We have discovered that our Motorhome only has so much room for so many people, and then it becomes too squishy for us. Especially when its too hot, or its raining – we realised the other day we need a Outdoor Room. So I started to look around, and have discovered a few varieties that I like!
Researching Outdoor Rooms
Our Awning
I was looking at our awning the other day – and noticed that it needs replacing. So I started to dream about what we could have on the outside for an Outdoor Room, and I realised it would be good to have something that was fully enclosed, with walls, window and even something that covered our door way so that as we walked out side (from being inside) if it was raining, we didn’t get wet! Is there anything that would fit the bill? Or should I say is there anything that is made on the market for Caravans/Buses/Motorhomes/RV’s that would be ideal for our situation?
Photo Courtesy of Anne-Marie Buttigieg
Annexes and Awnings Searches
I love searching online for products that help with either fixing up our Motorhome, or even replace parts in our Motorhome. Here is some different types of Outdoor Rooms (plus companies) that would be ideal for “Rose The Lifestyle Challenge Bus”…..
- The Awning Man – Albany Creek QLD – I found there website user friendly, full of photos and information and the best part was that they are a home based business.
Here are some of their features and benefits that I thought were a good selling point….
- They offer free quotes and advice
- You could easily navigate their website without having to download PDF files
- They have a products page as well as a gallery page
- Their photos were able to be clicked on so that you could see close up of what the annexes looked like, as well as sizes
- They have an about us page – sharing how the company started up in July 2003 by Bob & Jenny Stafford
They list their main focuses for their business…which is
- awnings, annexes, spare parts, accessories
- quality products
- competitive pricing policy
- on site delivery and installation
- timeliness
- sound advice and recommendations
They also provide a Mission Statement with a catchy phrase….
So if you have any awning, annexe, accessories, or spare parts need
THINK
The Awning Man
BRINGING COVER TO YOU
With a bonus FREE “The Awning Man Club” it would be hard to find a company that can beat that!
Photo courtesy of Jenny Johnson – to connect with Jenny go to Cruzin Nomads and like the fan page – Cruzin Nomads!
Back to google search I go – like I said I want to make sure we get an Outdoor Room that will suit our needs. I suppose I should share what our needs are for our Motorhome?
OK – here it is……we have five boys, four of them travelling with us. We only have a queensize bed, and a set of bunk beds. Our other two boys are sleeping on the front lounges. Which is fine – they are built to take their weight, and they are comfy (as far as I know – I keep asking our boys and they reassure me that they are sleeping fine!) but really they need their own beds. Plus we need an outdoor room where we can all go for extra space, and for when it rains…..
So to get back on topic – here is another company that I have found that provide Caravan Awnings….
-
“Caravan Awnings Australia Wide” – They serviced Australia Wide with supplying Caravan Awnings and Annexes in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin. They have an opt-in form where you are able to fill out your details and request a quote.
Here is a list of what they do provide –
- Caravan Awnings
- Motorhome Awnings
- Roll out Awnings
- Campervan Annexes
- Camping Equipment
- Curved Roof Rafters
- Anti-flap Kits
- Privacy Screens
- Parts and Repair of all Awnings
Yet that was the limit to the site – I searched for photos of their work, or even to get an idea on what the awnings looked like, but the site is set up as a landing page, and to capture your details.
Photo Courtesy of Jody Chambers
Back to the Drawing Board….I want to make sure I choose the best Outdoor Room – considering we are going to need this room for an extended period of travelling. We want to travel Australia, and have no intention of stopping.
After typing in “Motorhome Awnings QLD” I came across the site “Annexes and Awnings – Supplies”. Once I clicked in there I was directed to “Caravanning Queensland” site which had a huge list of supplies – everything to do with Caravans/Caravan Awnings!
Bingo – I had hit the jackpot (well as far as I was concerned I had!). There was a huge list to choose from.
- One that caught my eye was “Australia Wide Annexes” – it is a great site. They have photos, an about us page, contact us page, store locations, news and info page, annexes page, awnings page, camper accessories and accessories. Again the site is user friendly, and to see any of the tab information all you need is one click of your mouse.
Here are some of their features and benefits that I thought were a good selling point….
- They are a family owned company operating from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland
- Their designing process is based on years of industry experience developed from within the family in addition to talking & listening to our customers
- They offer an onsite fitting service in all locations though out Australia
- They are happy to measure, quote & fit our products in a caravan park, house or caravan storage center
- If you are not located near their Australia Wide Annexes locations then they also offer a do it yourself service – with a DVD to help you through the process of attaching your annex
- They have a huge range of annexes plus video clips sharing what they do have
- There is pictures plus measurements of each style of annexes
- They have different annexes for different styles of travelling, plus then have varieties for each annex that you purchase!
- The company also has a news and info page which shares all of their latest up to date information.
Australia Wide Annexes has stores in the following locations
- 9 stores in Queensland
- 9 Stores in New South Wales
- A store in Canberra and Melbourne
- 3 Stores in Western Australia
They actually have a Store in Kundra Park – so I am thinking that we might have to take a drive on over and check them out 🙂 Actually we might have to drive to a few different Annexes and Awnings Suppliers to make sure we can have an Outdoor Room that suits our bus and our family!
Photo Courtesy of Phillip Cullen
Not sure if I am right but from looking at their photos, and reading their information (plus drolling) I think the Isabelle Annexes Range would work for our needs! Particularly the “Forum” Style of annex! If you want to see what I mean then please take a look here! (click on the hi-lighted word!)
I am not even sure if our Motorhome can be fitted with any of the awnings that I have been researching….but I will be sharing my research with David. After all he is the Caravan Builder/Boat Builder expert 🙂
So far David has done every repair for our Motorhome, and has built everything. I know that he would probably want to build the awning as well. I have my fingers crossed (and toes) that we can have one built for our needs, and fitted to our Bus!!!
Cheers
Lisa
PS – if you do own a Awning Company with Annexes, and you would like to provide one for our bus, please contact us below as New Life on the Road is looking for sponsorships. We had over 13,000 views last month. Every product that is supplied to our Motorhome will be reviewed, shared on youtube and written in our blog!! Imagine that – your Awning/Annexes Company could easily be shared with over 13,000 readers – what would that do for your business?
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Please note that New Life on the Road did their own research on “OutDoor Rooms” for Caravan Awnings. All opinions and thoughts are our own.
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This blog post was part of a group writing project. To see more information about the topic “Outdoor” please connect with the following bloggers!
Total Travel Experience – Outdoor Education
Raising Great Kids Blog – Outdoor Activities For Kids
Personal Fitness Equipment Blog – Outdoor Gyms
Weekend Getaway Ideas – Outdoor Weekend
Cake Decorating For Fun – Outdoor Party Decorations
Composting Tips – Outdoor Composting Problems
Lisas Healthy Lifestyle Challenge – Outdoor Zumba
Parks in Sydney – Sydney OutDoor Cinemas
Hi Lisa,
I think the addition of an outdoor room sounds like a great idea and an awning would do the job nicely. Of course you’ll then want to get some chairs so you can relax in the new ‘room’ and maybe a table?
Now don’t start accumulating a load more stuff, will you! 🙂
Jan Littlehales recently posted..Stewed Rhubarb – in Ten Minutes
Hi Jan,
So funny that you should mention that – we already have the outdoor table and chairs! That is why we would love an enclosed annex to go with the awning. It was so much fun researching all of our options for an Outdoor Room.
Cheers
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
What a great way of creating more space. Your research on outdoor rooms is really comprehensive. Great article!
Caroline
Caroline Labour recently posted..Abba Backing Tracks
Hello Caroline,
Thank you for stopping and leaving your great comment. We sure need an Outdoor Room for much needed added space. The research was so much fun 🙂 Looking forward to seeing what comes from sharing the information about Annexes and Awnings.
Cheers
Lisa
Hello Lisa,
I guess with limited room insight you want to make as much as possible from the outside. And sometimes you need and outdoor room to do just that.
Sounds like quite a challenge to ad an additional room to your rolling home, but I am sure you will present your new outdoor room soon 🙂
Renee@ WeekendGetawayideas recently posted..Spa Weekends
Hi Renee,
Yes with limited room inside we do need more room on the outside. We are looking at so many different outdoor rooms and will be shopping around for prices/styles before we decide!
Cheers
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
There is a place here at Kippa Ring who does awnings and add on rooms and he has reasonable prices, it is The Canvas Place and you will find his contact information on my Site let me know if you want the Address or Phone #
Rita recently posted..Outdoor Education
Hi Rita,
Thank you for those details. Will let you know when we do need it as we are shopping around before we decide on which Outdoor Room we want to go with 🙂
Or maybe a company will chose us to help with supplying one to New Life on the Road for exchange of advertising!
Cheers
Lisa
We’ve got an awning on our caravan Lisa, and although it came with one, I’d never pay to get it put on again. It tends to be something that we never end up putting out. We only used it for the first couple of months and then haven’t put it out since then. It tends to be limited by how windy it is, too, and you have to put it in way too soon.
I know some people love them … but just think about it first because I know that there are also many (including us) who love the idea of them but never use it.
Hi Amy,
thank you for your feedback regards an outdoor room! We use our Awning all of the time, but its old and needs replacing. Ideally we need one that can be fully enclosed so that we have extra space/extra room for when its raining, or for when our boys need more space.
We are doing our research – looking at all of them before we decide on one!
Cheers
Lisa
I think it would be a must for travelling families to have an outdoor room and perfect for the summer weather that’s on the way.
Hi Jenny,
Yes – with our summer weather that is coming we need somewhere to sit out of the rain and the hot sun!
A outdoor room would be so handy for so many reasons.
Cheers
Lisa
I think having an outdoor room on your bus is defiantely needed to give you more space. You can then leave your shoes etc outside and would be great when it rains. We use to have an enclosed annexe on our caravan when I was growing up traveling which provided the extra bedroom for my brother and boarders we had traveling with us.
Hi Jackie,
We sure need somewhere to put our shoes in out of the rain! Wow you had boarders staying and travelling with you? Your parents are one in a million! We really need the outdoor room for extra space.
Cheers
Lisa
My husband, my two kids and I are travelling around in a Mercedes Viano Camper Van and we have the pull out awning. It is perfect for us! We are now looking for a mosquito net to go around it. I might end up making one using velcro to hold it up.
Good luck on our travels!
Currently we are on route to South France!
Eva 🙂
eva hamori recently posted..Hamori’s Travel with Kids – Top 10 Tips
Hi Lisa
An annexe would be ideal. When we had our Jayco we had an annexe and it made a big difference. At one stage we had a table in it and when the girls got older and they did not want to sleep together we used it for beds.
Hi Kerry,
Thanks for the comment! Looking forward to an annexe (fully enclosed) for extra space. Good to hear that another family have used it for beds/space.
Cheers
Lisa
Very nice…after almost 3 years of traveling the globe as a family, we have not ventured into the motorhome route…yet. Now I know where to go for the info when it comes time for us. Cheers from the Unstoppable Family in Brasil
Brian Swan recently posted..Surfing Really Low Tide with Hanalei in Brazil
Hi Brian,
Thanks for the great message – how we need to swap information…you can give us hints and tips on how to travel in Brazil, and we can give you hints and tips on how to live a life in a Motorhome 🙂
Cheers
LIsa
Looks like you’re having fun. Outdoor room is really good to have. It is helpful in providing more space for the family.