Which way to go - Ordinary or Airpro Awning?

Jaczie
Jaczie Forum Participant Posts: 7
edited March 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1

We have just bought a lovely new Bailey Modena and would like to buy an awning with an annex. Retailers suggested the Kampa Fiesta Airpro 350, but I have read mixed reviews about the inflation system rather than just an ordinary awning.  Does anyone have
experience of these awnings - are they worth the money, do inflated awnings really save so much time?  Some reviews have said that they let water in?

Thanks for all your help 

Comments

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,474 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited March 2016 #2

    I have never had an inflatable awning so can't do a fair comparison but you can't go wrong with a good quality "ordinary" awning.

  • Jack Slipper
    Jack Slipper Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited March 2016 #3

    We had a top of the range air beam when we had a VW T5.  It was ok but it did collapse during heavy rain.  The other downside is a potential puncture! Personally on balance I would go for an easy up awning if I bought another which I definitely wouldnt!
    Happy with a simple wind out Fiamma now. 

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #4

    Air v normal awning has been well aired on this forum and (without counting) seemed a 50:50 split.  I have a Kampa 390 pro (non Air) awning and find it simple to put up single handed in about 20 mins.  There are fewer poles than a conventional awning and
    the canvas bulk is less that the air equivalent.  You can also adjust the height of the legs for uneven ground.  Also cheaper than the air.  Suggest you go to a dealer who has a variety of awnings erected for you to have a good look at. 

  • FifthVan
    FifthVan Forum Participant Posts: 63
    edited March 2016 #5

    We had a Sunncamp 260 porch awning which lasted for years but was falling to bits - "we will get another season out of it" was my hubands opionion! We looked at both air and pole awnings but it was down to cost, air awnings being almost twice the price.
    We ended up with a Kampa Rally Pro 330 which had only been used 4 times advertised on Gumtree - at half the original price.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #6

     .....  You can also adjust the height of the legs for uneven ground.  .... 

    That's something I've wondered about too with air awnings, though I've been very impressed with air awings when I've seen them on display

  • linw
    linw Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited March 2016 #7

    We have had  all sorts of awnings,now have the bradcot 260air.It's very easy to erect,a tad heavier than normal awning to pull through.It has withstood heavy rain no leaks,and strong winds.

  • bassett1
    bassett1 Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited March 2016 #8

    i have said before on this subject that ihave a 260 kampa air awning and have used it for 3 seasons now in wind and rain and find if you pump them up hard enough they are excellant no poles no damage i am just haveing a wide out awning fitted to my cadiz
    as i dont want a full awning any more due to problem with hands but will miss it bassett.

  • neveramsure
    neveramsure Forum Participant Posts: 712
    500 Comments
    edited March 2016 #9

    I recently visited three of my nearest caravan dealers to purchase a new porch awning and they all tried to promote the air/frameless versions. In fact two of them now only displayed air/frameless awnings. I cannot see a justification for the huge price
    difference and I opted for buying a new Kampa Pro framed awning of Ebay for a very good price.Smile  

  • Sir Bruin
    Sir Bruin Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited March 2016 #10

    We looked at both "traditional" and air awnings. We opted for traditional. Air awnings seem to be heavier and more expensive. To be fair, we have a porch awning rather than a full, so erection time is about the same. 

  • ggregu
    ggregu Forum Participant Posts: 214
    100 Comments
    edited March 2016 #11

    I have both a traditional full awning and a Camptech 390 air awning. I prefer the air awning. As a mere female caravaner, the air awning is easy to put up, although fairly heavy to thread through the awning rail. I can put the full awning up on my own, but
    only when the weather is very calm. It's easier to take the air awning with me as this is less reliant on calm weather.

  • Jaczie
    Jaczie Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited April 2016 #12

    Thanks for all your help - it really does seem to be a 50:50 split.

  • captainslogg
    captainslogg Club Member Posts: 52 ✭✭
    edited April 2016 #13

    A frame awning for me because most of the time you can do without the guy ropes. Guy ropes are a pain in butt (tripping hazard) for us and the dogs

  • TheAdmiral
    TheAdmiral Forum Participant Posts: 506
    edited April 2016 #14

    It depends how many time a year that it would be used, we bought a Kampa Pole version, we got carried away and bought exactly the same Air awning and to be quite honest it was a waste of money due to the amount of use it gets,save your money and buy a quality
    Isabella Magnum, it will last for years and years and it will fit every van that you buy in future

    Admiral  

  • jeffcc
    jeffcc Forum Participant Posts: 430
    edited April 2016 #15

    With you there Admiral, i bought a magnum and annexe two years ago, use the magnum on its own for short stays and then add the annexe for longer stays for storage. i can erect the magnum on my own in about 35mins and its as solid as a rock once tensioned

  • Goldenday
    Goldenday Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited April 2016 #16

    I've always got on very well with traditional framed awnings and have both full and  porch. 

    However, last year my back locked up. Apparently lumber vertebrae 3, 4 & 5 are pointing in different directions and 4 is 50% adrift. Also, my right shoulder is badly effected by a combination of wear/tear & arthritis (my past catching up?) To extend our
    caravanning we've just bought an air awning  based on all the arguments "for" - have we done the right thing?  Does anyone else have similar physical constraints?Thanks

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