Putting up an annex
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382104)
Rockingham, Australia
March 16, 2017 9:50am CST
Some of you will know that we have a big bus which we fitted out as a motor-home. It is now up for sale for various reasons. It can be difficult to get into some areas. But with the four-wheel drive and caravan that we've now bought, both of which are second-hand, we'll be able to drop the caravan off at a park and go off-road exploring.
Today we put up the annex on the caravan as we haven't tried to fit it before. For a first time doing it without any instructions we thought we did quite well. We didn't yell at each other or stomp our feet or swear. 
As you can see, we also didn't pull it as tight and straight as it would need to be but we now know we can erect it when we need to. At the end of May (Edit: should be March) we are heading to Denmark on the south coast of Western Australia for a few days' break with some friends.
As you can see, we also didn't pull it as tight and straight as it would need to be but we now know we can erect it when we need to. At the end of May (Edit: should be March) we are heading to Denmark on the south coast of Western Australia for a few days' break with some friends.24 people like this
25 responses
@rebelann (117238)
• El Paso, Texas
16 Mar 17
Wow, now I am learning Australian. Soon I'll be so confused I won't know if I'm speaking American, British or Australian 
At first, when I saw the word caravan, I thought of a group of RVs traveling together on a road.
We call the unit in your photo campers. As for the Annex, I think they would call those tents but I'm not really sure about that.
I can see you'll have a blast when you visit your friends.
At first, when I saw the word caravan, I thought of a group of RVs traveling together on a road.
We call the unit in your photo campers. As for the Annex, I think they would call those tents but I'm not really sure about that.
I can see you'll have a blast when you visit your friends.5 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Mar 17
I thought the annex was especially for Herc's comfort.
4 people like this
@Juliaacv (56257)
• Canada
17 Mar 17
@JudyEv A lot of my in-laws are seasonal campers. They don't tow their units, they buy them to stay in a park, and they erect add-a-rooms to them. An add-a-room usually is a multi-purpose room where you can all go in the event of a rain storm if they are entertaining. They will be finished with nice windows, a ceiling fan, a/c and so on. But I like the style of yours because it looks very functional and yet it is portable and can be taken down and put back up again.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
@LadyDuck When he backs the BMW into the caravan to hitch it up, he needs to do it exactly right so that the tow-bar and the tow-ball line up. It is my job to tell him if he needs to go right or left or whatever. That bit is quite tricky too but we have just about got it worked out now. There is little room for error. It is a bit funny when we are both trying to keep our tempers!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
16 Mar 17
oh nice! With a tarp and a rug, you have an extra 'room' there too!
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
18 Mar 17
@JudyEv that's pretty cool, esp as you can take off shoes or whatever and keep more dirt and sand out of the main rooms
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 17
@Jessicalynnt Other friends have a similar outfit and the annex makes a secure area for their two little dogs.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
16 Mar 17
Denmark I was wondering how that would make it across the ocean LOL!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
The first post I ever did with 'Denmark' in it I didn't put West Aust. I just thought everyone would realise it was a town in West Australia!
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
17 Mar 17
Ya'll did a great job putting it up
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
Sometimes they can be very tricky to put up if you don't have any instructions.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
16 Mar 17
I'm glad you managed it without falling out ... it looks good too... we had a caravan andxan annex ( it's called an awning in the uk...) but its the same thing... it's very handy to have that extra space... we had some great trips in that caravan I hope you enjoy yourselves in yours ..
it looks good too... we had a caravan andxan annex ( it's called an awning in the uk...) but its the same thing... it's very handy to have that extra space... we had some great trips in that caravan I hope you enjoy yourselves in yours ..2 people like this
@xFiacre (14786)
• Ireland
16 Mar 17
@judyev and can you get it dismantled and packed away just as easily? We had a devil of a big complicated tent when I was 13 that we used on a 3 month road trip through Mozambique, Rhodesia (that's how long ago it was!) and South Africa. It was a nightmare getting packed away each time we were moving on.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91116)
• United States
16 Mar 17
Looks like your annex will work perfectly when you take your trip
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
Thanks. We have a floor for it too so it should give a nice bit of extra space.
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
16 Mar 17
Well now you have a great ride that works for you- that's a wonderful way to spend your retirement or whatever- seeing the country at your own pace and having some fun! And Denmark sure sounds like an unlikely city for Australia!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
@MarymargII Yes, we like getting away and travelling the roads.
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
17 Mar 17
@JudyEv Trips are always exciting and I'm a big fan of road trips!
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
18 Mar 17
Nice idea., and great for keeping dry when it rains, protect from too much sun etc.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
It will give us much more flexibility. It is totally fry-proof and we can wind up the sides to let the air in.
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
Thanks Patsie. We're looking forward to trying it out in a few weeks. :)
@allen0187 (59761)
• Philippines
17 Mar 17
That looks awesome!
Do enjoy it as much as you can!
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59761)
• Philippines
22 Mar 17
@JudyEv
Thanks for sharing another pic!
Thanks for sharing another pic!1 person likes this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
17 Mar 17
Soon Gulliver;s Travels will be replaced by Judy's Travels (lol)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
17 Mar 17
@JudyEv But you will be taking different routes (lol)
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
17 Mar 17
I have always dreamt of caravanning .. ;) your caravan is so cute with that annex.. ;)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
It is always good fun to head off and not know where you'll spend the night.
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
19 Mar 17
@JudyEv sounds like being free as a bird ..
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar 17
@epiffanie But even a bird needs a safe roost at night. :)
1 person likes this
