Love 'em or hate 'em

It is not without cause that awnings are often referred to as the "argument in a bag"!

Great on a cold, wet, windy day, when the advantages far outweigh the difficulties.

Can double the size of living space available for the family on holiday.

Somewhere for the children to spend a rainy afternoon away from mum and dad.

Somewhere to store those muddy, wet wellies - it's amazing how much space 4 pairs of wellies can take up!

Invaluable place to shelter from the burning sun of a hot afternoon, or a warm and balmy summer evening.

What awning size?

Measure the distance, ground to ground, and around your awning channel, in centimetres

Awning checklist

• Man-made materials are usually better overall than cotton
• There are always lots of second hand awnings around
• Know the size - ground to ground measurement - in centimetres.
• Whenever someone changes their caravan, they invariably need a new awning
• Use coloured tape to identify the parts that make up each section of the frame
• It is always worth buying a ground sheet in case of wet or muddy conditions (although some parks ban these as they can damage the grass if not lifted daily)
• Buy extra, sturdy steel tent pegs and guy ropes in case of strong winds
• Keep a mallet or hammer in the awning bag in case of hard ground