Hi All

Though an avid reader this is my first post. I have found the site to be extremely useful for learning how to do simple jobs and modifications - thank you to all contributors.

I have a 2013 Triton 430 and want to add a pull out canopy before the summer. The choice seems to be between Fiamma and Omnistore. I was just wondering if anyone had a preference between the two makes that may help with my purchasing decision. I am thinking of going for a 3.5m canopy unless any Triton owners think there are good reasons to go for the 4m offering. Cost and weight form part of my rationale.

Lastly, can a anyone recommend a fitter in the Sussex area? AL have recommended someone but they are a 2 and half our drive away in Poole.

Thanks in anticipation.

Hi - We had a Fiamma roll out awning on our VW campervan for 5 years until we sold it last year & had niggling small problems with it during this time - it also tended to move about a lot in windy conditions even if supported with guy ropes.
We purchased an Eriba Troll this year with a Thule Omnistore fitted and it seems to be a far better engineered product.
This is only my view however and other folk may have other opinions.

Regards Steve

We have tried both, had two Caravanstores, which have now and Omnistore Cassette on a previous Triton. Both types were good quality makes but the only criticism of the Omnistore was that it obstructed the awning rail so stopping the use of a conventional awning.
The use of a secondary awning rail mounted higher up would solve the problem.
As stated 3.5 or 4.0m is too large for a Troll let alone a Triton.

Thank you very much for the info Colin Steve and Eribanut. My Triton is in store so I have not had exact measurements to work with. Any other thoughts/recommendations will be appreciated.

In terms of experience, I have camped for about 20 years with the family in folding campers. The children are now moved out so it is just myself and my wife. We are hopefully going to be doing ;lots of short trips and touring. There may be the occasional 1-2 weeks on the same site. We see the cassette canopy as quick and easy to use. We have friends with a beautiful (poled" awning that uses the awning rail. However, it seemed to take them about an hour of fairly hard work to put it up. We want to just arrive and be set up, beer/wine in hand, as quickly as possible.

I will continue to ponder over Omnistor and Fiamma - it seems they are both very reputable with people loyal to both. I will get some quotes in and take it from there. It would be good to go to a meet. Our last weekend away drew much interest from standard caravanners and another Eriba owner came straight over to shake hands and say hello.

I tell people that don't get "Eriba" that if it were a motorbike it would be a Harley Davidson! Hope to get away the weekend after next for the first time this year.

Fiamma Caravanstore .....brilliant piece of kit. Simple to use. Quick to put out but, more important, even quicker to put away, for example if the wind gets up during the night.
Can also be carried on the other side of the van when touring and using a full awning. Combined with a decent windbreaker gives great shelter and privacy.
Older versions of cassette roll outs such as the Omnistore block the awning channel prohibiting its use for full awning erection. The new version requires permanent fixing to the Eriba roof.

I have had a look at the Fiamma Caravanstore and am quite taken with it. It is about half the price of a cassette (including fitting charge) and about half the weight. My only concern would be that my awning rail is set just above the door and I think that this would be an issue with he bag hanging below it. Perhaps there is a solution to this out there?

Quote: johnf wrote in post #9

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I have had a look at the Fiamma Caravanstore and am quite taken with it. It is about half the price of a cassette (including fitting charge) and about half the weight. My only concern would be that my awning rail is set just above the door and I think that this would be an issue with he bag hanging below it. Perhaps there is a solution to this out there?

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Thank you for taking the time and effort to post pictures - very interesting! Adding the extra awning rail would be worth the effort but it seems that would not work on my 2013 Triton. I will go and look at it in storage and p[ost a picture showing location of existing rail.

Eribanut, I love the ingenuity of using a spoon to hold the bag above the door! On what model is the picture withe spoon?

Quote: johnf wrote in post #12

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Thank you for taking the time and effort to post pictures - very interesting! Adding the extra awning rail would be worth the effort but it seems that would not work on my 2013 Triton. I will go and look at it in storage and p[ost a picture showing location of existing rail.

Eribanut, I love the ingenuity of using a spoon to hold the bag above the door! On what model is the picture withe spoon?

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What a day! Eldest son getting married and I am trying to work out how to add a photo to a post! Fortunately, Mrs JohnF is supremely organised. Hopefully picture below shows very small gap between door and awning rail. If a Caravanstore can be made to work with this (I have spoons!) I am very tempted.

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