Bell tent awning

[TopsyTail]

We have a 4m bell tent which is fine for us, but I would really like somewhere to site under cover outside. I was thinking about an awning. Does anyone have one? Are they easy to put up? I go camping on my own with the boys, so it needs to be a single person job if possible.

[whatwouldaudreydo]

I'm going camping alone with two kids and have a 5m bell. Was asking the same thing recently on here and UKcampsite and lots of people raved about the Obelink Malu tarp here:

www.obelink.co.uk/tents/tent-canopies-tarps/tarp-beige-tc.html

It is lovely, and the right colour, but it's enormous and I really struggle with it!

So I've got one of these on order as they look more manageable and I like the way they hug the bell tent and meet the ground:

www.bctdivisions.co.uk/page.php?id=896

They're out of stock at the mo, but should be made and shipped in the next week apparently.

Also found this, but it doesn't mention sizes so might be worth emailing to check it's not huge!

duskydeer.co.uk/product/bell-tent-canopyporch/

Not much choice really and it probably depends on whether you can whip up a tarp into some discernable shape alone, which I don't think I can!

[Kmski]

I think the one that hugs the bell tent might be a bit small on some bell tents. Bells have different heights of doors and for some people it would mean bending 'miles' before the tent.
I have the same dilemma. I am wondering whether I could buy an awning but use 4 poles one in each corner to keep it as high above my head as possible? Does this make any sense?

[Kmski]

...possibly having higher poles closer to the tent and above the entrance so any water would be drained away from the tent?

[pictish]

We bought this one, and it's fantastic. We're just back from a week's camping, and we sat out when it rained and when the sun shone. Fabulous.

[pictish]

Oh...and it stands alone as a seperate tarp as well of course, so you can have it as a large porch, or to the side on its own.

[Kmski]

pictish
Would getting inside be comfortable for someone say 183 cm high? I have a 5m bell from Karma Canvas but was thinking of buying a tarp from Obelink as the same size is 40 pounds cheaper. Any reasons why you bought from Karma?

[pictish]

Yes...it was cheaper than those shysters at Belltent UK.
If I'd have seen the Obelink one I'd have bought that.

[kernowmissvyghen]

We have the BCT one that Audrey linked to. It is fairly small and easily manageable by one person. You can do more with it than shown on the BCT website though, we have it like a wing with 3 poles at the front, which gives loads of sitting space.

The people at BCT are lovely and their customer service is fab. All their stuff is made by them in Britain too, so quality is very good.

[SeaShellsMyDogTrulySmells]

I have the Malu from Obelink and it's fab :)

[whatwouldaudreydo]

kernowmissvyghen thank you! My BCT canopy came on Thursday with no instructions of any kind - I would never have figured out having it like that at the front!!

[whatwouldaudreydo]

kernowmissvyghen sorry, one more thing - how do you find it in the wind? Do you leave it up? Some awnings look like you need to take them down when the wind gets up, but I thought the BCT one looked a bit more sturdy and ok to leave up all the time...?

[kernowmissvyghen]

It's a pleasure! We were a bit foxed when the thing first arrived too

If I can get it to work, here's a photo of it in situ-

[kernowmissvyghen]

My first ever successfully posted photo!

Audrey, I haven't tested it in serious windy weather, but it was fine left up all the time in average weather when we camped on the coast at Whitby last year. The poles and guys are very sturdy- I think a couple of extra guys on the diagonals would keep it fixed in all but really extreme conditions!

[pictish]

Here's mine. So sweet!

[SeaShellsMyDogTrulySmells]

Fab pictures!

We've used a Malu during storms as we had to cook outside : it was fine. We dropped the windward side and put the car down that side, then lifted the "leeward"side and it was fine. So was the bell amazingly - only damage was where the windward side of the A-frame nearly ripped out. We did take it down during the night though :)

You just need to experiment - I'd suggest taking 3 telescopic poles so you can much around with having sides higher etc so get max wind/rain/sun protection

[pictish]

We have the malu - it's good and spacious.

[Mylovelylovelyhorse]

Pictish, is that the obelink wing, which I think is exactly the same as the malu tarp?

We've got one and will be using it for the first time this weekend. I can't figure out how to pitch it but your photo is very helpful. Is that with just the two poles it comes with?

[pictish]

It's the Karma Canvas awning which is exactly the same as the Obelink malu.

[pictish]

And the one on belltent uk.

[pictish]

Oh and yes...just the two poles.

[pictish]

Sorry - yes it is the same as the Obelink wing.

[SeaShellsMyDogTrulySmells]

Obelink sale including tarps - 50% off

www.obelink.co.uk/tents/tent-canopies-tarps.html#ty%3Bpagination_contents%3B%2Ftents%2Ftent-canopies-tarps-page-2.html