Sun canopy recommendations please

I’ll say no, but after 17 years without a garage my gutters aren’t the shiniest to start with. I’ve used gazebos in the past but they’ve all blown away in the middle of the night.

 

That looks good especially the fairy lights! @vinnyboy but you all look absolutely frozen! I think that has jogged my mind to ask for recommendations on fire pits!

 

We haven’t actually used it with this van only with the splitty which I’m not so precious about so was hoping that whatever solution we go with will suit the awning too…

 

We use the pole in the gutter on both the awning and canopy. Clamps have thin rubber between the clamp and the paintwork

 

It was Scotland in may but I still had my shorts on

 

Sorry to hijack a resting thread, but it's the same question as the title.

I want a sun canopy (I have an awning but it's too much camping for me) but I'm precious about my pristine gutters and want to keep them that way. NLA VW do a Westy style canopy, and while I'm not a fan of the orange Westy style colour with a turquoise van, what draws me to it is a figure of 8 rubber gutter fixing rather than using clamps, which I don't want to do.

Expensive for what it is, but it ticks the boxes more than most available. Anyone had one or seen it in the flesh?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164686786361

 

This is the one we went with. It’s from NLA VW and was on special offer when we bought it. It attaches via a figure 8 or with the supplied pole that clamps to the gutter. The clamps have rubber pads so if you’re careful they wont damage your gutters.

https://nlavw.com/home/1061-orange-sun-canopy.html

 

I substituted the flimsy ground pegs with decent ones so to get good tension on the guy ropes!

 

Best fire pit in my opinion is a washing machine drum as burns very clean and with all the holes in drum very hot as plenty of airflow - can also make a lovely bbq with a metal rack on top. Downside is bulky to carry but they fit perfectly inside one of those circular garden leaf / cuttings bags that pop up. my friend bought a nice cast iron fire pit and grill that dismantles called little alien which was very substantial and compact for I think 100 quid

 

https://www.lilalienbbqcompany.com/
this is the link

 

I have to disagree apart from the cooking bit. I've sat next to one trying to feel the warmth and had to put my hand a couple of inches away from it to feel it.

 

I made a small cheapo one. Fabric was £8 on ebay. Poles were about £8 sew on figure of 8 (the male part). Already had the plastic figure of 8. Cut of inch off the fabric as it had eyelets in all 4 corners. Sewed the male part figure of 8. Hooks on gutter with plastic figure 8 and universal poles go to length you want.

 

They depends on how much wood you pile in there because of the smaller lipped hole on the top large pieces seem to fall into it nicely as they burn down. But yep a completely open fire is favourite

 

I think I’ll take the plunge and order the Westy one from NLAVW, mainly for the fixing strip arrangement, rather than poles & clamps or a generic figure of 8, some pictures I’ve seen they don’t look a great fit, and require tension to stay attached. NLAVW, in their blumph, say they can rock the van when they pull on the awning, because the Westy pattern strip is such a secure fit. Mick’s DIY one looks good though, the irony is that his matching colour is the same as the Westfalia fabric. I just found out I can also get it in grey from NLA, I’m torn as it’s less clashy with the paintwork, but a bit dull compared with jolly orange.

Edit: As a bloke I know nothing about what colour goes with what, but the wife tells me that turquoise and orange is actually a thing, so I googled it, and behold! Pages of living rooms, wedding stuff, jewellery and all sorts. You learn something every day. Orange it is then.

I’m on the lookout for a washing machine drum, a couple of friends have them, and if you put enough wood in they get well hot. I’m not sure I could be @rsed to take it, plus a load of firewood, every time I went camping, though.

 

That's why I got rid of mine, the do produce a lot of heat, imo, but burn through wood faster than a fast thing!

 

Likewise I've nice gutters and thinking going the nlavw westy canopy as the bit that attaches to the gutter is made of rubber its pricy I know but quality always is

 

I totally agree with surreyvan, I don’t want to save a few quid but beggar up my gutters as a result.

I’ve ordered mine and it’s coming on Monday, so no one try and change my mind now, it’s too late!

 

I'd best order mine then in time for Swinbrook ! tbh I used to have one with my prototype bay but stupidly let it go with the van doh

 

The first one there will have to read the instructions, hopefully by the time I get to Swinbrook, you’ll be a veteran!

 

See ya there !