Anyone else had their air awning flatten in winds?
At the Manchester show in January, we bought an Outdoor Revolution Compact Airlite 340.
We went away for a weekend in February and it seemed fine.
We went away at Easter and it certainly was not fine. The 'poles' kept bending inwards, despite all ropes, lines and straps being in use. It was quite windy, but we were the only awning with a problem and soon became a tourist attraction on site. Even the
£100 awnings were standing proud whilst ours bent and flattened in the wind.
Every day I had to put more air in the tubes.
Frankly, it was dangerous. One of the heavy tubes struck me on the head more than once and one night the awning was against the caravan door, making it almost impossible to get out.
Anything stored in the awning (table, pushchair, clothes horse etc.) was knocked over.
I phoned the seller - Glossop - on Easter weekend and still nothing has been done, despite emails etc (and much delay on their part). The awning is soon to be collected to go to a Blue Diamond for tests. A chap at Easter said
my first mistake had been to buy from Glossop, and I am beginning to see what he meant.
Anyone else had similar problems? I never want to use this awning again but Glossop seems to think I should. Told me to try tightening the valves (which are presumably fine as they were in Feb) and have another trip. And put my
kids in danger of injury/lack of fire escape? No thanks!
Comments
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Thank you for your reply Trini. That is what kept happening with ours. I have been told by Glossop that the awning is fit for purpose as they sell a lot.
Not sure that makes sense but perhaps I should ask them if they can exchange my awning for a wall to bang my head against!
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We have a Vango Airbeam. The legs did bend on a windy day last year, but not to the extent of the OP. We did ask Vango about it and they were helpful in what to do by adjusting the guys and making sure the inner tube was straight, but it does seem to be
a known feature of blow up awnings. Hope you get a sensible response Catsize.Personally if it wasn't for the fact that the awning came with the caravan we bought last year, I wouldn't buy one. The weight alone I find off putting.
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I too had problems with Glossop sorting out a replacement for my compact air awning which had missing tabs to peg it down. That was last year. Am still waiting to use the replacement this year. Also find it very heavy - was assured by the salesman that
I would be able to put it up by myself (single lady, not very tall!!!). Will see soon.0 -
Every awning I ever had got flattened by the wind at some time, or blown over the roof. They were pegged down and strapped down - and still I had to get up in the middle of a Mistral blowing night to go outside and tie them to the car.
Am I tempted to try an Air Awning? No. I have given up stupid awnings altogether
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Not all air awnings collapse in strong winds. Our Kampa Fiesta AirPro stood tall and proud last year when faced with the best Trewethet Farm site winds could offer. Did take the optional front canopy down just in case, unfortunately others did not fair so
well.0 -
I bought a Kampa Rally Air. recently which I have yet to test out. Checked all the different makes on the web and without exception all say inflatable awnings are not designed to cope with strong winds.Having said that I would expect that, like most things
in life, you get what you pay for!!r
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I've had frame awnings collapse in heavy winds, it really does depend on the wind strength, direction and your (one's) pegging down pegs and skills
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We have a Kampa Air Pro 390 and it's been out in all sorts of weather - including very strong winds. Coped with it admirably - gives a little as the wind catches it but nothing untoward. And, of course, all of that flexing is doing no damage to the van
whatsoever. Really pleased with it.0 -
Catsize Google the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for when you speak to Glossop.
Pity you didnt take some photos with the awning collapsed.
We had a cheap (£150) 390 awning that faced directly aagainst the wind and thankfully it did us proud.
Sue and Andrew
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Thank you All. I do have some photos. Glossop know this but so far are not interested. I am really grateful for your responses. Today, Blue Diamond (who are seemingly in charge of Outdoor Revolution) phoned me. They accepted my theory - that the valve that releases air in the event of over inflation is also releasing air due to the wind - hence overall deflation.
The awning is being sent for testing on Monday. Who knows...
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Thanks Trini,
I contacted the credit card company yesterday. Hopefully something will come of that, even if Glossop continue to be a nightmare. I should say that the customer service from Outdoor Revolution has been good so far. The problem has been Glossop.
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We have a Vango Varkala porch awning. We experienced some problems in strong wind when the awning got blown down and popped up again during lulls. Our problem turned out to be the valve on the pump. It was cutting off the air too soon resulting in tubes
that were slightly under the recommended pressure. I now use the pump without the pressure release valve (I removed it, an easy job). Instead I rely on the pressure shown on the dial. With the extra bit of pressure we have had no more problems. Just because
you need to inflate the tubes every day could, obviously, mean you have a leak somewhere. But it could also mean the pressure release valve is preventing the pressure getting to the correct level. So, while you think you are adding more pressure it's possible
that you aren't. If you can remove the release valve and inflate using the dial as a guide, give it a try. We are only talking about an extra 1 psi or so. So there should be no danger of over inflating and causing damage.0 -
They picked up my awning on 20th April. Was told I would hear within a week. Last week, I phoned Glossop. Nobody seems to know what is going on.
I have not been told the result of any supposed tests at Outdoor Revolution.
And yet, they still have my awning, over five weeks later, still have my money, and still have shocking customer service.
I was offered a 'buy back' whereby they would pay me £187 of the £460 I had paid. And then presumably sell my faulty awning to some poor unsuspecting customer.
No thanks. I have more morals than you, Glossop!
Waiting to hear from credit card company.
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Last year I bought a Sunncamp Airvolution from them and on first use noticed a small fault in a mesh screen, not much you might think but when you've paid £500 you expect it to be perfect. Contacted said dealer sent photos heard nothing for 5days, when challenged I was told to return it at my expense another £30 in fuel as I was not happy I contacted the manufacturer who after all appoints the dealers and although it took 4 months to finally sort out they arranged collection and delivery of the latest model. We used this at Easter along with the matching air annexe we endured 50-60mph winds and torrential rain at Whitby and apart from a minor leak from the awning rail which soon stopped the awning was superb, yes it flexed as any awning would do but remained totally upright my only downside if there is one is for a porch type awning is the amount of pegs it takes to nail it down I think the weight of them alone would stop it blowing away. Never again would I deal with that dealership the attitude of the manager was appalling he spoke to staff as though they were dirt and I heard him speak to a customer and if he'd spoken to me like that he would have been on a liquid diet for several weeks.
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Sorry to hear your tale Jimbo. I wonder if it was the same man I heard speak to a member of staff in an awful way. I was quite shocked. It has been suggested to me that I email Mr Lang, the manager. If that was Mr Lang, I am not overly optimistic, but I
am prepared to be surprised!0 -
Our first air awning was an Outdoor Revolution, which we soon took back to Norwich Camping & Leisure, because of tube kinking. they exchanged it for a better model, OR, with us paying the balance. That one also kinked, this time we exchanged it for an air
Kampa Rally Pro - end of problems. And it's survived some pretty major winds with just a little deflection too. Moral. Don't buy an OR awning. Norwich Camping and Leisure told us that they sell very few OR airs, but lots of Kampala airs - there's a good reason
for that. And full marks to Norwich camping for their excellent service too.0 -
soz to hear about your on going issues,we have a trigano 390 air awning ,it has 4 individual uprights and 6 individual cross members.last november we stayed on site through hurricane barney and the awning remained rock solid,we only took it down coz the
pegs statred lifting faster than i could knock em back in! have just bought a full awning steel poles (dorema)if this is as good as the air one in winds i"ll be well happy,hope you get sorted soon.went to glossop to buy a new van but as the salesman was not
to bothered in helping, kept my cash and bought the awning instead,he foned me 2 days later and offered me a deal beyond belief on the van,turned it down out of principle that you wernt bothered 2 days ago mate so to late!0 -
Catsize, just to add on from my earlier post, although it took almost 4 months to get my awning sorted it was partly down to me saying I wasn't in a rush due to my shoulder operation. Sunncamp were in my opinion great, frequent contact updates and I was contacted by Sue late Feb to tell me that a courier would collect and drop off my replacement. When I opened the awning it became clear they had sent me a 2016 model at no extra cost and when we used it at Easter I lost a small Velcro vent opener off my annexe and that was also sent out at no cost, I appreciate that Sunncamp is at the lower budget end but I have always bought from lower price companies ilike NRawnings and have always been happy. We bought a caravan from them 6 yrs ago and by the time we finished snagging we had a 2 A4 sheet list everything was done but it would appear that they rob Peter to pay Paul taking bits off other caravans to fit in yours, we didnt keep the van long and chose to px at a dealer 2miles from home for a much newer van. Hope you get sorted soon but I think you'll need more than good luck with that dealer.
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Well, by way of a small update, we are now in September.
Glossop Caravans still have my awning and my money.
They are ignoring all correspondence.
I am having to go to the faff of a credit card claim. They have even ignored the requests of the credit card company!!
I will contact Trading Standards next week.
I just want want to warn everyone to stay away from this company.
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Catsize. What a horror story. I have every sympathy for you. Thank you for exposing this company. I, and am certain, others will not touch them with a barge pole. I do hope that you get the problem resolved. All the best.
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Thank you John. I was naive enough to think that as they had such a huge presence at the show in Manchester, they must be okay. I have also seen them advertise in various publications.
Sadly, this thread has shown that I am not the only one to suffer their dreadful (well, non-existent) service/apparent theft.
All I can hope is to raise awareness so that others, like you, do not fall victim.
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We have a vango and it certainly diesnt blow flat abd we have had it in some strong winds. The onky prob we have is one of the corner down 'poles' seems to bend when blown up and we cant seem to get it straight. Any advice on that one greatfully recieved.
We also noticed last time we put it away that the stitching had broke on one corner at top, just above where the metal pole goes against the van. We went back to where we bought it as it just under year old but sadly as our receipt got destroyed with all other paperwork in floods last winter, they wont take it back under the two year warrenty.. sighs
Catsize certainly go to trading stabdards, and your local press as well, no business lijes bad reviews in local press, and every local press likes news of business's playing dirty
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We have had some pretty strong breezes here st hillhead this week, one corner of our sir awning bent under the firce if ghe wind direct st it.. but nothing flattened. We just tightened our guy ropes and put both storm tapes on thst corner.. problem solved.
I really dont think a traditional awning would have stood up as well.0
