I am buying a new awning, advice please

[Beehpee]

Hi to everyone, I have decided I am deffinately going to buy a new awning after reading the repeated topics relating to Kampa awnings but I have a couple of queries for the more enlightened of you, ok, when I look at the spec of the Kampa it states for vans between 235-250 cm! If I look in my handbook it lists external height as 267cm but if I measure from ground to awning rail on the van itself it is 220 cm so where they get the 267 from is a mystery unless that includes the status ariel, so first question is dya reckon it will fit? Next, I went to visit a relative yesterday on a site who has a Starcamp Futura 260 and seeing this is what has finally made my mind up to buy one of these types of awning, I'm going for a 390 awning as I'm hoping I can then sell my porch awning and also my full awning and just have the one of the new type, so next question, the starcamp 390 I can buy for £160 but has no adjustable legs and has a hydrostatic head of 2000, the Kampa I can buy for £280 and has H/S of 4000, so how waterproof would a h/s 2000 be in comparison to 4000 and do you think the adjustable legs are a real advantage, the Starcamp in my opinion does look as as good as the Kampa but do you think the extras are worth the extra cost, cheers for any comments in advance peeps.

BP

 

[Surfer]

Hi to everyone, I have decided I am deffinately going to buy a new awning after reading the repeated topics relating to Kampa awnings but I have a couple of queries for the more enlightened of you, ok, when I look at the spec of the Kampa it states for vans between 235-250 cm! If I look in my handbook it lists external height as 267cm but if I measure from ground to awning rail on the van itself it is 220 cm so where they get the 267 from is a mystery unless that includes the status ariel, so first question is dya reckon it will fit? Next, I went to visit a relative yesterday on a site who has a Starcamp Futura 260 and seeing this is what has finally made my mind up to buy one of these types of awning, I'm going for a 390 awning as I'm hoping I can then sell my porch awning and also my full awning and just have the one of the new type, so next question, the starcamp 390 I can buy for £160 but has no adjustable legs and has a hydrostatic head of 2000, the Kampa I can buy for £280 and has H/S of 4000, so how waterproof would a h/s 2000 be in comparison to 4000 and do you think the adjustable legs are a real advantage, the Starcamp in my opinion does look as as good as the Kampa but do you think the extras are worth the extra cost, cheers for any comments in advance peeps. BP

After our recent experience with a Kampa awning skirt I would aviod them like the plague. Buy a Ventura Marlin and never look back.

 

[Beehpee]

What problem did you have? When you say the awning skirt are you referring to the piece that runs along the bottom of the caravan to cover the wheel and close off underneath?

 

[forestgump]

have a look on the dorema site click on factory outlet and look at the maxima got one real quality and for a big disscount comes with alloy poles we also got the annix if we need more space.

 

[Gagakev]

BP, think you are right about the height it includes the ariel, grab a tape and measure the rail at its max height to the floor, think you will find the Kampa has more head room at the front and with the adjustable legs you can gain a bit more, one of the other posters on here is changing from the suncamp to the kampa because of the adjustable legs. Set mine up over the weekend and although only a slight level ground differance from one end to the other you can get it almost level ( wish I took a photo now, looked like it was put up by a professional

)
Dont forget the extra's which will add to the cost but in my opinion well worth it, Rear poles, moonsoon poles and tie down kit, mine has withstood some pretty gusty winds
At the end of the day its your choice hope this helps

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

As I've replied to another thread, type 'Kampa Rally' into the search box and there's lots of threads/posts.
As far as complaints go about this awning the only bad one I've seen is the one from surfer about the skirt but the post is a bit baffling. It's like chatting up and spending money on a 'bit of skirt' and at the end of the night getting no return on your investment

C'mon Surfer, what was wrong with the skirt? As far as I've noticed it's a skirt and no different from others of that type.

 

[Beehpee]

Thanks for the replies guys, I've ordered myself a Kampa 260, was going to have the 390 then realised I didn't have enough flat awning rail to take it so happy to just have the 260 which for most of the time other than when got grandkids tagging along will be plenty big enough for us, at the weekend went to visit someone with a 260 albeit different make and managed to sit 8 of us round a table to eat, bit of a squeeze admittedly, but better than getting wet, the Kampa 260 has cost me 236 inc delivery so happy with that, should be here today or tomorrow so looking forward to giving it a try out soon, the adjustable legs are what decided it for me as I hate having awning looking a mess, if I need a little extra height I will just get in to the habit of always putting it on the blocks I always carry, let you know what I think once I've used it, by the way that price didn't include extra poles etc will see if I think I need them once I've tried it out, being pretty much a fair weather vanner hopefully I won't.

BP

 

[Gagakev]

the adjustable legs are what decided it for me as I hate having awning looking a mess, if I need a little extra height I will just get in to the habit of always putting it on the blocks I always carry, let you know what I think once I've used it, by the way that price didn't include extra poles etc will see if I think I need them once I've tried it out, being pretty much a fair weather vanner hopefully I won't. BP

BP, dont think the block will be of any use as at the bottom of the adjustable legs there is a pin which is connected to an adjustable strap which in turn is connected to the awning (hope your still with me) the pin is inserted inside the adjustable pole and I lightly push the pole into the ground to stop any movement, unless you are 7 foot tall

I dont think you will have any problem with the height.
I dont want to alarm you and of course its your choice but your point of being a fair weather vanner is being some what hopeful I have used mine about 8 times now and by far the worst weather I encountered was last August!! Torrential rain and gale force winds had all the extras fitted and also for further peace of mind pegged the skirt on the inside and i even stayed up really late untill 1.30am watching it just in case, (I had a previous awning take off in the middle of the night but that's another story). But I need not have worried it was still there the next morning but with out the extra's it could have been a differant story. Hope this helps

 

[Beehpee]

Hi Gagakev, re the blocks I mentioned I meant that if I needed more height on the van, as I mentioned in first post my awning rail is at 220cm so might be that the Kampa could be just a tad long, probably not but just to be sure I have a couple of blocks of wood which using the normal yellow ramps I can run the van up the ramp and onto the blocks giving me an extra couple of inches, like I say I probably won't need to but it's an option if I have to, as for being a fair weather vanner I know what you mean and I am pretty sure I will end up buying the extra bits to be on the safe side, our very unpredictable weather makes planning not the easiest job, the awning did arrive today so will be giving it a try out within next couple of weeks, thanks for the advice about the extras and will have a gander on the wonder web for the best price for the bits, cheers to all who took the trouble to reply.

BP

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I am pretty sure I will end up buying the extra bits to be on the safe side,

I bought the buffer poles, monsoon poles for the roof and storm straps and after the gales last September I'm glad I did. I didn't even have to knock any pegs back in. I think the buffer poles keep the sides rigid which stops the sides vibrating in high winds.

 

[Martin24]

good luck and hope it proves to be a successful purchase for your needs