Making life easier with an air awning!

Never had a problem with awning poles, its the threading and pulling round the caravan awning rail and then pegging it out that takes the effort.

We got back into caravanning this year and opted for an air awning (Kampa). We previously had a traditional poled awning. In terms of ease of putting up/taking down our experience is that it is dramatically different. Apart from the pull to get it into the
rail, you could easily do it solo. We only have the hand pump as our is only 2.6m wide. You could opt for the electric pump now/later on.

We did have an issue with ours to begin with where it would soften over a few hours, but I went round and tightened all of the valve connections a little and now is solid for at least 10 days (just come back from a trip).

Haven't tested it in any really bad weather, but no reason to expect any problems.

They really ARE that easy to put up. Once in the rail, ours takes about a dozen pumps for it to stand up. Then once adjusted a few more to firm it up. Ours is up and pegged ready to use in about 15-20 mins.

To take down, just open the valves and it drops in a matter of seconds. Slide out of the rail, fold it up and into the bag. Done in less than ten mins.

Haven't needed to yet, but I imagine it would also be easy to open up at home for drying out. Open out on lawn and pump up. It would have to be lying down unless you have a fence or wall to rest it against, but I think it would hold its shape well enough
for drying.

Watching couples while away recently going through the ritual with the poles etc...just made us more sure that we had made the right choice for us. No divorce in a bag with an air awning. Just my opinion of course.

As we are getting older we are starting to struggle putting up the awning. Have thought about not using one at all but with the unpredictable British weather and having 2 dogs we feel we still need that extra space. We have looked at air awnings and the
one that interests us is the Sunncamp advanced air. Is there anyone out there who has experience of this product or can suggest another. 

Write your comments here...there are some Kampa air awnings for sale in the classified section under accesories if you are looking for a used version. 

Pulling round the awning rail can take a beer, sorting conventional poles, half a beer but pegging out can take three beers so an air awning would only save half a beer.

Just under 6 foot but I see (and like) your logic.

Wilber, we have used a few awnings over the years, all with poles. Then two years ago we purchased a Kampa air pro 390. Best awning yet and really pleased with it. The very first time we put it up we did have a slight problem threading it through as it did
seem heavy. We now have it down to a fine art, one threads it through, it helps if this person stands on the van steps, and the other stands away from the van spreading the awning out and taking the weight. So easy to pump up and so much easier than one with
poles.

Agree wholeheartedly with comments about Kampa Pro Air, both about the tougher bit being pulling through rail, and the easier bit being inflating ( when compared to poles). We have two Kampas, one 200 for use as a weekend porch awning. And a 390 for longer
stays. I invested in an electric pump, but a gentle hand pumping is not too onerous.

Write your comments here...We have inserted an eyelet into the leading end of the Kampa Airpro and attach a guy rope to have one pulling and one pushing, after giving the rail a squirt with silicone spray.

We have used our Rally Air 260 for nearly 2 1/2 years. As I have mentioned previously on another post we use a collapsable decorator's stand which is higher than the caravan steps. This means you do not have to stretch upwards when pulling the awning
through the rail. We then use the stand as a low table especially when barbequeing. Whilst you still have to peg out, it is much easier when the awning is self supporting itself. You no longer have to pull the fabric at the same time as holding the peg as
well as the mallet. Deflation and packing is as previously stated not a problem. We still have a number of neighbours coming over to say how impressed they are with the ease and speed it goes up. A few weeks a go I offered to help a guy erect a standard pole
awning, with all the tubes colour coded, and realised I would never go back to this type of awning.

We have a Vango Varkala and that has loops at each end of the rail fitting to put a guy rope onto. 

I was in the caravan shop on Tuesday having a nosey round and noticed a metal rod made especialy for the job with a handle on one end and a hook at the other.

Just like a peg puller then :-)

Question people,

I gather that the awnings dont fix to the van down the sides,

Excuse my ignorance but how is it kept wind and water tight???

We have the poles DEBSC mentions, but find we only use them in poor condiions. By pegging the nearest pegging point just under the caravan this pushes the cushion strip against the side of the caravan. As ours is a 260 we do not, however, go over a window which would prevent a seal without the poles.

With plenty of Wd40 Silicone spray in the awning channel it's possible to just push the awnimg cord through at face level at the back end of the van. Vango Varkala 280.

Write your comments here...Is there any possibility of the Silicone spray damaging/degrading the edge of the awning (after a long period)?

Never did on my last awning ..... 

Isabella sell a silicon spray called

WD40? Is that sillicon? Thought it was a petroleum based spray.

Different product ..... WD also do a silicone spray 

WD40 is a water repelant, not a lubricant.

Yes, Barry, but as above WD40 also do a silicon spray 

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