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Porch awning

D

DerekBrad

Does anyone have any experience of the Towsure equivalent of the Kampa Rally type porch awning? Is the rear padded pole sealing efficient and is there any chafing of the van side? We don't really need a top quality item as we will only use a porch a couple of times a year. As ever, the feedback from honourable members would be much appreciated!
Happy caravanning
Regards
Derek
 
Derek,
We have a Sunncamp Scenic Plus which whilst not the same shape as the Kampa, is the same in that is doesn't attach to the van or have poles to press against the van sides (not sure if the latest Kampa's do). It hasn't caused any chaffing and if stretched fairly tightly doesn't flap other than in strong winds.
I am actaully looking to sell this one and get a 390 tunnel style as a replacement, which I wouldn't consider if it was causing damage.
 
Hi Derek
We had a Suncamp equivalent and 3 years ago it damaged our Wyoming. The flimsy poles which bend almost through a 90 deg arc dug into the ally side walls. It now looks pock marked but only over a 3 inch area. We were at Trewethett Farm Tintagel, on a very windy night. No wind no problem.
We took a view, saved the money and bought a second hand Isabella Magnum porch awning. It has stood us proud in all weathers and no damage to the caravan.
They have a place and serve a very good purpose but are not all year round pieces of kit .
 
Trewethett Farm does get some wind,we've stayed there a couple of times in the last few years and always always seem to have to take the awning down.A couple of years ago ,in September,a few vans were damaged by the awning in high winds.
 
I've had a look at the Towsure site Derek and cannot see what model is the equivalent of the Kampa Rally. We bought the Rally at the end of last year but haven't used it yet although it does seem a robust awning. We didn't pay Towsures prices of £269 for it either. There are extras, like monsoon poles and upright poles for the draught pads which cost more money.
We bought the 260 and both sets of poles for £222 from www.campingworld.co.uk
 
We bought a Towsure 260 Panama porch awning at the beginning of last year. Todate we are more than pleased with it. The rear padded pole section proved efficient and we have experienced no problems with chafing etc. The trick possibly is to ensure that the padded section is as snug as you can get it usong the poles and pegs. We have used it extensively in the UK and also used it for a 2 week stay in France in the autumn; any longer and we would have taken the full Isabella awning. It has not been subjected to any high winds but plenty of rain! Cost £149, easy to erect and pack away. The only modification I have done is to re-seal the seams with an appropriate seam sealer.
 
I've just had a look at the site I gave a link to and cannot find the Kampa Rally so it looks like they don't sell it any more
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Your Lordship,
Thanks for the reply, however I feel that I must respectfully point out that the Towsure equivalent is on their website entitled Towsure Panama 260 or 390.The idea is the same as the Kampa make but £100 cheaper. And thanks also to Clubman who has provided exactly the information that I was looking for! What damn fine fellows.
smiley-laughing.gif

Regards
Derek
 
Derek Brad said:
Your Lordship,
Thanks for the reply, however I feel that I must respectfully point out that the Towsure equivalent is on their website entitled Towsure Panama 260 or 390.The idea is the same as the Kampa make but £100 cheaper.
Click to expand...

Hi Derek, I've just had a look at the Panama 260 and apart from a similar shape to the Rally that's about it.
The Rally has metal front poles which are adjustable which is especially good for uneven ground apart from being stronger. To be honest we've just given a Dorema porch awning away to friends that is the same as the Towsure. It was less than 12 months old and there's no comparison for quality so I suppose that is where the £100 difference is although we didn't pay anywhere near that for the Rally.
 
Derek Brad said:
M'Lord,

The site to look on for the Towsure equivalent is the TOWSURE site. (They also do the Kampa Rally)

Humbly yours

Derek
Click to expand...

Ummmm yes I did Derek and that's how I know that they aren't the same. As I said, the front poles on the Rally are metal adjustable whereas the Towsure one has the fibre glass poles. The Rally has monsoon poles and storm straps as well as the roof support. It is also higher at the front.
I'm not trying to persuade you to buy one but just pointing out that they aren't the same. Go to the Towsure page ... http://www.towsure.com/category/Caravan_Porch_Awnings
and click to enlarge the pics and you will see the difference. Sunncamp, Quest etc. all have the same awning as the Towsure Panama as does the Dorema Starcamp I bought last year at £159 but you can be assured that the Rally isn't the same.
Don't get me wrong, these awnings are fine. I've had the Sunncamp and it was ok for a couple of seasons but the Quest ended up in a heap after one of the poles snapped. Luckily there was no damage to the van. The reason we gave the Dorema Starcamp away was because it wasn't an ideal fit and there was far too much tension on the poles but it stood up well to high winds last year at Low Moor in N. Yorks.
 
Well,M'Lord, I now know that we are on the same wavelength!. I knew that the Kampa was a better quality product than the Towsure (hence the price difference), and also that there are some differences in construction etc. and have now received enough advice to help me decide which one to go for. Many thanks for your useful input. As usual , the answers are out there!
Regards to all
Derek
 
We have used our kampa for 2 years now, The poles you are refering to are the ones that position the side of the awning to the caravan, via a padded strip and 3 ties.Never had any chaffing The pole fits into a pocket within the inner roof part,and adjusts to slot into ground via a spike.
Not sure were you live but the Homestead Caravan s at Weeley Essex have several on display fully erected.
Far easier to erect than the Suncamp and the other make mentioned, no long bendy poles to slot through the awning, The Kampa has short bendy poles for the roof part which click into alum external poles, that are external to the awning when assembling, held in position by external clips.The external alum poles can be height adjusted to enable the sides of the awninhg to fit snuggly against the caravan side.
Unlike my previous Suncamp awning, which i chucked into our local tip, because I could never get the sides to fit against the caravan.
Trust this helps.
 
Royston said:
The Kampa has short bendy poles for the roof part which click into alum external poles, that are external to the awning when assembling, held in position by external clips.The external alum poles can be height adjusted to enable the sides of the awninhg to fit snuggly against the caravan side.
Unlike my previous Suncamp awning, which i chucked into our local tip, because I could never get the sides to fit against the caravan.
Click to expand...

I didn't chuck ours away Royston but did give it away because it wasn't even 12 months old.
Last year at Chatsworth the back end of our pitch was higher than the front and it was impossible to fit the awning to the van sides. Even on level pitches I was bending the poles to their extremes and still the awning was a few inches from the van despite hammering the back pegs under the van.
I did think that the awning was the wrong size or our van was too tall but the van is 235cm whereas the awning supposed to fit between 235cm and 250cm. The poles were about 2 inches too long I believe. Certainly our friends are pleased with it and he is now supplying me with free booze which he brings back from the continent as a lorry driver. I could have risked messing about and cutting some off but thought ****** it and bought the Kampa because of the adjustable poles, monsoon poles, side poles and storm straps.
I first saw the Kampa at Englethwaite Hall and it certainly looked better than mine fitting flush to the caravan walls as it did
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