As this caravanning is all new to us I thought it best to ask if anyone here has heard of Australia Wide Annexes.
As I am already living in our van and caot drive anymore I cant get to anyone who does these annexes. A gentleman is coming past me tomorrow to measure us for What they call a Captain Cook Awning Walls. It looks to be what I want only I would like the extra room also. We have been quoted already but with out the extra room so this guy is measuring us up. They then make the annexe to the dimensions, and post it to us but before they do we pay. Cool I understand that, but can anyone foresee any problems apart from fitting issues which they will fix. I have asked for all vinyl but they said it would be too heavy, my problem is I dont like canvas or they care required to it.
I welcome any advice that will help us make the right choice.
Very short notice Im sorry so I hope someone reads this has some knowledge on the topic.
It may be better for you to post this question in the general discussion forum.
Travelling with pets would not attract as many observers.
I currently have an Aussie wide annexe and it is functional.
Mine is part vinyl and part canvas.
This is the second full annexe I have had on two separate vans and my opinion is that they have too many zips as they split the main wall and I dislike the velcro strips to attach the end walls to the to the sides of the van.
All these zips give you a lot of flexibility but if you arent moving too much then they are really not necessary.
In heavy rain the zips in the long wall allowed water to come in as the wall is made on a slope to allow for the rollout awning being shorter than most concrete slabs....ie; less than a 2.4 span.
I dont like the plastic fittings that are attached to the lower walls as I dont feel that they will have a long life....I would prefer a stainless ring in which the peg could be fitted. They supply rubbers to fix these fittings to the ground and in my opinion these rubber bands wont have a long life either.
My annexe has fly screens, clear plastics and canvas covers on all doors and windows and to wind these all up and down is a task in itself. I have removed and stored the clear plastics that I am not using.
Having said that it give you plenty of flexibility at all the openings.
The skirt that attaches to the caravan does not have the peg down eylets in well spaced positions to allow for the caravan wheels.
The annexe fits well and is well made and fairly light if I compare it to my previous annexe.
It comes in separate bags which make packing and storing easy and neat.
You sound as though you may be spending longer terms in one place and if I did this annexe exercise again I would have my roll out awning material replaced with a heavier duty fabric ( the material Jayco use is very light duty) and be made to extend to 2.4 meters horizontally so as to have the walls erectd at 90 degrees to the gorund and not on a slope.
I probably would not use an Aussie wide annexe unless it could be made to my specifications.
I personally would prefer full canvas as was my previous annexe.
The first annexe I had was actually made by the people that I bought from and I was very happy with it except for the fact that it was made to the roll out width of the awning at 2.2 meters and not 2.4 as is required at most caravan parks with concrete slabs.
I recently met a couple who were travelling and working full time and as such were in one spot for a long term at times, and he had his annexe and awning made to 2.4 wide for the very reasons I stated above.
I hope this helps
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"Seek the truth or bury you head in the sand, both require some digging"
Thanks again., Yours looks alright but they al do until you test them out, but I am going to run some things by the fitter when he gets here today. We have chosen the Same colours as the van is grey and black also. Also putting on the extension room and the verandah over the bbq area pretty much the same as their pic on the website.
I like the idea of the verandah at the front and it is great if the site you have has that space.
Aussie annexes system of build certainly give flexibility.
I currently have used a tarp and the end wall shade cloth to a hieve a similar area.
I will post a pic later today if I can.
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"Seek the truth or bury you head in the sand, both require some digging"
If you do opt for the Australia Wide Annexe and you get the front verandah would you mind posting your thoughts on it.
Apart from what I have done above I was also thinking of one of those gazebo things that you can get from the camping shops but I would like one 2.4 by 2.4.
Most of them are 3.0 by 3.0 metres which is probably a bit big width wise.
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"Seek the truth or bury you head in the sand, both require some digging"
....................... I was also thinking of one of those gazebo things that you can get from the camping shops but I would like one 2.4 by 2.4. Most of them are 3.0 by 3.0 metres which is probably a bit big width wise.
G'day Dicko,
I've got an Oztrail Market Gazebo 2.4 x 2.4 which we sometimes use when we are booked in a larger park site. We also have 2 solid walls and 2 mesh walls - the only catch is that Oztrail do NOT make walls with zip doors for the smaller 2.4 x 2.4 size. If you want all 4 walls fitted you have to leave the corner zip and fastenings on one corner open as a 'duck-under'. We normally only use three walls and opt for 2 solid + 1 mesh, or 2 mesh + 1 solid to suit the prevailing site.
If a zip door is absolutely necessary, it would be possible to buy a solid wall and get a local canvas/vinyl specialist to cut a zip door into that side for you.
Regards, Brian
PS - comes in a compact zip-up carry case - whole gazebo packed is only 17kg + walls at around 1kg each.
-- Edited by ShortNorth on Wednesday 2nd of May 2018 08:40:15 PM
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Wondering about ShortNorth ? - Short North is the railwayman's nickname for the NSWGR main line between Sydney and Newcastle
....................... I was also thinking of one of those gazebo things that you can get from the camping shops but I would like one 2.4 by 2.4. Most of them are 3.0 by 3.0 metres which is probably a bit big width wise.
G'day Dicko,
I've got an Oztrail Market Gazebo 2.4 x 2.4 which we sometimes use when we are booked in a larger park site. We also have 2 solid walls and 2 mesh walls - the only catch is that Oztrail do NOT make walls with zip doors for the smaller 2.4 x 2.4 size. If you want all 4 walls fitted you have to leave the corner zip and fastenings on one corner open as a 'duck-under'. We normally only use three walls and opt for 2 solid + 1 mesh, or 2 mesh + 1 solid to suit the prevailing site.
If a zip door is absolutely necessary, it would be possible to buy a solid wall and get a local canvas/vinyl specialist to cut a zip door into that side for you.
Regards, Brian
PS - comes in a compact zip-up carry case - whole gazebo packed is only 17kg + walls at around 1kg each.
-- Edited by ShortNorth on Wednesday 2nd of May 2018 08:40:15 PM
Thank you for that info Brian I will check them out.
When packed away is the bag 2.4 long or is it shorter?
Can you remeber what you paid for it and did you buy it online or from a store?
I had a look in a BCF outlet but could not see what I wanted
__________________
"Seek the truth or bury you head in the sand, both require some digging"
....................... I was also thinking of one of those gazebo things that you can get from the camping shops but I would like one 2.4 by 2.4. Most of them are 3.0 by 3.0 metres which is probably a bit big width wise.
G'day Dicko,
I've got an Oztrail Market Gazebo 2.4 x 2.4 ................................
Regards, Brian
PS - comes in a compact zip-up carry case - whole gazebo packed is only 17kg + walls at around 1kg each.
-- Edited by ShortNorth on Wednesday 2nd of May 2018 08:40:15 PM
Thank you for that info Brian I will check them out.
When packed away is the bag 2.4 long or is it shorter?
Can you remeber what you paid for it and did you buy it online or from a store?
I had a look in a BCF outlet but could not see what I wanted
G'day Dicko,
Just measured - bag in fully packed condition is 300 x 200 x 1200high - also has roller wheels on bottom of bag.
Bought it from BCF Macgregor about 3-4 years ago - it was a special at the time, and they get them in from time to time - not all BCF stores may stock it.
Have a look at the Oztrail website - the 'Market' model doesn't seem to be made anymore, but they have a fair few 'Fiesta' 2.4 x 2.4 gazebos to replace it. Most major camping stores have Oztrail or can get one in for you. Oztrail also have a good range of optional walls and other gazebo accessories to suit your needs.
Brian
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Wondering about ShortNorth ? - Short North is the railwayman's nickname for the NSWGR main line between Sydney and Newcastle
After your post yesterday I did a bit of research and while I could not find much on the BCF site with local searches there were a couple of other suppliers that I found online.
The 2.4 x 2.4 Gazebo Market has been discontinued and re released as the Deluxe model.
It appears to be the same as the original Market model as it is heavier duty than the standard Oztrail model.
Price wise it is a bit cheaper as an option for the verandah accessory for the Aussiewide annexe and it packs up into a smaller package for travel.
I am seriously considering going this way.
I hope I haven't taken Veronicas post too far off topic....forgive me if I have.
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"Seek the truth or bury you head in the sand, both require some digging"
Hello. So we had the guy come to the caravan park to measure and fit out the bits and pieces need ro attach the annexe walls, we are also going with getting the extension and verandah. It will all be in black white and grey. For close to $4000. We chose the extras because we are permanently living in our van with 2 cats. The younger one, the female still adapting after 3 or 4 weeks. The fat one my beloved Chad will come later depend now on his cancer he had or still may have on his leg. Anyway when we get it i shall definitely put up pics. But for now ill put one up of our van. If it works for me..goodnight all
-- Edited by ronjons on Sunday 6th of May 2018 09:20:07 PM
Our Annexe from Australia Wide arrived and was easy peasy to set up, all very straight forward. We also got the inflatable Captains Quarters for storage or when there is a need to use it as a sleeping quarters also. We are not on real even ground at the moment but it is serving its purpose anyway.
Ive taken some pics now and I try and upload them now...fingers crossed its not too hard to do!
