Inflatable awnings
looking at buying a blow up awning
whats good ones ?
whats the bad points and good points to look for when buying on?
Comments
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We've had two brands, Outdoor Revolution (two models) and Kampa.
The ORs were of poor design and were refunded, the Kampa is well made and inflates easily.
Things to look for might be;
A single inflation point.
Overall weight because they can be very heavy
Importer's support (Kampa get good reports)
Full height floor area.
Weve found our awning to be more resilient to strong winds than framed awnings, very quick and easy to erect and every bit as tedious to peg out as any other awning. Without a frame which can be packed separately, a large air awning can be large, heavy and more difficult to handle for transport.
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Small porch type blow up are ok if a good quality make ,but larger ones are heavy to manhandle into the awning rail,we have a "normal Isabella full awning with ixl frame which we find much easier to set up ,they all still a lot of pegging out,the inflatables also tend to need more guy ropes
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They are far far easier than having to do battle with a frame awning. No wondering which poles goes where and no having to tension the poles. However putting the awning into the awning rail is somewhat harder as the awning is much heavier due to the robust air poles, but when this is done it goes up in literally minutes. You still have to peg it out of course. Taking it down though is a doddle.
It depends when you want to use the awning? all year in all weathers? or weekends in August?
I would go to your local dealer and let them demonstrate how easy they are to erect and the quality on offer.
I wouldn't go back to a traditional awning now.
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We purchased a Bradcot 290 aspire last year at the NEC show used it for 12 weeks last year top quality material witch does make it heavier than the cheapies but you only get what you pay for and after owning our previous Bradcot for 15 years it had to be Bradcot again
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We have a Vango Varkala 420 and don't find it a problem to put up. It is very well made and has coped admirable with our weather.
Use Google to search on this topic as there are many forum threads, reviews and some youtube videos to view.
Do you have a decent dealer near you where you can see them on display?
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We have a kampa air pro 420 which is great. Up in 10 mins and plenty of room, in warmer climates we take all the sides out and use it as a porch. It is great
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This is my Bradcot 290 air looks good ? and roomy for a porch.
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We have bradcot 390, very pleased with it, it has multiple points where air can be put in but one point fills the whole system. It also has the benefit that you can add extensions to it if you want to have an annex for instance.
It is up in minutes. Quite heavy to carry around though.
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Having watched numerous inflatables being "deployed" the things that puts us off getting one,
1 the weight of quality makes to carry and thread into awning channel
2 the amount of pegging out (more guy ropes)
3 the times we have seen in wind they tend to "collapse"
Upside no "poles"
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Yes quality ones are heavy and not cheap but I have been impressed by their performance in very strong winds. My Kyham could not take a recent blow, two bust poles, one joint just snapped and one alloy pole just bent and snapped when attempting to straighten.
A Dorema near me never even buckled although one of its strap attachments broke.
pèedee.
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The heavy ones are not a problem to thread into awning channels. My partner did it with assistance if a 12 year old at Chatsworth last week. If they do collapse a lithe in the wind or cold is only a little and takes seconds to recover with foot pump or electric pump.
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Speaking to some one who has one they are suseptable to temperature fluctuations and care is needed at times as if you inflate to compensate for low temp inflate pressure reduction (overnight?) then they can over pressurise in the heat of the day and possibly split the "poles"
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Interesting to see that happen in the U.K. Lol. I guess it's possible but unlikely. The benefit is the speed of erection😉 Deflation and the lack of poles that will damage the van. Personal choice but we live ours. But yes they are expensive.
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Just like your vehicle tyres do, and what do you do about that?
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Completely agree, our replacement for our 260 all season Dorema will be a 330 Bradcott.
Even the 260 Bradcott dwarfs our 260 Dorema inside
And top quality material too!
And Made in England!!
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Another reason we purchased the Bradcot aspire no need to use all those ugly guy lines as so many other makes use. there is only 3 on the 260 to be used in extreme conditions but never had to use them in the 12 weeks we were away last season. And me being a clumsy so and so no tripping over lol.
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This is an interesting discussion as we are considering getting an inflatable awning too. From my research thus far it appears that the Kampa brand appear to meet our requirements the best as they seem very thorough in their attention to detail as well as being lightweight but high quality. The Vango ones seem a bit of a faff as they appear to have additional support beams that need separate inflation and the Sunncamp brand appear to be a lower quality.
I've not researched any Bradcot's yet though but most of my local dealers and accessory shops seem to be Kampa stockists.
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Do not get an Outdoor Revolution one. Ours was dangerous and kept deflating. We could not get out of the caravan door it deflated so much. Took several battling months to get a refund - but that was probably Glossop Caravans' fault. Another firm to avoid at all costs.
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The only problem with makes like Kampa with a single inflation point is if you get a puncture all the system deflates but the Vango with multiple inflation points and sections only the punctured one deflates and the roof beams can always be left inflated.
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Not quite true. The Kampa has isolation valves on every section, so if there is a problem, each can be shut off until the faulty section is identified and repaired if necessary.
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We have a kampa 420 and love it so easy to put up, we take the sides off which make it a lot better/ easier to put up
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