Though mine is much smaller (2.5m) than you are looking for, I got a Fiamma off ebay and paid only $400 as opposed to quotes in Bundaberg and Brisbane of $1100. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it and the seller turned out to be Jayco in Melbourne. I particularly wanted a Fiamma as I liked the metal "capsule" effect and also because it is so easy to operate (I have some problems with my shoulder and reaching is difficult). I'm totally happy with what I bought, the price and the way I bought it. With ebay, though, it's best to be patient and not bid too high. There will always be another.
-- Edited by The dog lady on Monday 1st of April 2013 09:57:05 PM
__________________
Cheers, Marianna.
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dogs (Mark Twain)
We have had experience with a Fiamma i45 on a Campervan a 3.5m unit and a Dometic Rollout awning 5m on a Tandem caravan. To me if you intend to use an annex the dometic caravan type awning is more sturdy.
For the Fiamma, we have the fiamma ends that allow you to put up side walls, but they are in Alumium and not as strong as the Caravan type awnings. The Fiamma are easy to use. I personally would recommend a caravan type rollout awning for your coach. My observation at CMCA rallies is that most campervans have the Fiamma awnings, Coaster and Civilain bus conversions 50 /50 with the Caravan rollouts on larger than Coaster motorhomes.
Rosie, can't help you with prices but we have an Aussie Traveller 6m awning on our 5th-wheeler. It's now four-and-a-half years old (we're full-timers) and we've had no problems at all.
However, it came with three curved rafters, which make it pretty firm and stop sagging when it's wet, and we also bought the Aussie Traveller full-length deflappers. We've had the awning out in winds gusting to 60 km/h or so (tied down on each end, of course) and not suffered any damage. We would also suggest that you get a second tape - the one used to pull the awning out - for the other end; it keeps the awning more evenly tensioned when rolling out or in.
Good luck!
Andrea & John
__________________
Free-ranging, in a Southern Cross 5th wheeler, in between property-minding (to save money!).
We have been useing the Dometic Rollout awning on this latest van ,for over two years with no problems .As we live in our van full time ,we have the anex walls up most of the time,but if it is very hot we put the shade mesh walls up we had made .So always got either walls atatched.The only extra modification we had to make was to put an extra curved rafter up from the van,as we only had three made when ordering the van and found because of the length of the awning 20ft it needed the extra rafter.
So, I was fossicking around the forum on this topic and came across a post referring someone looking for an awning to Caravans Plus http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/index.php.
Are they still good to deal with?
Cheers :)
__________________
The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
