Awning or not

[Tezha]

If this is the wrong place please let me know.
I just ordered an 16” Scamp, should I get an awning with it. Is it worth it, what say you!

[bsdctx]

If I lived in Grand Forks, ND, I might not think too much about getting an awning, but I live in Dripping Springs, TX, so an awning is almost a must have.

[Donna D.]

18" Scamp? Sorry couldn't resist! I put an awning on my 16 footer... but it's a case awning like the ones on Casita... not the roller shade kind like Scamp puts on.

And I love it! Not for rain, but shade.

[Cyndi B.]

Donna D.

Does yours fit tighter to the top of the camper then Scamps so the rain doesn't run down the side of it?

Cyndi

[Carol H]

I have a 16' and I use the awning all the time. As Donna says its great for shade and it does help in the rain here in BC as well. Its a must have for me. The water coming down between the trailer and the case is usually not an issue - actually suprising how little water does come through but when in a real BC down pour I stuff pool noodles that I have cut in half between the case and the trailer to stop it.

[Cyndi B.]

Carol:

Does't the water run down, hit the seam and splatter onto whatever is sitting next to the trailer. That's what I don't like.

[Marinab]

I have a tarp that I attach to the side of my awning to keep out the rain when it's blowing. It works great and gives me that cosy feeling, especially with my fire pit going.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Cyndi B.

Carol:

Does't the water run down, hit the seam and splatter onto whatever is sitting next to the trailer. That's what I don't like.

Sorry Cyndi I'm not sure what you mean by "hit the seam". Water does tend to run down on the sides but thats going to happen with pretty well anything you put up. The amount that comes down between the trailer roof and the awning box is actually not that much and having some things stay dry is better than nothing.

[Pam Garlow]

The 'roller' style awnings have a gap between the awning and the trailer so rain can run down the sides of the trailer under the awning. Bag awnings slide into a track that is mounted tightly to the side of the trailer, which means no gap.

[Cyndi B.]

Carol H:

I will take a picture tomarrow and show you the metal band that covers the seam that joins the two halves.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Cyndi B.

Donna D.

Does yours fit tighter to the top of the camper then Scamps so the rain doesn't run down the side of it?

Cyndi

No there's a gap. But I seldom use it in the rain. As I mentioned, it's more for shade.

Carol, I think Cyndi is talking about the water running down and hitting the belly band, which causes it to splash. And it does. But certainly no more than if there was no awning. If it was a problem, I'd fill in the gap, which many have done successfully.

[Ray N]

On our last camping trip we were in the shade at all three campgrounds we stayed at and never saw the need to open the awning. If I lived in the Mid-west or West, where shade was less common, I would definitely get an awning. If I was buying our egg over again, I don't think I'd buy the awning since shade is very common at the state parks we camp at in Florida and Alabama.

[Byron Kinnaman]

When we purchased our 13' the awning was a question. We decided no awning. After reading some of the accounts and watching people with awnings I don't regret the decision. There's a qualifier here too. Many of the places we camp there's no good place to use an awning. The picnic table, if there is one, is too far away or is on the other side of barriers, etc.

When is camp site with trees around we ofter chase the shade. It's kind of nice to get different views during the day. With an awning there's a tendency to stay under the awning. Once in awhile we'll put a free standing item for shade.

In one observation a couple pulled, once level deployed their awning, unrolled a large carpet under the awning, put a fence around the carpet. As far as I cold tell they very rarely left the security of their awning and fence.

Just my 2 cent worth.

[james kent]

We travelled, for a month, from to Alberta and back this summer. I carried a track awning with us and when spending one night at a campsight and then gone in the morning we did not deploy the awning but when staying several days at a park then we attached it. [only takes five minutes] It was nice to be able to have shade from the summer sun on hot days and to still be able to cook outside protected from the rain on the bad days, and whatever else falls from the trees.
Not to carry one with you leaves you with NO option.

[Chris Z]

Just wanted to add we would not be without our awning although the Casita awning is much preferred to us over the one on our 2003 Scamp. Just works alot better. Depends on your situation but sometimes we like the privacy that the awning gives with the sides to it from RX. Doubles living area.
Not hard to put up- usually, my wife sets it up while I'm stabilizing and hooking up.
We almost always put ours up. Works for shade or rain and gives us place to hang towels sometimes too. I'd feel naked without it. Use tie downs if I'm gonna be gone or weather doesn't look good. Would have to be a hurricane to do any damage.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Carol, I think Cyndi is talking about the water running down and hitting the belly band, which causes it to splash. And it does. But certainly no more than if there was no awning. If it was a problem, I'd fill in the gap, which many have done successfully.

Thanks Donna, I suspect your right. Wish I lived in your part of the world. Here the awning is needed more for rain than shade :-)

As far as the amount of water that actually comes down between the awning box and the tailer it is not that great and in fact not a big deal at all. Yes the water can splash a little bit off the belly band but again its not that much and way drier than not having an awning. In fact its such an none issue I actually hardly ever put the pool noodles up to stop it. Was camping in a down pour on saturday night and was very glad to have the awning to keep the table dry.

Once I learned how to put my awning up correctly I can put it up and take it down by myself. Suspect if I had a bag awning I would not use it as much as it would take more time to put up and I'm not sure I could actually be able to do it on my own. IMO the other down side to the bag awning is finding a place to carry it when its not on the trailer - just one more loose thing to find a home for. If I did not have a boxed awning I would probable go with one of those free standing easy up tent/awnings instead as it would also need to be carried someplace other than on the trailer and I suspect it would take the same amount of time to put up as a bag awning but you get more coverage than a standard awning.

[Radar1]

I have a bag awning on my pop-up, and the optional Catalina awning on my Scamp. The bag awning is easier for me to set up and does not have a gap between the awning and the camper. Unless I'm staying at one place for an extended time I rarely put the awning out, and even when I put it out I usually close it if we leave to ensure no winds kick up and cause any damage (We try for shady sites).
We also carry a separate screen room that we sometimes use and that provides a mobile shade plus rain/insect free zone.
If I were to order a Scamp new, it would be a tough decision, but I would probably decide to not order the Scamp awning with my Scamp.

John

[Cyndi B.]

This is my awning at the moment. This is better then if we had hit the black bear with the Tundra the night before but not as funny as my Scientist sister-in-law, who has had John Glen do her experiments on the space shuttle, sending her chihauhua through the wash and rinse cycle. May he rest his little evil soul in peace she found out afterwards.

Happy hour early anyone?

[Carol H]

Actually if I was in the market for a new awning I would go with the ones that they are putting on the Escape trailers they are way easier to put up and down than the box awning Scamp uses. I think it is a Fiesta Awning and I don't think it has a gap.

[Cyndi B.]

Kind of looks like I am.