Just called JK. They have all gone, every last one, not even a dusty ex demo one in the corner of the warehouse is left. They are coming back next week however in blue - they change the colour every year. Who needs their awning to co-ordinate with their van anyway...
It was a classic or tourer I was after, but in August last year they sold out,. The sleeper was the first to come in stock. Nut on reflection Im glad we got the bigger one. It takes no longer to put up (well maybe a couple of minutes more)
If that's the case, then one of the Khyam quick erect awnings will be the way to go. They aren't all massive - that Motordome Sleeper is huge, and I've just picked up a Motordome Excelsior second hand off the bay of E, and today put it up on the driveway to check it was OK, and that's seriously huge! Had I not got this (it was a bargain) I'd probably have gone for a Motordome Tourer, which is the smallest of the quick erect awnings that Khyam do - they're selling them for about £330 at the moment. They really are easy to put up - just watch the youtube video, even I can do it in about 10 minutes. Mind you, the only thing you have to watch with Khyam is that all the accessories are extra. I've got a different awning that I've had a few years, and that came with a groundsheet, and the bedroom compartment already in the bag, but both of those things have to be bought separately with Khyam.
While the JK Awning is a good looking bit of kit, its quality doesnt match that of a decent tent/awning manufacturer though. Saying that, it stood up to some pretty poor weather and high winds last year, im just not expecting it to last like our Outwell tent. The ground sheet is seperate to the main body to, so if your scared of bugs probably best to avoid. I tried to post a picture but apparently my pictures are too big now. Its a good size, we spent 10 days straight in Betty with the two kids last year and the awning gave that extra space you need to get them dressed/washed/beaten out of sight of the neighbours. Its not too difficult to put up with two people, but one person is going to struggle!
We have an Outwell mountain road, and that is huge, well made and totally worth the money. With practice it is up and pegged in 20 minutes, but im no sure id bother trying to put it up on my own. We use that for long weekends and longer periods But for short/ overnight stops we have an 8' x 6' canopy that gives enough shelter out side the bus to stop things getting wet, and takes a minute or 2 to put up. I made ours, and may make another a little bigger, but they are available on ebay.
We had an appalling awning from one of the big online stores (not their fault, just naff awning) and have been too scared to buy another. As we're travelling around the South of France in June I thought I should get one but changed my mind as the longest we'll be at one site is 3 nights and I couldn't be arsed with all that faffing so I bought this to keep the sun off: http://nlavw.com/gb/sun-canopy/130-silver-sun-canopy-with-domed-roof.html Assuming the weather will be great this should be perfect, if not we'll be in a bar anyway!
We normally only stop at a place for one night and then bimble on somewhere else the next night. We bought an awning when we first got the van Like this one but to be honest we very rarely bothered. We got one of these instead. Which I can put up in 5 mins while Jan gets the kettle on.
Again, Movilite Square for us - a bit "lively" to put up when it's breezy but I like it because it has windows all around and the sides roll up to make it into a gazebo style. We had a Motordome Traveller, which was a doddle to put up, but it was like carrying an extra passenger around when not in use and condensation seemed to be quite bad in the cold which led to mildew spots during the first couple of weeks use (should say there was snow and outside temps would have been welcomed at Sochi!) Good luck and hope you get sorted
Wanted a bigger and bit more of a retro look than my old dome awning so got a Royal Traveller 3 last year and well pleased with it so far Not the best pic but you get the general idea - similar to the JK ones i think!
Not as bad as it looks - put the frame together and the outside corner poles are telescopic so put the canvas over then lift the corners up from inside , needs 2 of you tho so you can do 1 side then the other! Me and the boss lady have got it off to an art now and we only got it last july so cant be that bad? Gives a good bit of space and the sliding door opens inside which is what i wanted as kept ripping the tunnel to shreds on my last dome type one
