Roll Out Vs Sun Canopy???

Hi

We've got a T4 Trident 1995.

Looking to buy our 1st awning we're after either a sun canopy on a lower budget or putting ourselves into a recession with a Fiamma Roll Out.

Has anyone got a basic 2 rope 2 pole sun canopy or even better a domed one? Would you recommend one or should we save up for a roll out despite our reluctance and mortgage deposit savings :)

Thanks

We had a sun canopy when we had the Symphony. It was really easy to put up with figure of 8's to attach to the j rail we had on the van (or a C rail). Very light to transport .The obvious difference is price - £50 compared to £500. Now we have a roll out Fiamma, I can still count on one hand the number of times we have used it in two years. I sold the canopy to a member on here.

Hi there,

I would go for a sun-canopy on the basis that even a roll-out awning needs to be pegged down and braced like this if there is anything more than a breeze ...



... and if you don't take it in completely in a high wind then something like this can happen ...



... and punch a hole through the window of the van next door (us in the photo) like this ...



Hope this helps. 

Best regards,

Sun canopy for me too, had one on my Topaz with a C rail, very easy to put up. take down, light weight  hardly any room to store.

Have a Fiamma awning on my Clubman have used it once, as I cannot manage it on my own. wish I had a sun canopy. expensive mistake for me anyway.

Roll out for me.... Easy to use very versatile especially with a set of Lillypads and no clutter to put in the van...

Fiamma roll out for me, i use it quite a lot, great for barbeques in the rain and snow, even tho' instructions say use as sunshade only.
I suppose there are advantages and dissadvantages with both types.

Dave

....a Caravanstore roll-out gets my vote, mainly because it's not permanently fixed to the van - it just slides in and out of a "c" section awning rail, and we keep it indoors when not needed (in our back bedroom). Doesn't take very long to put up, even with a storm strap that just goes over the top and clips into a sprung peg.
We have had 'vans with the big Fiamma wind-out type, but not easy to do on your own, need four hands, two to hold up and two to wind out...and it's very easy for the handle to come off under pressure and make contact with your paintwork.
Our Caravanstore was s/h from ebay, usually plenty about ( though inevitably the other end of the country...). You are limited by length, our first one was a 190, a bit short on a VWT5, so we then got the next size up, a 225 which is about right.
With a VW you have to make sure the awning rail is not too low, 'cos when the awning is unzipped, the open bag flops down, and could catch in the sliding door. Our first one did - rectified by folding the bag edge up with a clothes peg.