How much additional canvas do you carry ?

[albany_nomads]

Ive just come back from a two and half week trip/tour of the Pilbara and and north west coast line and one thing I try to take note of is the stuff you take but don't use,.
One thing I seem to cart around is a large black tub of additional canvas for enclosing in the Awning which I never used. (I use the awning that is but not the extra canvas walls)
I'm thinking that the canvas that attaches to the end of the awning where the rear tail gate is and kitchen may come in handy....but I'm questioning the rest.
I curious how much additional surplus canvas do other swaggers carry along with them...Kind Regards John....Albany Nomads  

[darren]

Have all those walls and sealing bits plus a large annex. Never even looked at the walls, only used the large roof a few times.
Never carry them

[HEM19X]

We also carried the full annex canvas but only ever used it twice...then again it's better to have what you don't need than need what you don't have!

Space was never a real issue, just as well 'cause we usually carried at least 2 tarps, - with extra poles, ropes, pegs etc.

Hem

[BigJules]

Similarly, we have all the walls for the annex, plus some clear windows and a front room, have only used them a few times each, and never all at once. Each time I do use them I wonder why I don't use them more often, as they're really easy to put up, not too much hassle to put away and keep the rain and wind out etc. They don't weigh much, but do take up 1/3 of the front box.

[hutchie62]

Carry all the canvas if we are going to stop in one spot for a while, if we are on  the move all the time awnings only.

[Tim - Stratford]

Full annex if in the one place for a week or more - great for keeping the european wasps out of the kitchen.

[discoteddy]

We take the full annex for a week or more aswell, always have the awning roof attached and leave the kitchen wall in the trailer, just in case.


Cheers,

Disco.

[Jon]

Annex floor- carried, not used
Annex front wall- carried, not used
Annex mesh walls- Carried, not used
trailer infill- carried, not used
Annex end walls- carried and used at least once each 

Time to rationalise our kit me thinks.

[Silvo]

i carry my annex roof and 1 end wall..

overnights i never use them, only when i am staying for more than 1 night, and i put them up each time for those camps.

i've used my full walls once, and that was for a 4 night camp, in the pouring rain.

[oldblade]

we carried our annex walls around for 2.5 years and used it once

[Blinky Bill]

Excellent topic John - I'm especially interested in this as I'm off to range far and wide from Southern SA to Western WA to Northern NT & all stations down the centre and back home.

Funnily enough the Missus and I discussed this subject months ago & decided better to have it than not. And for us space is no big deal.

Like the others if more than a few days up goes the full annex (sides and walls and skirting). Otherwise it's just the easy peezy always connected light awning.

The exception to this is IF we encounter Mozzies. The Missus being a vegan (the Pope of vegetarians) must have delicious blood because the mozzies absolutely love her. Therefore first sign of a mozzie and up goes the full kit, whether or not I like it or lump it.

Cheers for that - Wayne

[Bird]

The first time you dont take it is the time you will want to use it.

[albany_nomads]

Like many of you I leave my awning zipped on and if just an overnight stop I leave it pulled back over the camper....More than an overnight I erect the awning..and only twice added the end kitchen canvas wall the rest has stayed in a tub getting dragged around the country side  .
great to read all your comments..thanks

[speewa158]

There is a cover tarp which is huge to keep the CT as dry as possible . It also makes a darker fly & catches bird grap & gum 

[GS]

We use our awning, kitchen wall and trailer infill on every trip.

If it is a crowded site the mesh walls go up for a bit of privacy.

The canvas walls go on if it is really wet or extremely cold.

Our preference is not to use the walls, but are carried just in case.

Grant

[darren]

The exception to this is IF we encounter Mozzies. The Missus being a vegan (the Pope of vegetarians) must have delicious blood because the mozzies absolutely love her. Therefore first sign of a mozzie and up goes the full kit, whether or not I like it or lump it.

Cheers for that - Wayne

Isn't that ironic. Someone who doesn't eat animal products is eaten by animals themselves...

Back on topic.
All this is weight, space and time to assemble and disassemble. Rather than say if i don't take it i will need it why not think if i need it can i make do with out it...

[Garry H]

interesting topic......
the camper I bought hasn't got the awning, and I've often wondered about buying one to suit,
am thinking we don't usually stay in one place long enough to justify and the family has turned into fair weather campers,
maybee the next camper (smaller hardtop for 2) might have the full setup for extended stays...........

cheers
Garry

[Malcur]

We are about the same as most others. The annex cover stays zipped to the main tent and left on top of the tent for one night stays, but is put up for stays of 2 or more nights. The side wall near the kitchen is always put up. We have only put up the other side wall once or twice and have never put up the front wall of the annex. But we carry both "just in case". We also have a front annex that goes over the drawbar, but have never used it. We also carry a large (7m x 5m) tarp that we have used in wet weather. I have built a tray under the bed where the canvas hides so it is no real bother having it there.

Mal

[JCOJ]

We have used only the full annex once - and that was on our very first trip just to try it out.

The end walls we have used three times.

The kids room we take everywhere but only put it up for stays 3 nights or longer.

The shower room we have never even taken out of the bag it came in - and have taken it away with us twice.

[Redback]

Carry all the canvas if we are going to stop in one spot for a while, if we are on  the move all the time awnings only.

excactly what we do.

Baz

[gibbo301]

Had our camper for 12 years used the full annex once shouldn't of even bought it.

[Alloy C/T]

On a 26 week ,23,000klm trip [13,000 of that dirt] we put the camper up 52 times , full walls for annex were used on stays of 4+ days when raining and when in c/van parks crammed in so tightly you just wanted the walls for some privacy and to stop ignoramuses walking straight through your annex as if was a thoroughfare. Recon its better to have them and not use them  rather than not have them and need them.

[Tracey family]

Our awning stays zipped on to the camper and we use that and the kitchen wall every time (never stopped anywhere for less than 2 nights). The rest of our kit includes a draft skirt, and separate flyscreen and canvas annex walls. We rarely use these but we carry them just in case of bad weather. They are folded and kept on top of the mattress while travelling and we just toss them on the floor when we set up.

Glenyse

[Gunna Do]

The amount of canvas we take away with us is based on where (how far away), how long we are going (and staying), and will it be a travelling holiday (setting up everynight).

With most of our trips away being travelling ones, and with the need to keep the weight down, we only take the annex roof (which is folded up with the camper anyway), and one end wall.

We have in the past taken all the annex walls (and used them) on a trip to a caravan park for a week long, set up and stay there holiday.  On a week long holiday in one spot, especially in a caravan park, the enclosed annex can help with privacy as much as dry living space in wet weather.

Everyone is prepared to cart extra canvas around, and then bang on about everything having two uses to be worth taking, and it's not like it's light or compact stuff when you've got enough of it.  

It's probably more about reducing setup and pack up times, as much as reducing weight.


Almost complete annex setup (minus long side of annex canvas walls)


Simple annex roof and endwall setup.

[camdyson]

Generally none if one rain-free night (awning folded back on roof). Any longer and the awning goes up - 3 poles/guys so easy enough. If more than a couple of nights and/or crap weather, end walls go on too. Have never put the "front" wall on the awning.

Interesting topic. I'm seriously considering not taking ANY of the walls on our desert trip later this year - just alot of dead weight and we won't do any real long stops. Main reason we use end walls is to offer shelter to the stove etc, but really I bother less and less lately.

Cheers,

Cam