Inflatable awnings
Hello,
We have just had to downsize our car and consequently our caravan 😢
We desperately need an awning as ours will no longer fit & we have been looking at the Kampa inflatable awnings as a cheaper (and possibly easier) alternative to a traditional awning.
Has anyone had any experience of inflatable awnings?
Many thanks,
Comments
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Hi. We have two awnings, a Ventura Marlin and a Fiesta Air made by Kampa. They are both good, but the Fiesta is easier, just, to put up and slightly quicker. Our Fiesta had been used as a display model for one weekend only, so was a great deal cheaper than a new one, which makes us slightly biased!
The things we like are it has only one valve to pump up, which quickly erects the front part; it doesn't 'walk' along the awning when windy [we have back poles as an extra] and is really light to transportThe model we have [no longer available] is also deeper than the Marlin, 280cm, which makes a huge difference. It is also quick to deflate, just open the one valve again. So far it has been fine, but it will never be as sturdy as the Marlin, but you cannot compare as they are just different. It is also quicker when assembled to sort out the inside; no fiddly curtains.
I would recommend if you buy a Kampa to buy the custom fit carpet. They are brilliant and really lightweight.
Hope this helps
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Thank for your our replies. At the moment we just have a porch awning that will fit any van and our Ventura (which we altered once) is now too big - to be honest, it was never the same after it had been altered and rain has always pooled on the roof etc! (We have some very comic/tragic videos!!)
If we get an inflatable one with side annexes etc, to use it as a replacement for the full awning, my husband's only hesitation is that it won't fit as flush to the sides of the caravan as a pose to one that zips completely into the awning rail; there would be gaps down both sides, even though kampa have invented a "limpet" system. Has anyone got any thoughts on this please?
Thank you
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Bubbles - we don't have the new limpet system on our Kampa Air Pro 390 - but providing you peg the corners of the awning next to the van, slightly underneath the van, it has the effect of pulling the foam pads tightly against the side of the van and thereby sealing it. Although I also have the additional poles that are meant to secure the sealing pads against the van, I have never had to use them.
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We have one of the original Kampa 260 air awnings, about 3 years old now, and cant really fault it - as has been said, easy to inflate/erect, with the single inflation point, and to deflate. Surprisingly stable once erected. Currently thinking of something a little bigger, but it will be another Kampa, but probably a 'pro'.!
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We have a Vango Verkala 280 which is practically full size on our Lunar Ariva.
It is heavy to lift and is a two man job threading it through the awning rail. You can't separate the sides from the roof so it has to go up in one piece.
Once through the rail it takes but a few mins to pump up the legs and roof braces. Pegging out is no different in time then pegging out a traditional awning.
It has foam pads which are held in place by thin poles to hold against the side of the van and the usual mudwall/draught excluder.
It is stable in windy conditions, although the corner legs can flex.
Would we buy another inflatable awning, no I don't think so. It is cumbersome and time wise we could erect our full size Bradcot Classic in the same time.
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Hi Bubbles 185,
have a scroll back and see plenty of replies, photos and comments on inflatable awnings from 20 days ago. All makes discussed. As you will see lots favour our preferred Bradcot Air Aspire
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Bubbles we had our Ventura Pacific enlarged by Trio in Pontefract (cost £140)and they did a great job, we bought extra room poles and it has served us well for the past 3 years since being altered.
May I suggest contacting Trio with a view to having your Ventura resized to suit your new van.
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I've got a Bradcot that needs increasing in size due to a new van and Bradcot advised me that they don't do alterations but refer all enquiries to Trio Pair in Pontefract. Whilst not had it done yet, it is reassuring that a company like Bradcot recommend them, and having spoken to them they seemed very knowledgable and there was no problem for them matching the awning material. http://triopair.com/awning-repairs/repair-services.html
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We bought a Kampa 390 pro last year, and now wish we hadn't, we've had so much trouble with condensation, the dealer advised us to buy a lining but that made no difference, the lining just stood with water. Our Dealer told us they would contact Kampa and ask them to ring us, no call was received, we also spoke to a gentleman from Kampa at the NEC caravan show, he told us he would email us the following Monday, we are still waiting. Would never recommend a Kampa awning.
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Condensation isn't just a problem with Kampa awnings - all modern impermeable fabrics are the same. We have both a Kampa Air Pro and a Sunncamp and both suffer from condensation and friends who have a Vango experience the same thing. It's all about how you manage it - leaving the top of the doors open slightly helps and whilst the roof lining won't stop the condensation, at least when it occurs, it doesn't drip on your head! The only way to reduce condensation is to opt for a breathable fabric - but that brings its own problems as well.
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We have a Kampa air pro 390 (2016) first used last Easter, we were fed up with having a main and a porch awning the later being harder to erect than the full awning so now we have one thats big enough for us for long stays and easy to put up for a weekend plus we have now bought the annexe in case our offspring invite themselves to re live their childhood. Kampa are more expensive than other air awnings but we have been pleased with it and of course it will get a lot more use. My niece has just bought a new bigger van and her Kampa 390 fits that, so another plus
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Hello I have a Kampa Airdream 390 and it will not sit right up to the side of the van I have pegged the pads slightly under the van used the poles but I still get a gap at both sides and the zips for the doors are too tight anyone any ideas
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I have used a Kampa 260 for 3 years and have been very content with it. Used it in a very strong wind this year and, although the inflated 'poles' bent quite alarmingly, they always bounced back and the awning remained surprisingly stable.
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Hi, since my earlier post on this subject (7.3.17) I have purchased a used (1 weekend!) Bradcot Aspire Air 390 - simply to give us more room. As I already had the Kampa Limpet system I had the Bradcot altered to accommodate the 'limpets' and in my humble opinion, they are brilliant ! 4 very simply applied up each side and they make a perfect seal against the van !
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