Bradcot air awning

[Rod_5079699]

Hi all we are thinking about replacing our portico plus awning with the aspire air awning any reviews good and bad please, ps. are they as heavy as I have been told, (funny enough by some one who does not own one !!) But need to erect by my self as the O/H is not to strong I am fit but getting on in years, we like the quality and build of Bradcot so any help welcome thanks.

 

[Sproket]

Hi Rod

The best advice i can give is for you to go to one of the shows and take plenty of time looking at all types & offerings from the various manufactures, feel the quality of the material and ask how much they weigh, and then ask your self if you could get it into the awning rail by yourself and when you take it down can you manage to get all of the air out prior to rolling it up to put it back into it's storage bag.

I did this in 2014 when I ordered our Kampa 330 pro air that has proved itself on many occasion, also have a good look at how they peg out, as some look like a spiders web when they have been put up, here are a few other makes for you to consider.

Kampa air awnings.

Sunncamp air awnings.

Vango air awnings.

Outdoor Revolution air awnings.

Dorema air awnings.

Bradcot air awning.

 

[carper2]

please delete

 

[carper2]

I bought the Bradcot Aire 390 Air awning at the show in October. I am using it in Spain at the moment. I don't think it is very heavy my wife feeds it into the awning rail and I pull it along. I then put 2 pegs in nearest the Caravan plugged in the electric pump less than 2 minutes later it was pumped up. It was pegged down and finished in about 35 minutes all was finished. I expect it will be easier and quicker next time.
I had to haggle to get the Electric pump as it £100 extra.

Les

 

[Raywood]

The weight can be checked if you ring the dealer where you are looking to buy or ring Bradcot on 01274 306811. The weight does not seem to be on their website which is a bit odd.

 

[Martin24]

If as stated on the Bradcot website, the materials used are the same as for their other awnings, I would expect it to be as heavy size for size as their ordinary porches and if anything, as you would be feeding the air beams through at the same time slightly heavier.

 

[saint-spoon]

Hi, I have an air awning, suncamp something or other, it is light due to the lack of poles, easily erected (seriously, I can do it by myself and the air tubes only take a dozen or so pumps each to fully inflate). I looked into them quite seriously when we bought our caravan and decided on the weight and ease of erection (No smutty remarks please). It has ticked all boxes so far for me and we have had it up in some pretty awful weather.

 

[brian_c]

Hello Rod.
I have one of the first kampa air awnings:- the 260 model.
I have made comments before regarding how I have found it. I have also commented that I wouldn't be without it now, and would never willingly get involved with a traditional poles awning again.

But to address one of your points regarding weight. I have found that because the awning material includes the inflatable poles then I find it heavier to initially thread. I still don't have a problem with it but find that I need to make sure the awning is positioned, before threading with the insert beading nicely exposed and in the area below the insertion point. (Hopefully you will understand my meaning)
The reason for this is that until the awning is threaded up the vertical rail and moving along the upper horizontal the actual awning weight does tend to want to pull its self back to the ground. So if there is a restriction at all like twisted material then it could be a struggle to pull this clear whilst maintaining the distance you have already threaded. This is obviously only a bit of an issue if you are alone because anyone helping would be able to easily prevent the awning slipping back whilst you were able to straighten out the material.
Again I'm speaking about the Kampa 260 so unsure if this is noticed with other awnings.
Best wishes Brian
(Oh and don't forget to take your pump)

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

The reason for this is that until the awning is threaded up the vertical rail and moving along the upper horizontal the actual awning weight does tend to want to pull its self back to the ground.

Do you have an opening in your awning rail at about head height or are you feeding the awning in from the bottom? It sounds like the bottom, but a dealer would have a tool to create an insert at whatever location you need next time the van is in for service. So much easier for porch awnings. We had this done on our van when new so it was easier to feed our Bradcot porch awning (with alloy poles).

 

[brian_c]

My previous caravan had a low entry so the problem was more profound on that one. This latest one has the entry point higher. However because of my first issues I automatically lay out the awning as I described anyway, so the problem doesn't arise.
It was never a real problem but a couple of times early on (before the penny dropped) I had threaded as far as I could but needed to readjust the remaining fabric and couldn't actually hold the weight whilst doing it. Consequently having to let gravity have its way whilst I rearranged the rest of the material.
A second person with minimal effort could have held the threaded section in place quite easily whilst the material was rearranged In both instances.
Mind you I wasn't aware it could be done, or hadn't actually given any thought to having the awning rail modified. Although once I had Sussed the method required I've had no issues since.
Regards Brian