As many of you will know I recently traded my trusty Isabella for a Kampa Rally Air Pro 390.
I packed it away yesterday after its second use and I have to say I really dont like it.
Its first time out was on a fairly flat pitch that had a slight slope front to back and a similar slope corner to corner on the diagonal. On putting the awning up I found that both outer legs were alighly bent inwards at the centre. It gave it the impression of being having slightly knock knees. I put this down to the pitch and it being the first time I put it up.
A second point that it was very difficult to pull through the awning rail and kept jamming. The Issy used to slide through like a hot knife through butter. I am wondering if the profile beading is slighly narrower than on a trad awning.
Condensation I was warned of at purchase but I was quite surprised at the amount. The metal legs to increase the seal against the van actually work against their purpose and i got a better seal when I discarded them. The storm bands are utter rubbish and wouldnt hold a childs ballon.
Before my next trip i thoroughly lubed the awning rail with awning lube and hoped for a better experience. This time we picked the pitch very carefully. Absolutely dead flat and level. I followed the instructions to the letter, something I didnt do first time out and although a little better it still had cowboy legs. With the legs a bit straighter we found the roof a bit flappy and indeed water began to collect on it.
We still found it incredibly difficult to feed through the rail again trapping it frequently. Although not very tall, weak Im not and I had real problems with it. Condensation was awful again.
Once erected it looks very nice but I certainly dont feel confident with it in inclement weather. The storm bands being the big worry. The supplied pegs are tin, the plastic clips to awning are flimsy but the band that joins the webbing strap to the peg is of the same strength and material as a childs hair band.
Conclusion mainly about the legs are that a trad awning has aome adjustment for the legs but an uneven pitch can seriously throw this thing out of kilter. Whether Kampa have released some seconds into the market whereas the fabric is pulling these legs out of line I dont know but for me this thing has had its second and LAST outing. I will be getting shut of it as soon as I get back and buying a trad awning again.
I packed it away yesterday after its second use and I have to say I really dont like it.
Its first time out was on a fairly flat pitch that had a slight slope front to back and a similar slope corner to corner on the diagonal. On putting the awning up I found that both outer legs were alighly bent inwards at the centre. It gave it the impression of being having slightly knock knees. I put this down to the pitch and it being the first time I put it up.
A second point that it was very difficult to pull through the awning rail and kept jamming. The Issy used to slide through like a hot knife through butter. I am wondering if the profile beading is slighly narrower than on a trad awning.
Condensation I was warned of at purchase but I was quite surprised at the amount. The metal legs to increase the seal against the van actually work against their purpose and i got a better seal when I discarded them. The storm bands are utter rubbish and wouldnt hold a childs ballon.
Before my next trip i thoroughly lubed the awning rail with awning lube and hoped for a better experience. This time we picked the pitch very carefully. Absolutely dead flat and level. I followed the instructions to the letter, something I didnt do first time out and although a little better it still had cowboy legs. With the legs a bit straighter we found the roof a bit flappy and indeed water began to collect on it.
We still found it incredibly difficult to feed through the rail again trapping it frequently. Although not very tall, weak Im not and I had real problems with it. Condensation was awful again.
Once erected it looks very nice but I certainly dont feel confident with it in inclement weather. The storm bands being the big worry. The supplied pegs are tin, the plastic clips to awning are flimsy but the band that joins the webbing strap to the peg is of the same strength and material as a childs hair band.
Conclusion mainly about the legs are that a trad awning has aome adjustment for the legs but an uneven pitch can seriously throw this thing out of kilter. Whether Kampa have released some seconds into the market whereas the fabric is pulling these legs out of line I dont know but for me this thing has had its second and LAST outing. I will be getting shut of it as soon as I get back and buying a trad awning again.
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