Awning Purchase - Manufacturer / Model Reviews

[truckin73]

Hi All,

In market for new awning for new van. Any members thoughts on Manufacturers / Models much appreciated. Had a Dorema Senator Lux with carbon poles for 10 years for van just sold, which we were more than happy with, although the Dorema quick lock pads were not the most user friendly with the carbon pole end hooks.

 

[Allen774]

Hi,
I recently bought a Kampa 390 Pro, for my swift T/A. Its an inflatable just pegs and a pump and I'm well impressed.Even in strong winds I felt no concerns,and felt more relaxed than I ever did with the steel poles on my conventional awings.

 

[SamandRose]

Air awning all the way! We have a Vango Verkala. The benefits are as follows:

1. Better able to withstand wind, because the inflatable frame is part of the same structure as the awning itself and can't bend or break like a pole can
2. Erecting it is so much more marriage-friendly. After we've got it into the frame of the caravan I can do the rest on my own
3. Once it's fully erected, instead of hitting you over the head with the spare pole that there didn't seem to be space for, your wife will feel the rigid, fully inflated air beam and give a knowing smile :cheer: . No need to call it 'divorce in a bag' any more!

 

[saint-spoon]

I have got to say that I am in complete agreement with all above. Air is the way ahead. We have two, the dorema magnum (is it renamed starcamp or something?) with three segments that covers three quarters of the van and a shorter porch awning (SunnCamp swift air 260) for use in the winter when we are likely to have to dry it out in the dining room. Having helped my dad heave heavy steel framed awnings up for years and then having a selection of flexible framed tents I reckon that air is the way ahead for ease of erection.

 

[KeefySher]

We are in our second season with a Bradcot Aspire Air 390.

It has withstood storms that destroyed Isabella full awnings in Cornwall last year.

Easy to fit, can be done single handed. Find it best to peg the rear 2 corners under the caravan once fitted into awning rail, then attach electric pump to the most convenient of the 4 valves, switch on, couple of minutes later it's firmly inflated and stays put.

We didn't want a full awning as looking at an awning end and interior from the caravan lounge kind of defeats the objective of a pitch with a view.

Only last week, we de-cluttered all the junk we used to have in the awning. 3 reclining chairs, 1 small table for putting drinks on. Rolled up the middle front door panel; a lovely area to sit in and relax.

We have found operating each valve to open as we roll the awning up makes packing it easier. Bit like the old days of putting dingies away.

 

[saint-spoon]

I like the look of that awning KeefySher, similar to my magnum air but squarer at the top. Does it have separate air chambers for each leg or are they all connected to one another? in the Magnum I have to pump up all four chambers and then there are stiffening beams that pump up separately and velcro into place.

 

[Dustydog]

At the risk of upsetting the apple cart I have to disagree boys.
My upmarket Kampa Rallye Pro 330 8s not the darling many will have you believe.
It is well documented on here with photos how she faired and failed .
Kampa customer services have been excellent delivering new air legs direct to site next day. Three inner tubes and one middle tube have failed.I am not alone. Others have suffered too including severe material. Colour fade.
I will sell my Kampa next spring complete with all the goodies over £10000 worth.
The Kampa is not an all season awning like our ever faithful Isabella which is currently standing secure on the Scottish Highland oast in some hurricane winds.
Just compare the Izzy storm straps to those of the Kampa. I rest my case on that point alone.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

.... complete with all the goodies over £10000 worth.

That's a hell of a lot of goodies. Are the hurricane winds blowing a lot of zeros about?

 

[Dustydog]

.... complete with all the goodies over £10000 worth.

That's a hell of a lot of goodies. Are the hurricane winds blowing a lot of zeros about?

It's the Mozzie Factor :woohoo:

 

[truckin73]

Thanks for all the responses. Remain undecided between traditional and air awning - advantages/disadvantages and good/bad reports with both. Traditional is currently the favoured option.

 

[Hutch]

We have an inflatable porch awning , swift 260 great, and a 390 carbon light which I think We will sell next year, for a slightly larger air awnin. Have had good results from the air awnings, getting better.
Hutch.

 

[KeefySher]

I like the look of that awning KeefySher, similar to my magnum air but squarer at the top. Does it have separate air chambers for each leg or are they all connected to one another? in the Magnum I have to pump up all four chambers and then there are stiffening beams that pump up separately and velcro into place.

Apologies for delay is replying.

The air chambers are linked. You only inflate via 1, normally nearest the car!!! No fiddling with moving of beams. It really is a super awning.

We have got it down to a fine art now.

 

[RayS]

Depends on your use pattern. On site in Spain we have seen quite a number of 'air' awnings destroyed in the sudden squalls which can come in from the sea.
We use Dorema large porch awning. When the old one failed - all zips gone at 6 years use and second hand when we bought it - I talked with Dorema and they advised steel rather than fibre poles for long-term use (even though their fibre pole versions would have been more expensive - as so far they have been proved correct.

So for long stay I would stick to 'traditional'. For short stay / fine weather I use a Fiamma Caravanstore which can be rolled up in about 5 minutes even in a strong wind ( by two fairly energetic people ) and is much quicker to errect and strike.

 

[Buffers]

i was talking to someone recently who was full of the praises of the Kampa pro. however they did say someone was cleaning theres and a spot of bird poo had rotted the outer layer of the roof.
Also will shortly be in the market for a new awning and this tale has put me off the inflatables.

 

[FrintonMike]

My local dealer had a Kamp air ace 400 on test as the owner aid it took 12 hours to deflate.
When I went back a couple of days later the staff were changing one of the inflatable poles so it looks as if the owner was correct

 

[saint-spoon]

We have an inflatable porch awning , swift 260 great,
Hutch.

Our small porch awning is a swift air. Funnily enough I was chatting to a chap on site last weekend and he was in the market for a smaller awning as he had a full size and a canopy but wanted something for short weekends and travelling around France and Spain. The swift with the single U-shaped air beam is a fantastic in my opinion, up in less than ten minutes and down in even less time. Ours has had to handle some pretty rough weather as well, it more than handled the Easter storms. It all depends what you want but I can see the air frame dominating the awning and tent market in the next few years. Much lighter and easier to erect.

 

[Mel]

We saw a bradcot modus air awning which is constructed in sections but is effectively a full air awning. All the awning showrooms that we have been to lately are full of air awnings on display and very few poled awnings being displayed.
Mel