I am new to the forum and new to caravans in general.
My wife and I just bought a used retreat macquarie 2010 and will be travelling for 4 months next year JAN-APR from Perth to Rockhampton heading south and around the bottom.
Our van has a pull out awning and I would like to know would you recommend getting side walls for shade / privacy ?
Our intentions are to mix free camp and van parks.
Welcome to the gang mathew46, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I don't have or don't think ever will have walls for my awning. What I do have is 2 ends and the long side privacy screens (like shade cloth). Great things and I only use those if set up for a minimum 3 days days only if sunny, I don't bother otherwise. The awning is one of the best features of my van.
Keep safe on the roads and out there.
__________________
Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
We agree with Grey fox - we have a side wall and an end wall. That gives us privacy when needed and we can choose which end to use depending on the view we want. They fold up very well and don't take up too much space or weight. Enjoy your trip to Rockhampton. We are from Perth and currently in Tassie.
__________________
Ray and Jude, originally from WA, we have been travelling since July 2016.
In both our previous vans, we had full annex for both.
We only ever used them if we stayed for over a week some where or as in one case, there were flood rains over 2 days in one place. It was handy then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are heavy and space and time consuming to put up for the benefits.
We don't intend to buy one again as we will do what others here have suggested - have a shade wall for the long side and most probably one end.
Just waiting on van delivery to get them............
When the power of Love becomes greater than the love of power the World will see peace ! 24ft Trailblazer 5th wheeler n 05 Patrol ute and Black Series Dominator camper trailer ( for the rough stuff)
Actually put our full annexe up today. We are in Mildura for a month and the weather is bloody terrible. Having said that we rarely use annex
unless we are in one spot for at least a month or the weather is really bad. Also have shade cloth outer wall for privacy and shade but only use that if staying a while.
Ours came with the van so why ditch it. We are full time on the road so this may influence our thoughts.
last 4 vans had Full Awnings with them or I replaced.
Last 4 awnings. never used. (Maybe 3 times a loooong time ago.)
There's a 15ft 6in Aussie Traveller sitting in garage after being 12 yrs in wheel arch storage of van.
Still virginal.
You can't give them away.
Unless you take grandkids etc away with you and want a bit of privacy.
Don't waste the money.
It'll buy a nice little Second Hand roof topper tinny.
Recently 13 weeks on the road we used our Fiamma bag awning at nearly every stop. We had one end wall that was used occasionally when the breeze was interrupting my naps....wouldn't be without the awning and one end wall.
__________________
Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
We are currently waiting delivery of a new Retreat Fraser - luckily we ordered it during the Maitland caravan show and a full annexe plus some other extras were thrown in as part of the deal. We don't intend to take the annexe with us on short stays but maybe when on an extended trip or as Macka suggested if we have any of our grandkids with us. We will buy both an end screen and a side screen from the dealer when we pick up the van as most people are telling us that's what they are using most of the time. I also need to keep the weight down as much as possible and as we will not be full time on the road just yet the annexe will probably spend a lot of time packed away somewhere.
A full annexe came with our van. Good if staying more than 2wks. In one spot. we bought a shade cloth for one wall. thats all we use now and full annexe in storage. Enjoy
We don't like being closed in when we're sitting outside ,screen walls you put up in a few minutes make more sense like the others have said here ,in my opinion the fully closed in annex is ok if you have to have an external bedroom,for families to sleep in.to carry all that extra weight around,spend time seting it all up,to close yourself completely off from your view is a no brainer.in my view..
We got a full annex when our van was built in 1999 & use it often.
Our general rule is to deploy it if we are to stay for a week or more or if the weather necessitates it (Wind, cold or rain).
Ours has large 'windows' of insect screen in all walls that keep out wind but retain the view.
They give privacy & protection as well as keeping desirable items like the engel & recliner chairs (or sometimes the kayaks) out of public view & away from temptation.
We have also picked up a couple of shade screens that are much lighter & easier to fit. One is for the awning side & the other for the fridge side of the van. We would like at least one more end panel to keep out the wind at times.
The annex has been invaluable when we were accompanied by grandchildren or others. I can easily set up an additional screened off bedroom that can even be air conditioned from the open bedroom window.
It's a good spot to store the extra junk that's not in use.
I don't like eating inside the van so the annex makes a great option if the 'outside' is not suitable for taking a meal or even entertaining friends.
So in summary we wouldn't be without an annex & take it whenever it suits the trip that we are about to undertake.
We have annexe walls and I had them made to allow a view and fresh air to come in.
I also have a shadecloth end and long side for short stays.
I sometimes put the annexe end in one end to prevent wind and use the long shade cloth on the front.
I guess we have the best of all worlds with our choice of combinations.
If you are having one made, I feel it is worth the extra few dollars to have windows and doors fitted. I know the claustrophobic feeling when you go into an annexe and it is like a cave.
The on ly time anyone has camped in our annexe is when our grandboys came away with us. The rest of the time it offers great protection from the weather. I dont put iy up unless we intend to stay in one place for a week or so.
As others have already said, welcome to the forum And I hope that you have a good trip at the start of the new year
I had a full annex on my caravan, and even had extra windows put in for extra breeze cooling. During my initial lap, I did not use it. I found that it was a bit of a pain to attach it to the caravan, remove, roll up, and store
On my motorhome I have similar to what you have which is a pull out awning
The awning name is Fiamma F45, in all honesty I do not believe that my awning is suitable for having three walls attached
I have made a piece of shade cloth to fit on one of the short ends as a sun screen
As a side note, the paperwork for my awning mentions that it is a sun shade, and not suitable for use in wind or rain
ONE long wall in 95% Shadecloth with eyelets along bottom.
plus several extendable legs.straps to suit.
You can have it down for privacy/wind. or outwards and up to level to suit on legs and straps.
One End wall. (Will fit either end.)
Having a sail track rivetted to other side with a slide in.
shade cloth or other, is very useful too.
With legs. it can be both a Carport. extra annexe. Fridge shelter. Shower cubicle (with walls added.)
Storage for crap etc etc.
if you paint roof with heat reflective paint down the front and back to seam.
Panels on roof.
Rollout, out. ext the other side out. in direct sun.
The van stays nice and cool.
That reflective paint does both cool the interior, and keep seams waterproof.
We have fall anex . On our trip around WA , NT we left it at home . We bough a screen to keep wind or sun out . As we only stopped for 3 or 4 days in each place . Plus being only the two of us . If family comes along we use the anex .,
Hello Mathew46 also welcome If you have a look at the Dometic Site they have brilliant set ups reasonably priced maybe what you are looking at also the videos are very informative
Wombat 56
Ron
a bit off topic but another little tip for those who are going to get an annex made. When they make the long side wall have it made in two parts with a zip to join it together. This makes it easier to put up and a bit more versatile if you want only a small area covered.
-- Edited by NeilandRaine on Thursday 15th of September 2016 07:48:25 AM
