What are the benifits of Kampa Air awnings

[Royston]

After reading about several air leaks that occur, and the very frustrated attempts to cure the leaks, I am asking the question because I have owned a Kampa 260 Porch awning since they first appeared.
To erect the awning only takes about 10 mins, which I have always done on my own. What takes the time is hammering the pegs into the hard standings, to keep the awning steady. I assume you have to use pegs on the blow up awnings so where is the benefit, the cost of these blow up awnings very expensive.
Royston

 

[Mel]

I have recently bought a Kampa Rally Air 390 and put it up for the first time. I totally agree that the pegging down of any awning especially on hardstanding is time consuming regardless. However, for us the benefit was a good sized awning without having to put up all the poles. This bit is definitely quicker than any other poled awning I have had including a well practised full awning and a porch awning. Plus if the whole thing blows down in a storm then there are no poles to mark the sides of the van. Also it is all in one bag. No seperate pole bag to deal with. Is this all worth the extra money? Depends on your priorities.
mel

 

[Raywood]

Having watched a couple of caravans putting them up the answer seems to be ease and speed. No sorting out poles and struggling with them or adjusting wing nuts. They just went up in minutes without fuss but I agree the pegging out was still the same.

 

[Sproket]

Last week in very strong winds, coming at the end of the van & door end of the awning, I was amazed just how much they flex with the wind, with my traditional awning I would have had to drop each end to let the wind pass through or take a chance on it being damaged. We have the 330 pro air and after it had been really soaked with heavy rain a few times it is now weatherproof. Are they worth it just ask my wife, as she was a bit sceptical at first considering how much they cost, no more arguments are a big plus oh & no chance of damage to the van. We carry a blue lightweight builders sheet for when we drop it down to protect it from damage on hardstandings and any mud...it's easier to wash the sheet than the awning. .

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Royston.Dont be put off with what you have read about the Kampa Awnings regarding air leaks.Im pretty sure this only a problem with earlier awnings.I speak from experience,I have just come back from two weeks holiday and spent most of the holiday chasing air leaks.I did spend some time after the holiday trying to find a contact at Kampa .After finding a contact I explained my situation in an email and 24 hours later I took delivery of a complete set of tubes from Kampa .Great team to deal with . I dont think you will be disappointed if you bought one. I hope this will help you in some way.What has not been mentioned in ths post you can put these awnings up on your own.
Sir Roger

 

[Royston]

Well thanks for all your help, a lot of questions and comments are posted on this forum with lots of views, and no comments , very interesting specially regarding high winds and leaks.

Royston

 

[Sproket]

Royston

Due to the design of these awnings they have a lot more stitching in the roof area than a traditional awning so to start with there will be more leak paths for water to enter, until the special waterproof sewing thread swells and closes the needle holes it may take several times for this to happen for it to become fully weathered, when mine first arrived at home I put it up on the van and left it there for a few days as rain was predicted.

Edit: just realised there are two types of leaks hmy: water & air