Caravan annexe or shade sail sides?

After 10 months on the roadI would say both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Pros An Annexe is good if its wet gives you a bit of space and stops "cabin fever"
Also provides cover for stuff like the Engel which I would chain to a chassis rail rather than a wheel which can also be removed if they are keen enough.

We have a large heavy washer welded to the end of a crossrail and chain fridge to that. Also fold chain over lid and lock as meat is expensive out there as well and has been pinched before.

A Canvas one is not too heavy but tends to get grubby in the red dust areas you will encounter.
We carried ours in the back of the car.

Have a Vinyl one for the new van which I intend selling unused.

A shade sail is great Get a heavy duty one made up for the length of the awning and ONE end and fit it depending on wind direction.

We also have a plastic mesh floor which lets the sand and mud through and helps keep the van clean.

Have found in a lot of parks there may not be room for a sail on the off side.

We were going to get one for putting the car under but after talking to friends who had done the big trip decided not to.

Have seen them over fridges but pulled down close to the wall which while shading the fridge prevents the air from getting away.

We have had no probs with fridges in hot temps anywhere even a week of mid 30's in Darwin.

at present in Kalgoorlie and Hyden where its been mid 30's and icecream is still frozen and ice cubes froze in 2 hours in the freezer.

Both places van sitting in sun with no shade


Cons Setting up takes 1/2 an hour and taking it down wet is a pain.

We only put it up if staying more than 4 days and the weather is bad.

When and if you buy something get it made to fit with the awning legs attached to the van.

I have heard insurance companies are going to refuse claims if they are pulled down to the ground.

After seeing 4 awnings folded over vans in wind at Geraldton I dont blame them.

Cheers

Our 10 months has cost in excess of $35,000 so far.

G'day

We have a sort of combination affair. We got all-mesh sides for the annex walls, plus one end wall that is reversible. With this we are fully enclosed, but in mesh, which breathes reasonably well. In addition, we had a shadecloth long wall that we put up along with the mesh wall for added sun protection.

The shadecloth wall is long enough to be pegged straight down to the ground but most of the time we have it out at an angle. This keeps the Sun out but lets breeze in. If it rains, about 80% of the water runs down the shadecloth and the remainder drops vertically - thus not coming in through the mesh.

To achieve this we purchased a shadecloth drop that has the rope sewn in. Then we had eyelets and reinforcing fitted about every metre. We "pin" the shadecloth to the roller of the annex using tent poles with the spikes coming through the eyelets into holes I drilled in the roller. To tension it the tent poles are stayed with rope. If you want a picture, PM me.

We also have a shadecloth on the 'fridge side of the van and it makes a HUGE difference.

Cheers

Russ.