guy ropes at either end of the roll out awning tube. One is parallel and the other at right angles to the tube. They attach to stainless steel marine saddles that I bolted to the awning brackets. As mentioned in my previous post, I double peg the springs on the foot of the guy ropes.
If things look really bad I might put one guy around the tube itself. Can be easily done with one of those store brought guy ropes that have an eyelet. Put the rope round the tube once or twice then loop it thru the eyelet. It can be held in place & quickly released by a tent peg thru the loop. Of course with all windows in the annex down & the skirt under the van fitted, very little wind gets into the covered area.
I never set up the awning or annex with the brackes detatched from the van. I have far more faith in the power of the triangle than a couple of pegs bashed into the soft ground. However I understand that it is not uncommon for an awning (without the annex & sound guy ropes), to take off in a high wind & rip the brackets off the van.
I have seen those who frequently brave the high wind areas, use cut off star pickets with eyelets welded to the top or D shackles with ropes or even toggle tensioners to chain the caravan itself down. I notice that in some cyclone prone areas there is even a tie down ring concreted into the slab.
Some people put a strap across the awning itself. I don't in fear of it rubbing off the screen printing on the vinyl awning. Probably would do it if there was really strong wind about.
I hear lots of good reports on the Aussie Traveller product. (mine's an old Colarado awning & Kakadu annex - been great for 10 yrs so far. Touch wood .. I've never yet experienced a cyclone or gale force winds.)
RobCol said
06:56 PM May 24, 2009
Thanks for all those great hints; have some food for thought there. Our shade screens work well, but as we are living in van permantley, would like the option of an extra room. Will be here (on Sunshine Coast) all winter, so as we can afford to will chase up quotes. Oh and our park didn't have to be evacuated, but we did roll up awnings etc late Friday nite. Still waiting for winds to abate. Seas very rough.
Cheers to all.
Basil Faulty said
08:17 PM May 24, 2009
RobCol wrote:
Thanks for all those great hints; have some food for thought there. Our shade screens work well, but as we are living in van permantley, would like the option of an extra room. Will be here (on Sunshine Coast) all winter, so as we can afford to will chase up quotes. Oh and our park didn't have to be evacuated, but we did roll up awnings etc late Friday nite. Still waiting for winds to abate. Seas very rough. Cheers to all.
You didn't go surfing?
Cupie said
07:40 AM May 25, 2009
....................................................................................................... Basil wrote ....."the question I would like to ask is how do you keep your annexe stable in high winds? " .................................................................................................
strong winds & vans ....
Have a look at caravanningnews.com for an article on the effects of wind on a van at The Entrance. The park in question is a favourite of ours, where some sites are right on the water.
Lots of good stories on this site every month.
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 25th of May 2009 07:43:04 AM
Helena said
05:00 PM May 25, 2009
We have an A`Van camper and have bought an awning with zip on walls etc we will be going on a four month trip with it (the first trip in this set up) and as we have a weight factor to consider we are wondering if it is advisable to take the full awning with us or do you think we could manage with just one side wall. Thanks for the help Helena.
Cruising Granny said
05:18 PM May 25, 2009
If you're only planning to park up for a couple of nights I wouldn't worry about the walls. If you're going to be setting up for a week or more, the walls could be handy.
It's personal choice really. Your trip, your decision.
Whatever you do, have fun and travel safe. Cheers Chris
Wombat 280 said
07:01 PM May 25, 2009
To sercure the awning I use two ratchet straps each end has a hook so I just hook one over the awning tube axle point and the other onto a sand peg / steel peg depending on the soil type
The annex is then put into position and the wind skirt is fitted to the van to prevent wind coming under the van and entering the annex .
I found the ratchet straps good for a fast release if I need to fold up in a hurry. If buying ratchet straps I would advise buying the larger ones as those little buggers from the el-cheapo shops are real finger biters. You don't need a lot of tension to hold the awning down it's not a boat you are mooring
Interesting point about the releasing of the awning strut from the van to the upright position may void the insurance , must check the fine print on my policy
Helena said
07:51 PM May 25, 2009
Thanks Chris,
I think this trip will be trial and error but I guess that is half the fun adventure we all love it don`t we. Helena.
Cupie said
08:13 PM May 25, 2009
Wombat 280 wrote:
To sercure the awning I use two ratchet straps each end has a hook so I just hook one over the awning tube axle point and the other onto a sand peg / steel peg depending on the soil type
I found the ratchet straps good for a fast release if I need to fold up in a hurry. If buying ratchet straps I would advise buying the larger ones as those little buggers from the el-cheapo shops are real finger biters. You don't need a lot of tension to hold the awning down it's not a boat you are mooring
I'll have to put ratchet straps on the father's day present list .... My accountant Daughter demands a list! Is it an accountant thing ... I usually send her a spreadsheet with the details.... seems to make her happy.
RobCol said
08:26 PM May 25, 2009
It is great that we have learnt some new tips on awnings etc. It is clear that for onite stays if raining or hot, one puts awning out. Very interesting re moving awning legs out into "porch position", we too will be checking warranty. When using shade cloth walls, we have been putting one end in porch position and the other still attached. Obviously also use tension guide ropes to anchor awning at both ends.
Surf still too messy for surfers, so no Basil have not been out. I enjoy watching the many "able bodied" boys doing there stuff, very enjoyable!!!!!
Cheers,
An annex is for longer term, where you can store gear. An awning is just the cover over, for sun shade and wet conditions. It is not dependent on the surrounds.
Some awnings can be enclosed, but thats extra gear.
I have a vinyl annex fitted to my 21'6" Jayco.
When I am staying over for >3nights I go to the trouble of fitting the walls (annex).
Given the wide variation in slab sizes & relative heights, the answer to your question IMO is NO. I have not encountered a set up that is suitable for all occasions. In my case the problem is always with the slab length not width.
Some of the things that I do ..
Position the van so that the slab end is lined up just inside the van door end of the annex wall.
Use packing to get the wheels level with the slab, if there is a big difference.
Get the van perfectly level .. N-S & E-W.
Ensure that one end of the awning is lower than the other for water run off. A well built annex will cater for this & will probably have marks made on the awning arms to make sure you set it up right. Make sure that the awning is stretched tight.
Tie down the walls with stretch ties. I used rubber bands cut from old inner tubes, twisted to adjust for length & fixed down with stainless steel pegs made from old electric oven shelves. I have recently found some interesting tie rubbers in the shade cloth section at Bunnings. I'll give them a go on my next trip.
Where I can't tie down the ends due to extra length of the slab, I use a ridge pole (the ones with eyes both ends) pegged into the ground & sitting on top of the slab. Walls are tied down to the pole using re-usable cable ties - from the gardening shop.
Even with the annex walls fitted I still use guy ropes to tie down the awning. I double peg the guy ropes with one peg angled away from the van & the other angled in line with the length of the awning. I slide short pieces of white conduit over the springs so I don't trip over them.
If you are looking to fit an awning, and you are in the SEQ region, look in the phone book for 'The Awning Man'. He will come to you to measure & fit and won't rip you off.
I like the 'shade cloth' sides, especially for the hotter areas and they are much lighter than canvas or vinyl. As soon as I have saved up enough I will get a set. In the meantime I'll have to make do with my annex that has around 80% of the walls that roll up giving a similar result as shade cloth courtesy of the mesh covered 'windows'.
Hope this helps.
Took tickets in a RFDS raffle at our local show and won an Eco mat the best prize ever just the bees knees would highly recommend them . If buying one get one that's longer than your van and the extra bit serves as an annex door mat .
The Military use them for chopper pads to keep the dust down and surprisingly they work .
Great idea of Cupie with the pole across the slab as a tie down point
Ours is brand new, used it only once a Aussie Traveller, pain in the butt in windy conditions and yet when I look around everyone elses is staying put.
It's the type that is walls around the rollout awning.
I also found out from reading the fineprint that my awning is not covered by warranty if I unhook the polls from the van and peg them down.
If things look really bad I might put one guy around the tube itself. Can be easily done with one of those store brought guy ropes that have an eyelet. Put the rope round the tube once or twice then loop it thru the eyelet. It can be held in place & quickly released by a tent peg thru the loop. Of course with all windows in the annex down & the skirt under the van fitted, very little wind gets into the covered area.
I never set up the awning or annex with the brackes detatched from the van. I have far more faith in the power of the triangle than a couple of pegs bashed into the soft ground. However I understand that it is not uncommon for an awning (without the annex & sound guy ropes), to take off in a high wind & rip the brackets off the van.
I have seen those who frequently brave the high wind areas, use cut off star pickets with eyelets welded to the top or D shackles with ropes or even toggle tensioners to chain the caravan itself down. I notice that in some cyclone prone areas there is even a tie down ring concreted into the slab.
Some people put a strap across the awning itself. I don't in fear of it rubbing off the screen printing on the vinyl awning. Probably would do it if there was really strong wind about.
I hear lots of good reports on the Aussie Traveller product.
(mine's an old Colarado awning & Kakadu annex - been great for 10 yrs so far. Touch wood .. I've never yet experienced a cyclone or gale force winds.)
.......................................................................................................
Basil wrote ....."the question I would like to ask is how do you keep your annexe stable in high winds? "
.................................................................................................
strong winds & vans ....
Have a look at caravanningnews.com for an article on the effects of wind on a van at The Entrance. The park in question is a favourite of ours, where some sites are right on the water.
Lots of good stories on this site every month.
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 25th of May 2009 07:43:04 AM
I think this trip will be trial and error but I guess that is half the fun adventure we all love it don`t we. Helena.
I'll have to put ratchet straps on the father's day present list .... My accountant Daughter demands a list! Is it an accountant thing ... I usually send her a spreadsheet with the details.... seems to make her happy.