Porch awning Adria Altea Severn

tmanx · Apr 12, 2017

Hi - we received a Vango Rapide 350 with our van as part of the starter pack - but can't seem to make it fit well? It interferes with windows at both ends and side locker - or just the rear window if set back. Oddly it seems the width (inside) is 290/300 not 350 - and 350 probably would clear the door to window?

We're gonna fiddle some more (and chat to the dealer as we presume an included accessory should fit) - but wondered if anyone had succeeded with this awning - and how if so, or any recommendations for a porch air awning to fit this van?

Cheers very much

Dustydog · Apr 12, 2017

Sadly both our porch awnings, Isabella and Kampa, either partly cover a windows or block a locker.If we leave the windows clear then the door is half blocked! !
This is one of those things you have to live with I am sorry to say.

WoodlandsCamper · Apr 12, 2017

We are lucky as our porch awning doesn't interfere with any locker, door or window. Last time out I even managed to move it rearwards by about a foot and insert the rear edge into the vertical awning rail.
Here is the awning before moving it rearwards:

Only door and front window on this side of the van, with locker under front window:

Martin24 · Apr 12, 2017

I'm lucky too both the Issy Magnum and the porch fit perfectly. We did however measure up carefully before buying the new van. We wouldn't have changed to the new one if the Magnum hadn't fitted.

tmanx · Apr 12, 2017

Cheers for the replies. The best solution we've found so far is to set it up further back - but that still nearly splits the rear side window in half. OH not happy. Have contacted dealer to see what their thoughts are.

I can see different perspectives - yes 'it fits' - and this happens - so put up with it. But as it can't be fitted against the wall, would you match the awning with this unit if given the choice - no. As I believe there are porch awnings that will fit around the windows - it seems it would have made sense for the dealer to have supplied one of those in the first place?

We're also slightly annoyed to discover that the stated awning width is actually only the floor width - so any attempts we made to see where the awning might fit against the caravan wall before we purchased it were meaningless

woodsieboy · Apr 12, 2017

When we changed our caravan we had our porch awning altered so that it did not cover windows on our new van, there are several companies that advertise in the club magazines and PC, they will collect and return by carrier, may solve your problem if the dealer is unable or unwilling to help.

Gagakev · Apr 12, 2017

Think your Altea is very similar to mine although mine is badged as a Fleetwood.
See if a 390 will fit, if so ask dealer to swop.
The 390 fits between the front window and door, covers the kitchen window and leaves the rear window free, and it doesnt block any lockers either.
Take a tape measure and check it.

tmanx · Apr 12, 2017

Cheers for that Gagakev. I've had a quick measure and it does look like 390 is more the ticket - I will have a longer look to make sure there is enough vertical height before the back corner curves away later on. Currently considering options between 360 and 400 - given that we've learned that the 'number' can just refer to floor width and not actually resemble wall to wall width. OH is also wondering whether to just go for it and get a full awning?

Gagakev · Apr 12, 2017

Had a quick peak at your specs and seems my van is half a meter longer so double check the 390/400
As for a full awning I bought one last year second hand, as new Dorema good quality bit of kit but then it was on a seasonal, wouldn't fancy setting it up on a regular basis. we find the 390 has ample space even for the longer breaks we are able to take. The 390 is a Kampa (not Air) had it 6 years and although looking tattty will go again for this year.

tmanx · Apr 12, 2017

Cheers again Gagakev. I'm defo checking as I'm not sure there's the full height length for a 390+ - but then that all depends on how the manufacturer measures it. If it's the floor - with a different vertical width - that's a different ball game. Bw

alan29 · Apr 14, 2017

You have to measure the distance from between the side windows to the other side of the door and buy a porch awning that size or as near as you can get.
there is no other way.

tmanx · Apr 17, 2017

Thanks again for all of the replies. So far, dealer isn't interested

Basically - he says that this type of 'universal porch awning' is designed to fit all caravans depending on the length of the flat section of awning rail - and that the actual positioning is down to personal choice which may mean it goes over a window, locker door etc but that the "foam pads" are designed to do this.

I've told him that our personal choice was/is that it doesn't actually go over the window - and that we had measured the awning out in front of his staff accordingly (who didn't correct us that 350 isn't actually the width of the awning at window height - just along the floor) - and we are now stuck with a situation that it does.

He suggested we buy a full size awning - which we didn't originally want for various reasons - and I can see is quite an expense!

Mel · Apr 18, 2017

Hi. I am no expert on the Consumer Rights Act here, but if you bought the van with the awning as part of the contract, and it is not fit for purpose, ( which might be the tricky bit) then you might have recourse. Prof John, Sir DD and others are all over the CRA. They will know if it applies or if I am just talking rubbish ( won't be the first time, B) )
Mel

tmanx · Apr 18, 2017

Cheers Mel,

I'm fairly certain that the not fit for purpose bit would be tricky - as they can argue that it is - and that it is common for porch awnings to sit over windows etc. (as supported by various comments). I think if we had explicitly specified that it must fit in a particular way - we would have a case - but the communication was looser than that - and in our inexperience / naivety - largely based on the assumption that the supplied awning would fit without covering the window, lockers etc.

The flip side of this is that our measuring up in front of the staff clearly indicated an expectation / understanding that the awning fitted either side of the windows, and from previous experience, I wonder if they had a responsibility to advise us when we were clearly misguided?

I'd welcome any other thoughts.

Martin24 · Apr 18, 2017

You certainly find out the good dealers from the chaff when something isn't as you expected. Yes many people do have the awning over the window or an unused outer locker but there are probably even more of us out there that would never risk scratching our windows with a flapping awning end.

When we bought our current van we checked the length between window and locker very carefully as we did not under any circumstances want to change our porch awning. It's the best we've ever had for ease of erection and we explained to the dealer it would be a deal breaker.

Will the dealer not just take the awning back as it's unused and let you chose something that will fit? Failing that just sell it and replace.

tmanx · Apr 18, 2017

Sadly the awning is used - we only discovered this during first use on site. I'd had a look at the awning at home - but we couldn't put it up as we'd had to move the van because of works right outside the house.

It feels like the dealer has washed his hands of this. No response to last comms. It's a shame - we had some snags which are ongoing - and these things happen. But this is something that was definitely in his control - it didn't go well - and this is his response. And we've got to conclude dealings with the snags. Bah!

I think in time we'll have to sell and replace - not an easy thought when you've just scraped thousands together to get the van in the first place.

20170602yuanyuan · Jun 2, 2017

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