Awnings

[Trevor_374228873]

I have just bought a new caravan (my first) and am looking at awnings. Is there a table that ranks the type of fabric or are they all the same.

 

[RogerL]

No, not all fabrics are the same. Generally the heavier a fabric the better - weight is specified as gms/sq metre. Acrylic is better than polyester-coated cotton which in turn is better than cotton.

Generally the more you pay the better the quality. Isabella is generally regarded as the best but it's difficult to justify the very high cost - a bit like comparing a Bentley to a Volkswagen.

Having bought an Isabella for our first caravan, which showed little wear after 18 years, we opted for a NR for our current caravan as a more cost-effective purchase, and are very pleased with it.

 

[chrisn7]

Trevor, unless you are in a hurry,or must have the latest, look around for a new awning that is last years model(or even the year before). These are often substantially discounted and make much more financial sense, especially if you are considering Isabella. Note that despite the quality even these have some pretty weedy plastic fittings

 

[RichardS1]

From a quality perspective Isabella take some beating, but value for money have a look a the Inaca awnings sold by Barrons. They was a thread on these awnings several months back that you is worth searching back and reading. Everyone who responded who owns one of these awnings rated them highly.

 

[RickyLionheart]

Buying an awning and how much you are going to spend on it is purely down to how much you are going to use it.

If you are using it for every weekend of the season then buy an expensive one but if it is just for your annual two week holiday,then buy a cheap one

 

[Rioja]

If you are brand new to 'vanning I would see how you get on initially before investing more cash on an awning. As stated in a previous reply , if the majority of the time you are just weekending you might decide it's not worth the effort of putting one up. It will take you a couple of hours the first few times. Having decided you love vanning, love the van you have, I personally would buy an Isabella. Once again, you don't need to buy new.Just look in the Caravan Club magazine, there are usually loads of nearly new second hand ones for sale.( Probably available for the reasons previously described !)

If you are an old hand at 'vanning and you have just bought your first brand new van, do what we did, push the boat out and buy a brand new Isabella too !

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Trevor

We have just sold our full size Isabella awning on ebay, we hadn't used it for 5 years as we found it was too much trouble to put up for weekends, it was a fabulous awning,and we had a lot of interest on ebay and got more than we were expecting.We also sold our porch awning as it was too small. We bought a smaller brand new Ventura awning off ebay, the person selling had never used it, it is made by Isabella but the fabric is lighter and easier to put up. It fits about 3/4 of our van so we have more space than a porch and it is easier to put up. I recommend ebay, if you type in Isabella or Ventura and search you will get a feel of what is available and a price range. Hope this helps.

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Keith,

Hows the Baily doing, good I hope.

Any idia if the new Pagent 6 comes with a Alko ball like the Senotors or will I have to push the dealer into supplying one when I pick it up.It was thing I forgot to check when buying(along with according to Nicky five weeks free holiday in France with all ferry fees paid and as much wine and 1664 we could drink)

Rob

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Rob, Good to hear from you again, Bailey is fine had a weekend way a couple of weeks back to try the new awning and will be away for Christmas in it, still no major problems, planning to put an extra 12v socket in the toilet box to run an extra awning light. I don't know if your new van comes with the Alko I suspect it will, both our last caravans have and in each case the dealer provided the tow ball for the car, still looking for the 1664, and the trip to France, must be in one of the cupboards we don't usually use. Your van must be due soon mustn't it, so hope you don't get too much bad weather in your area for the next few weeks so you get chance to try it.

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Keith,

The dealers sent a letter a coulple of weeks back stating the van would be built in January and delivered shortly after. So it may be January or Febuary,looking forward to taking delivery, but not a hassel if it is Febuary.

As far as the weather in Cheshire, plenty of rain of late, but not the strong winds the south has been having.

Take care

Rob