I’m looking for a new size 14 full air awning I have looked at dorema,Kensington and a bradcot v2 any advice on what is best to buy.we are a family of 4 and go camping on bank holidays and Two 7 day holidays in school half terms Thanks
Advice please for best full air awning
- Thread starter Paulski
- Start date
Mel
Moderator
- Mar 17, 2007
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Sun camp and Camptech also do a full air awning. See Attwolls site
https://www.attwoolls.co.uk/awnings/caravan/full-awnings
Can’t comment on them as never had one.
Have had a Dorema poled awning and I thought the quality was good.
Mel
https://www.attwoolls.co.uk/awnings/caravan/full-awnings
Can’t comment on them as never had one.
Have had a Dorema poled awning and I thought the quality was good.
Mel
- Jun 16, 2020
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Personally I would not go for another full awning. It ties you down too much for future caravan choice. Also, Sotheby’s air awnings. It complicates how they fit. An added complication for the tailoring.
I would look at a large porch. More choice.
I had a Bradcot some years ago. Terrible.
On the site I am on now, opposite me they have an Isabella. They come at a big cost. But the quality really stands out.
John
I would look at a large porch. More choice.
I had a Bradcot some years ago. Terrible.
On the site I am on now, opposite me they have an Isabella. They come at a big cost. But the quality really stands out.
John
Hi thanks for your ideas. I did look at a porch but my wife likes it cozy and prefers the sealed sides all round the caravan plus we have two young boys so hopefully plenty of years left with the same caravan. The isabella is a bit to much money I’m edging towards Dorema
- Nov 11, 2009
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We found that having a midi awning sized between a porch and full size was ideal. It gave more than enough space fir four plus two dogs. It could have a an annex for youngsters or friends to sleep in. The big plus was if you changed vans you don’t take a financial hit to change awnings. We bought a little used Isabella Magnum for less than half price. Our was poled as I prefer that type as easier to carry in the car with less weight in the respective bags.
- May 7, 2012
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Not sure there is a best awning, it all depends on the individual needs and budget. Basically the the more you pay the better one you should get but there are some bargains out there.
Air awnings can be heavy to put up as the poles are incorporated in with the fabric so I would check the weight to see if you feel you can manage it before buying. Personally I would avoid the full awning as it will be a specific fit for your caravan, if you change the caravan there is a fair chance the awning will not fit the new one.
I would go for the largest porch awning you can fit, or possibly the Bradcot one where you can add sections to allow you a big one for longer stays, and a smaller one for short stays. We have a Bradcot and have had no trouble with that and would be happy to go with another.
Dorema is another good make but I have no experience or knowledge of the Kensington.
Air awnings can be heavy to put up as the poles are incorporated in with the fabric so I would check the weight to see if you feel you can manage it before buying. Personally I would avoid the full awning as it will be a specific fit for your caravan, if you change the caravan there is a fair chance the awning will not fit the new one.
I would go for the largest porch awning you can fit, or possibly the Bradcot one where you can add sections to allow you a big one for longer stays, and a smaller one for short stays. We have a Bradcot and have had no trouble with that and would be happy to go with another.
Dorema is another good make but I have no experience or knowledge of the Kensington.
Hi thanks for your thoughts. My wife is not keen on porches as the sides leave gaps for air to pass through but saying that I have no experience with porches does the bradcot fit snug to side of caravan
- Nov 11, 2009
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Don’t know about Bradcot but the Isabella Magnum ( midi rather than porch) and a Dorema porch both fitted very well, but they were erected with carbon fibre or grp poles not air awnings.
- Jul 18, 2017
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The Isabella goes up flat against the side of the caravan and has a huge pads to stop draughts at either end. You get more of a draught by the wheel arch.
- May 24, 2014
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- May 24, 2014
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If you look the whole air awning concept properly, the new Isabella Cirrus at around £2400 is probably the best. I say probably because it is Isabella, but as yet is totally untested. Its a brand new venture for Isabella under the Isabella name, however, under the Isabella banner, Ventura have been doing air awnings for some while now. Strangely, you dont see many around on campsites.
Moving down in quality you have offerings from Dorema and Bradcott in the same cost bracket as Kampa and Dometic (Kampa), Vango and a couple of others. There have been issues with Kampa/Dometic expolding air beams, and I speak from experience of that one. These can cost anywhere from 1k to 2k, and I would suggest if you are prepared to spenad 2k in this bracket, find the extra for Isabella.
At the other end of the scale, are a mixure of decent quality lightweigh ones, and to be fair some proper garbage too. These arent all bad, but you have to take them in context, none of them purport to be top quality.
As for the original question, the Isabella and others whilst not being "full awnings" do have annexes and extensions that can be added and I would have to say make them more usefull, for example when you dont always need the full awnings.
If its because of the seal to the caravan that you want a full awning, the Isabella offerings seal very very well so I wouldnt let that put you off.
Moving down in quality you have offerings from Dorema and Bradcott in the same cost bracket as Kampa and Dometic (Kampa), Vango and a couple of others. There have been issues with Kampa/Dometic expolding air beams, and I speak from experience of that one. These can cost anywhere from 1k to 2k, and I would suggest if you are prepared to spenad 2k in this bracket, find the extra for Isabella.
At the other end of the scale, are a mixure of decent quality lightweigh ones, and to be fair some proper garbage too. These arent all bad, but you have to take them in context, none of them purport to be top quality.
As for the original question, the Isabella and others whilst not being "full awnings" do have annexes and extensions that can be added and I would have to say make them more usefull, for example when you dont always need the full awnings.
If its because of the seal to the caravan that you want a full awning, the Isabella offerings seal very very well so I wouldnt let that put you off.
- Jul 18, 2017
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Agree as we do not have an issue with our Magnum sealing against the side of the caravan. Also easier to erect a porch awning than a full awning plus of course the porch weighs less and takes up less room than a full awning.
- Nov 16, 2015
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If I were to go for a full awning, Which I do not like, (different caravanning ways), I would still go for a poled awning in your case, The air awnings are possibly heavier than the poled.
Look for preloved ones , either poled or air. I sold a Dorema Awning for £50 , got it with my first caravan, putting it up for two nights away, was a hassle.
Check out Flee bay etc. Good bargains.
Look for preloved ones , either poled or air. I sold a Dorema Awning for £50 , got it with my first caravan, putting it up for two nights away, was a hassle.
Check out Flee bay etc. Good bargains.
- Jan 3, 2012
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- May 7, 2012
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Yes a visit to a good showroom would be a good idea you can check out the designs and hopefully feel for the quality.
No problem with air getting round the sides of our Bradcot awning, it has thick buffers on the end of the canvas that prevents this. Biggest thing to check though is position of windows, so the ends do not cover these.
No problem with air getting round the sides of our Bradcot awning, it has thick buffers on the end of the canvas that prevents this. Biggest thing to check though is position of windows, so the ends do not cover these.
- Nov 11, 2009
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On our last caravan the porch awning had to go onto the front nearside windows as dear Swift hadn’t got the sense to leave an adequate sidewall gap between the door edge and the window edge. But I always washed the window on arrival at site and used a wet cloth to clean the awning vertical sealing pad. Plus awning clamps were placed in the awning rail to stop the top of the awning going side to side. Never had any scratches on the window.
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