Awnings - Which? Where?
Discussion
So the caravan needs an awning. It came with loads of awning poles but no cover for them!
So there are the traditional awnings with great big poles weight a ton, and take longer to erect than a tent. There are the lightweight fibreglass pole versions of the same thing, and there are porch awnings.
Then there are different manufacturers and within those manufacturers they have different ranges, oh and then you can buy new or second hand.
So whats everyone got in awnings? My suspicion is in the ideal world you'd have a big heavy awning for a week or more away, and lightweight porch for weekends, but is that what everyone does?
So there are the traditional awnings with great big poles weight a ton, and take longer to erect than a tent. There are the lightweight fibreglass pole versions of the same thing, and there are porch awnings.
Then there are different manufacturers and within those manufacturers they have different ranges, oh and then you can buy new or second hand.
So whats everyone got in awnings? My suspicion is in the ideal world you'd have a big heavy awning for a week or more away, and lightweight porch for weekends, but is that what everyone does?
Why not go to inflatable? Best of both worlds: quick to put up and strong and lightweight?
We bought a Kampa Motor Air 390 XL for our MH however I sent it back and got their Motor Midi Air Tall as I couldnt attach it to my MH single handedly..which was important to me. The Midi Air is a driveaway awning which suits us perfectly.
The Kampa products are superb quality
We bought a Kampa Motor Air 390 XL for our MH however I sent it back and got their Motor Midi Air Tall as I couldnt attach it to my MH single handedly..which was important to me. The Midi Air is a driveaway awning which suits us perfectly.
The Kampa products are superb quality
Edited by oblio on Sunday 19th April 12:50
We have a full traditional type, a 2/3 lightweight porch awning and a 1/3 lightweight porch awning that came with the caravan and I don't think has been used.
The downside of the Vango to me is that the hardest part is pegging the awning down. The poles are actually very straightforward.
The downside of the Vango to me is that the hardest part is pegging the awning down. The poles are actually very straightforward.
surveyor said:
We have a full traditional type, a 2/3 lightweight porch awning and a 1/3 lightweight porch awning that came with the caravan and I don't think has been used.
The downside of the Vango to me is that the hardest part is pegging the awning down. The poles are actually very straightforward.
Strange you should mention the pegging down issue as just been discussing it in the office and a fellow carvanner said exactly the same. Whats the point as the time consuming bit is pegging it down.The downside of the Vango to me is that the hardest part is pegging the awning down. The poles are actually very straightforward.
Having said that I assume ome advantage of an inflatable is that there will be none of the standard awning dings in the side of the caravan.
I guess that Isabella is the money-no-object awning. Rigid fibreglass poles and a reasonably hefty construction. Peg it out and guy-line it properly, and it'll withstand very strong winds. They're classed as 4-season awnings but I have been to some coastal regions where the winds made me doubt the integrity of the caravan, so I wouldn't trust any fabric construction in those conditions.
We were in Wales about 4 years ago where the winds were so strong we saw two awnings completely wrecked and several tents in trees or missing altogether. What they had in common was those 6mm flexible fibreglass poles. Even with care and attention to guy-lining them, they just can't withstand the sheer weight of the wind against the sides. In contrast, my brother's triple-stitched bell-tent with a single 35mm central pole stood firm. We have all always used v-profile tent pegs and land anchors where we felt the conditions warranted it but simply anchoring a tent or awning to the ground won't stop it from folding in two if the poles are flexible. That also applies to inflatable structures. I must admit, I've been very impressed with our friend's Vango inflatable in quite strong winds but it does have limitations. It wouldn't have withstood those winds we experienced in Wales.
We were in Wales about 4 years ago where the winds were so strong we saw two awnings completely wrecked and several tents in trees or missing altogether. What they had in common was those 6mm flexible fibreglass poles. Even with care and attention to guy-lining them, they just can't withstand the sheer weight of the wind against the sides. In contrast, my brother's triple-stitched bell-tent with a single 35mm central pole stood firm. We have all always used v-profile tent pegs and land anchors where we felt the conditions warranted it but simply anchoring a tent or awning to the ground won't stop it from folding in two if the poles are flexible. That also applies to inflatable structures. I must admit, I've been very impressed with our friend's Vango inflatable in quite strong winds but it does have limitations. It wouldn't have withstood those winds we experienced in Wales.
Watchman said:
I guess that Isabella is the money-no-object awning. Rigid fibreglass poles and a reasonably hefty construction. Peg it out and guy-line it properly, and it'll withstand very strong winds. They're classed as 4-season awnings but I have been to some coastal regions where the winds made me doubt the integrity of the caravan, so I wouldn't trust any fabric construction in those conditions.
We were in Wales about 4 years ago where the winds were so strong we saw two awnings completely wrecked and several tents in trees or missing altogether. What they had in common was those 6mm flexible fibreglass poles. Even with care and attention to guy-lining them, they just can't withstand the sheer weight of the wind against the sides. In contrast, my brother's triple-stitched bell-tent with a single 35mm central pole stood firm. We have all always used v-profile tent pegs and land anchors where we felt the conditions warranted it but simply anchoring a tent or awning to the ground won't stop it from folding in two if the poles are flexible. That also applies to inflatable structures. I must admit, I've been very impressed with our friend's Vango inflatable in quite strong winds but it does have limitations. It wouldn't have withstood those winds we experienced in Wales.
The flexi type pole awnings are usually marketed as 'lightweight' and not suitable for very heavy winds....We were in Wales about 4 years ago where the winds were so strong we saw two awnings completely wrecked and several tents in trees or missing altogether. What they had in common was those 6mm flexible fibreglass poles. Even with care and attention to guy-lining them, they just can't withstand the sheer weight of the wind against the sides. In contrast, my brother's triple-stitched bell-tent with a single 35mm central pole stood firm. We have all always used v-profile tent pegs and land anchors where we felt the conditions warranted it but simply anchoring a tent or awning to the ground won't stop it from folding in two if the poles are flexible. That also applies to inflatable structures. I must admit, I've been very impressed with our friend's Vango inflatable in quite strong winds but it does have limitations. It wouldn't have withstood those winds we experienced in Wales.
We've got a full bore full size Dorema awning with just the standard presumably steel poles. Takes me an hour on the nose to set up on my own including pegging, groundsheet etc whilst the mrs is organising the inside of the van and taking care of HR Jr. It's a piece of piss to set up when you get used to it and figure out a system of doing the poles in the right order etc.
Wouldn't be without it as it basically doubles your available space. Hence we leave our dinette made into the bed for us as we don't need that space as living space. It's also got plenty of room for my daughter to play in as well as having a dining table, chairs and all the rest. Recommended.
Wouldn't be without it as it basically doubles your available space. Hence we leave our dinette made into the bed for us as we don't need that space as living space. It's also got plenty of room for my daughter to play in as well as having a dining table, chairs and all the rest. Recommended.
hornetrider said:
We've got a full bore full size Dorema awning with just the standard presumably steel poles. Takes me an hour on the nose to set up on my own including pegging, groundsheet etc whilst the mrs is organising the inside of the van and taking care of HR Jr. It's a piece of piss to set up when you get used to it and figure out a system of doing the poles in the right order etc.
Wouldn't be without it as it basically doubles your available space. Hence we leave our dinette made into the bed for us as we don't need that space as living space. It's also got plenty of room for my daughter to play in as well as having a dining table, chairs and all the rest. Recommended.
Just bought one very similar to this on Ebay, and then discovered a neighbour down the road has an awning that they need to get rid off as it doesnt fit their new van!Wouldn't be without it as it basically doubles your available space. Hence we leave our dinette made into the bed for us as we don't need that space as living space. It's also got plenty of room for my daughter to play in as well as having a dining table, chairs and all the rest. Recommended.
Hi Chris, long time no talk!
We have a Kampa inflatable and I can't recommend it highly enough. I can get it set up in basic configuration in around fiftenn minutes, although if you start adding annexes and all the guy lines, the big floor mat etc then you can add at least another twenty. As you say, the main advantages are the light weight, ease of use, speed and no poles to scratch the caravan, a new bailey Pursuit 560/5..
As you will note, we've come a long from the days of a filthy matress and a pool of sick in the back of the Commer!
We have a Kampa inflatable and I can't recommend it highly enough. I can get it set up in basic configuration in around fiftenn minutes, although if you start adding annexes and all the guy lines, the big floor mat etc then you can add at least another twenty. As you say, the main advantages are the light weight, ease of use, speed and no poles to scratch the caravan, a new bailey Pursuit 560/5..
As you will note, we've come a long from the days of a filthy matress and a pool of sick in the back of the Commer!
Can't argue with other posters, we too have a Kampa 330 small awning for weekends but wanted a bigger one since we've now got a seasonal pitch. whilst the Dorema and Isabella ones are the nuts, at around £1400 for our size van I really couldn't justify/afford it. Then my local caravan dealer who I'd bought my last van from, put me on to a Dutch range sold in the UK by Gateway products.
http://www.gatewayleisureproducts.com/awnings.php
We bought the New Forest, 1050 long and the local dealer sold it to me for £470. Delivered in two days.
It's heavy and tbh the instructions are probably very good if you're a native Dutch speaker, otherwise they're a nightmare but since all awnings are much of a muchness, we worked it out fairly easily.
It's pretty good. Not brilliant, but good value for money IMHO.
http://www.gatewayleisureproducts.com/awnings.php
We bought the New Forest, 1050 long and the local dealer sold it to me for £470. Delivered in two days.
It's heavy and tbh the instructions are probably very good if you're a native Dutch speaker, otherwise they're a nightmare but since all awnings are much of a muchness, we worked it out fairly easily.
It's pretty good. Not brilliant, but good value for money IMHO.
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