Travel & Product Tips

So you are planning for a caravan holiday. That’s great. But have you made all the preparations. By “all-the-preparations”, I mean the most important ones, because the actual list of preparations would be virtually endless. This post would become excessively lengthy if I were to describe each requirement. Moreover, people have differing requirements so specific items would be different. But there are common items that you should prepare well in advance so that you can have a hassle free holiday.

In order to ease things up a bit, here is a simplified list containing the 7 most important things that you need to keep handy before you venture out on your road trip.

1. Prepare Your Caravanning Kit

If you thought that your work was over after furnishing the interiors of the caravan, then you are highly mistaken. You need to prepare a caravan kit comprising the essentials that are required to ensure that the caravan functions properly throughout the trip. Common things that you would need in the kit include caravan step, fresh water container, electric hook-up led, waste water container, caravan leisure battery, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and levelling blocks.

2. Install a Caravan Awning / Annexe

It is impossible to imagine a caravan holiday without the comfort of an awning or annexe. Just think about the amazing times that you can spend on your trip where you only have to erect the awning and enjoy the company of your loved ones and friends under the cool shade. The annexe or a full awning would also give you your very own personal space so that you may enjoy some privacy and the comforts of your home even during a road trip. So don’t forget to install the best awning or annexe for your needs. You can always check out our amazing collection of best caravan awnings that on AWA website. If you are not able to find one that suits you, then send in your query and the guys at AWA will come up with a custom solution just for you.

3. Create an Itinerary

Always create an itinerary, even if you are familiar with the region. The best part about road trips and caravan holidays is that you get to explore the roadways and the connected networks that join various places. You never know what place might fall along your way. So check up all the cool places and make sure that they fall on your path so that you may avoid excessive detours and save fuel in the process. You can even check out some new places and add them to your itinerary.

4. Pack Appropriate Clothing

This is not a reference to formal attire or casual wear. Appropriate clothes is a reference to clothes that are in accordance with the weather. Check up on the weather forecasts for the region that you wish to visit and plan your clothes accordingly. After all, you would not want to end up wearing summer clothes during cold weather.

5. Bring Along Proper Bedding

If there is one thing that is precious to every traveller, then it would be proper sleep. Everyone knows that it is difficult to get a cosy and snug bed during trips. But if you have caravans with annexes or full awnings, then you are bringing along a piece of your home with you. In such cases, you can bring along mattresses, blankets, pillows and bedsheets. For those who want to camp out in the open, you should bring along sleeping bags and enjoy a nice sleep under the starry sky while lying on the soft ground. Sleep doesn’t get more rustic than this.

6. Food and Cookware are Absolute Must-Haves

Food and cookware need to be brought along on the trip unless you are making the mistake of relying on outdoor restaurants and diners for food. Canned food may be considered but there is something special about cooking up a one-pot recipe out in the open and enjoying some finger food by roasting it over the open fire. There is only so much canned food that people can bear with. So bring along portable cookware and pack enough food supplies to last the duration of your journey. Make sure that the supplies are fresh and are not spoilt easily. You could always stock up on the way if you find retail stores.

7. Don’t Miss Out on Toiletries and First Aid Kits

Hygiene and health are the two most important things to take care of during such road trips. You should always bring along your toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toilet papers, washcloth, towel, sandals for showering, shaving cream, and nail clippers. For first aid kits, you need to include the standard components, any specific medications that you may have been prescribed by your doctor and a list of emergency health centers on your route so that someone can contact them for assistance in the case of emergency.

Image Credit: lovebungay.co.uk

Nothing is ever a hassle as long as you follow the provided instructions carefully. People often find it rather tedious to set up caravan awnings or annexes but the fact is that it is easy to set up such structures. Do not go by the overall construction of these awnings as they may seem to be very technical (which they are), but that is only to make them work properly. However, you do not have to do anything overly technical to set it up.

Here is how you set up a roll out awning for a caravan:

1. The first thing that you need to do is to unlock the travel locks and move the latches into place. This should take just under a minute.
2. Now you need to undo the ratchet. You will notice a small loop hanging out of the awning roll. Grab it with the hook at the end of the rod that you have in your hand, and then just pull it.
3. As soon as you pull away, the awning will come down into position with its attached legs holding it in the right spot. At this point, you need to bring in the support arms and fix it into place.
4. The legs which are attached to the front corners of the awning will have their other end positioned under the caravan. You just need to bring them out and put up the legs in the right position. Lock it into position and give it a light tug to see if it is held in place.
5. Take the pressure off the roller and make sure that it is at 90 degrees. At this point, lock off the supporting arms.

This is just about it and the work would have been done faster if you had an extra person to help you to manage the other side of the awning. Now the above procedure was for a caravan awning that has the legs attached to the lower side of the caravan. If you want the legs to stand upright for the “awning patio position”, then just unlatch the end of the legs from the caravan and move it into position. You could also use this upright awning as a base for putting up your annexe.

For awnings that exceed 16 ft or 17 ft, a central arm is provided to add stability to the structure. So when you have a central arm, just unlock it, remove it from the latch and bring it up to the locating arm. This needs to be locked into position as well.

When you are done with the awning and you need to move on ahead, just follow all of the above mentioned steps in reverse and that should help you to roll up the awning and lock it into place before you drive off. Just do everything in the right order and you should get the things done in a jiffy.

The right caravan awning can make a lot of difference when it comes to its usage. Such awnings are more than just three sided tents, they are your personal space and you should not settle for anything less than the best. Surely you can try to find “compatible” awnings that are somewhat manageable but for a truly awesome experience, you need to find an awning that is nothing less than “perfect” for your caravan. Here are 4 steps to get you started with your selection.

Step #1: Measure Your Caravan

This is the most important step in the selection process as every aspect of the awning will depend on this. You need to take the exact measurements as per your RV’s structure and decide the best dimensions that should do justice for your requirements.

If you have no clue as to what to measure and how to measure it, then ask the manufacturers to send over a team who will not only take measurements but they will also suggest you some really good inclusions which should give you more perspectives to think upon.

In case you are planning on purchasing one from the market, then you should seek help in understanding what needs to be measured and how you should measure it such that you are able to explain it to the vendors. However, it is suggested that caravan awnings should be customized as per personal specifications to make it really suitable for your vehicle.

Awning sizes largely depend on the length of the caravan and more importantly your budget. The bigger the size of your caravan, the bigger will be the awning. So consider these two factors also.

Step #2: Select the Appropriate Material

The fabrics for awnings vary a lot in terms of weight, texture, feel and overall looks. You can start with thin polyester fabric which is the lightest awning material and will also suit low budgets. If you have the funds, then you can always go for top quality solution-dyed acrylic, awning fabrics. Vinyl and canvas are also good alternatives to consider when selecting the fabric. However, this decision is completely based on the type of use that the awning will be put to.

If you are an infrequent traveller then you can go with lightweight and cheap variants as they can survive less usage. But if you are a travel enthusiast and frequently plan trips / holidays, then it would be wise to get the best quality materials as they have greater longevity and they can survive the harsh conditions of the road better.

Resistance to water is also an important factor that you need to consider as you need to keep the water out whenever it rains. This will be a great help in situations when you need to step under a shade to escape sudden downpours.

Step #3: Check Out the Possible Designs

Do you need a porch or a full-fledged awning? This is one question that you should definitely ask yourself as most people are usually undecided on this aspect. A full awning will more than double your living space. Once you have made a decision, you need to evaluate your needs again for selecting the right frame. While steel frames are often used as the standard, you can also go for aluminium if you need a lighter construction. It depends completely on your needs and your caravan. Just spend some time checking out the various designs and select one after you have compared the available variants.

Step #4: Choose Your Awning Manufacturer Carefully

There are several awning manufacturers in the market who have some really good designs. But merely the presence of good designs does not mean that the manufacturer is the most suitable one for you. You need to identify whether you are being given adequate presales and post-sales support. It would be a wise step to check up on the reviews of other customers so that you can get a better understanding of the quality of the services. In case you are not able to install the awning on your own, you should ask the manufactures / dealers to assist you in installing it correctly. Don’t decide in haste. Just consider every factor carefully before making your move.

Now that you have gone through the suggestions, you should have a better understanding of the selection process and what it takes to get your perfect caravan awning. Research is the key to getting the right product for you. So keep checking out the trends and try to acquire knowledge about maintaining and caring for the awning. It would be good to make a checklist and then use it as a criteria for selecting the best caravan awning for you.

Awnings are great additions to caravans, motorhomes, and other RVs as it adds a lot of floor space wherever the vehicle is parked. You should be grateful to the awning as it gives you shade and a comfortable personal space despite the existing weather conditions – heat, rains, hail, snow, etc. Such harsh weather conditions and life on the road can cause a lot of debris and dust to get accumulated on it. With a few basic measures, you can easily maintain and clean the awning for ensuring that you get a clean, hygienic, and comfortable personal space whenever and wherever you want.

Here are 5 simple steps to help you clean your caravan awning without much effort.

Step 1: Set Up the Awning for Exposing the Entire Material

This is the most basic step involved in the maintenance as well as cleaning of any caravan awning. You can never clean it while it is still folded up. The only way to clean an awning is to set it up so that the material spreads and every area is exposed properly. If you clean a closed awning, then the fluids would not dry up properly and this would cause the development of molds and fungi on the material. Remember, the awnings are made waterproof, so it is very important for the water or other fluids to be dried off and wiped clean. The easiest way of cleaning it without hassles is to select a bright and sunny day and the majority of your work is done for you. The heat from the sun will help the water/fluid (s) to dry up quickly.

Step 2: Remove That Grime Before It’s Too Late

All caravan owners usually face the issue of grime accumulation. Grime is the mixture of dirt, debris, bird droppings, and other stuff that usually settles atop awnings. Now you should get rid of this as soon as possible before the grime begins to set it. If the grime sets, then it could damage the material and also have an adverse effect on the waterproofing feature. Even water, if left over a long period, can cause harm to the material. The best approach would be to clean off any grime, much, or anything that makes the awning look dirty.

Step 3: Water + Soft Cloth = Easy Cleaning Tools

Sometimes, the simplest of cleaning tools can prove to be the most effective. In the case of caravan awnings, a soft cloth and some water can do wonders. Why is this a good idea? Well, awnings are primarily made from canvas and this makes it waterproof. Soft cloth and water are the two things that would not affect the waterproofing ability of the material in any manner. Also, make sure to use a light hand as aggressive strokes could also damage the materials. If the debris gets stuck in the cloth then scratches would easily be made.

Step 4: Use Standard Issue Awning Cleaners

There are many standard-issue awning cleaners out there in the market such as Camco RV Awning Cleaners. You don’t have to search a lot. Probably the RV / Caravan dealer might have a ready stash. You may also try contacting the caravan manufacturer for compatible and safe cleaning fluid. This will give you the much-required boost to the cleaning process without compromising the effectiveness of the waterproofing of the awning’s material.

Step 5: A Final Touch

If the awning is excessively dirty with a lot of grime accumulation, then you may use a cap of bleach mixed in warm water for getting off all dirt effectively. This can make a whole lot of difference in the way you clean your awning and for some really grimy awnings, the cleaning fluids can be a lifesaver. However, this strips some waterproofing from the materials so before monsoon sets in, you would have to reapply water-resistive coating to it.