Help choosing drive away awning, please

Themadwife · Jan 22, 2023

Downsizing from 7m motorhome.

Have T6.1 Coast, 2 medium sized dogs.

Attend dog agility shows/ training camps. Want drive away awning that I can erect alone.
prefer fitted groundsheet so dogs don’t escape.

Doesnt have to be large. Want it to give more space, keep Trans k9 dog crates in. Let us sit at our table and chairs.

Do they attach to awning or the casing of the awning?

what are the pros and cons of different ones?

Dont want to make an expensive mistake….any suggestions to help, please

BeeBee · Jan 23, 2023

I’ll be interested in the responses you get. We’ve had our Ocean nearly 4 years and when buying an awning had some of your issues though we only have 1 dog ( black lab ).
We wanted more space, wet dog, wet clothes and just fit in table and chairs too
We didn’t get a sewn in groundsheet as some sites say ‘no groundsheet’ but I can understand the ‘keeps them in better’ thoughts. ( though none are so robust as to prevent dedicated escape artists !)
Putting up on your own, doable… maybe, but not easy . Our friends have the add on Front and Sides set up that I’ve seen and thought looks much easier to do but again that doesn’t accommodate your need for sewn in ground sheet.
We have the Vango Palm , air beams. It’s one of the smaller awnings but is size enough for our needs.

Themadwife · Jan 23, 2023

That looks the size we want - we have two medium but skinny dogs ( larger cocker spaniel size ) ! A fitted ground sheet isn’t the most important, but having had it in previous tents, we like it . Thanks x

trev0rk · Jan 23, 2023

We have a Vango Faros low, basically the same, but with fibreglass poles rather than air beams, so smaller and lighter when packed.

Themadwife · Jan 23, 2023

trev0rk said:
We have a Vango Faros low, basically the same, but with fibreglass poles rather than air beams, so smaller and lighter when packed.

View attachment 104352

thanks - I like idea of smaller and lighter x

trev0rk · Jan 23, 2023

Here's a useful video.

Dave-Clarke-5 · Jan 23, 2023

Hi, we have had one of the Kampa vw travel pod motion air. Easy to to put up. The ground sheet was clipped in and came about 6 inches up the sides. Was a good size and just attached it to the awning rail on our T5 at the time. If you are close to any leisure outdoor shops see if they are having a demo days. I know Lowdham’s do them.

dspuk · Jan 23, 2023

Vango Tolga. Suits us to a tee.

Themadwife · Jan 23, 2023

dspuk said:
Vango Tolga. Suits us to a tee.
View attachment 104358

Thanks - great van colour choice!

Pombear4 · Jan 23, 2023

We have the Outwell Newburg 160. We have the poled version as we have always been tenters and not keen on inflatable. 2 adults and 3 kids and a springer! We mainly use it to put the bedding in if we go out for the day but husband and I have sat in our chairs in it of an evening! Pack size is really small.

flymartin · Jan 23, 2023

I've also been looking at driveaway awnings. I want the smallest possible pack size that gives the following simple features: covered entry to van and somewhere to offload stuff into when we're sleeping or have driven away. I'll mull things over for a while yet, but I thought it might be useful to share some info I have nerdily gathered on pack sizes...

The following is my list of currently available awnings from Vango, Kampa, Outwell and Outdoor Revolution, and their pack dimensions in cm, along with calculated pack volume in cm3, sorted smallest to largest. It's not every awning on the market, as I didn't bother to record bigger beasts.. It might help in your deliberations on best awning for you...

Mfr	Name	LWD	vol
Outwell	Touring Shelter (not fully enclosed)	74x20x20	29600
Kampa	Trip	70x24x24	40320
Outwell	Touring Air Shelter (not fully enclosed)	72x24x24	41472
Vango	Faros II	75x27x27	54675
Kampa	Action	72x27x30	58320
Outwell	Lakecrest	62x31x31	59582
Outwell	Milestone Shade	71x29x29	59711
Outdoor Revolution	Cayman Outhouse	66x25x38	62700
Kampa	Sprint Air	72x30x32	69120
Outdoor Revolution	Cayman Classic Mk2	72x32x31	71424
Vango	Cove II	75x31x31	72075
Outdoor Revolution	Cayman Cona (F/G)	76x34x28	72352
Outwell	Waystone 240	67x33x33	72963
Outdoor Revolution	Cayman (F/G)	72x33x31	73656
Kampa	Trip Air	72x32x32	73728
Kampa	Action Air	68x34x36	83232
Outwell	Waystone 160	73x34x34	84388
Outwell	Milestone Lux	69x35x35	84525
Vango	Kela V Air	78x32x34	84864
Vango	Faros II Air	75x34x34	86700
Vango	Agora Air VW	65x37x37	88985
Vango	Tolga Air	75x35x35	91875
Kampa	Cross Air	76x35x35	93100
Vango	Cove II Air	74x39x39	112554
Outwell	Newburg 160 Air	80x38x38	115520
Vango	Magra Air	75x40x40	120000
Vango	Kela TC Air	78x38x41	121524
Outdoor Revolution	Cayman Cuba Air	80x40x38	121600
Outdoor Revolution	Cayman Cona Air	80x40x38	121600
Outwell	Parkville 200SA	79x40x40	126400
Outwell	Bremburg Air	72x42x42	127008
Vango	Longleat 800 XL (tent!)	80x43x43	147920

The last one is our tent, from pre-van days, left it in for comparison.

Themadwife · Jan 23, 2023

flymartin said:
I've also been looking at driveaway awnings. I want the smallest possible pack size that gives the following simple features: covered entry to van and somewhere to offload stuff into when we're sleeping or have driven away. I'll mull things over for a while yet, but I thought it might be useful to share some info I have nerdily gathered on pack sizes...

The following is my list of currently available awnings from Vango, Kampa, Outwell and Outdoor Revolution, and their pack dimensions in cm, along with calculated pack volume in cm3, sorted smallest to largest. It's not every awning on the market, as I didn't bother to record bigger beasts.. It might help in your deliberations on best awning for you...

Mfr Name LWD vol
Outwell Touring Shelter (not fully enclosed) 74x20x20
29600
Kampa Trip 70x24x24
40320
Outwell Touring Air Shelter (not fully enclosed) 72x24x24
41472
Vango Faros II 75x27x27
54675
Kampa Action 72x27x30
58320
Outwell Lakecrest 62x31x31
59582
Outwell Milestone Shade 71x29x29
59711
Outdoor Revolution Cayman Outhouse 66x25x38
62700
Kampa Sprint Air 72x30x32
69120
Outdoor Revolution Cayman Classic Mk2 72x32x31
71424
Vango Cove II 75x31x31
72075
Outdoor Revolution Cayman Cona (F/G) 76x34x28
72352
Outwell Waystone 240 67x33x33
72963
Outdoor Revolution Cayman (F/G) 72x33x31
73656
Kampa Trip Air 72x32x32
73728
Kampa Action Air 68x34x36
83232
Outwell Waystone 160 73x34x34
84388
Outwell Milestone Lux 69x35x35
84525
Vango Kela V Air 78x32x34
84864
Vango Faros II Air 75x34x34
86700
Vango Agora Air VW 65x37x37
88985
Vango Tolga Air 75x35x35
91875
Kampa Cross Air 76x35x35
93100
Vango Cove II Air 74x39x39
112554
Outwell Newburg 160 Air 80x38x38
115520
Vango Magra Air 75x40x40
120000
Vango Kela TC Air 78x38x41
121524
Outdoor Revolution Cayman Cuba Air 80x40x38
121600
Outdoor Revolution Cayman Cona Air 80x40x38
121600
Outwell Parkville 200SA 79x40x40
126400
Outwell Bremburg Air 72x42x42
127008
Vango Longleat 800 XL (tent!) 80x43x43
147920

The last one is our tent, from pre-van days, left it in for comparison.

Thanks! Great job!

Calimili · Jan 23, 2023

To be honest, we should also include the Quechua Air Seconds Base XL

. I have this tent, it's very robust, extremely easy to put up, it has a removable groundsheet, you can use it either very closed attached to the van or at a distance with the wind out awning, like i had in this pics from 2 years ago:

Themadwife · Jan 23, 2023

Calimili said:
To be honest, we should also include the Quechua Air Seconds Base XL

. I have this tent, it's very robust, extremely easy to put up, it has a removable groundsheet, you can use it either very closed attached to the van or at a distance with the wind out awning, like i had in this pics from 2 years ago:
View attachment 104359

I like how it’s attached to wind out awning……can you do this with other ones, or is it height dependant of the ‘tent’?

Calimili · Jan 23, 2023

Themadwife said:
I like how it’s attached to wind out awning……can you do this with other ones, or is it height dependant of the ‘tent’?

you basically have the "wall" of the tallest side that can be completely opened, 2m high, so ideal to use with a Van like ours. This "wall is also straight vertical, so you could also park right next to it. I can't comment on others tents as i have no experience unfortunately.

chez786 · Jan 23, 2023

How does the Quechua fit to the Cali ? Also can you stillioben and close the door

Calimili · Jan 23, 2023

chez786 said:
How does the Quechua fit to the Cali ? Also can you stillioben and close the door

it depends how you position it. The way I used it, when I have it attached to the Cali, I open the big side wall and attach it somehow on the awning case. I don't see the need why it has to be physically attached at all cost to the van. If i need to drive away, roll the side of the tent down, zip it closed and drive away.

Anthony1 · Jan 28, 2023

Themadwife said:
That looks the size we want - we have two medium but skinny dogs ( larger cocker spaniel size ) ! A fitted ground sheet isn’t the most important, but having had it in previous tents, we like it . Thanks x

View attachment 104345

Love your dog photo.