Easy up pole or air awning?
Hallo everyone, I would like your views and experiences on poled or air awning. We have caravanned for years, but had to give up two years ago due to hubby's brain injury. After physio and determination hubby is much better, though often has to use a wheelchair, but that's OK and we now want to go back to touring, though just short hops. I am a fit wrinkly, so I need to erect an awning by myself, question is pole or air? I have looked at videos showing the Isabella "easy up" system, also the vango porch awnings and cannot decide, does anyone have views on either and if so which is best for one person?many thanks Patti
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I am in a similar situation to yourself, I also have to do most things single handed. I have a Khyam quick erect awning which is not too difficult to put up, pegging out is the longest job. My only complaint about quick erect or easy up systems is they are not so resilient to strong winds as the air awnings. Air awnings, at least good ones, are much more expensive and heavier but if I was buying again I would buy one out of preference.
peedee
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Our Kampa ace 400 is very heavy. I can manage it on my own, but it's a lot easier with 2, pumping it up seems to take an age too. If just away for a few days I'm more inclined to take a small poled porch awning with me ... dead easy to erect single handed.
I know I'm going against the grain, but if I was to buy another full sized awning I think I'd go for a pole awning.
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I have got two awnings, an Isabella Magnum porch and an Isabella Commodore 3m deep full awning. I am on my own and can manage to put up either awning on my own without difficulty. The Commodore takes me about 1 ½ hours to put up and peg down
By the way I’m no spring chicken being in my sixties.
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I've read that one of the problems with air awnings is when erected on a sloping pitch when it can sag. Is this true? We're currently in the market for a porch awning and are considering a Kampa air or a Dorema Mistral so any info, good or bad, appreciated.
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Some interesting comments to consider, for years we used a full Trio sport, the biggest problem for me was getting the zips done up. Our dog Dyl has always slept in the awning not the van, so, the awning would be a kennel/wheelchair store come breakfast bar, but I don't want anything large, do others find a large porch awning OK for dining in for two?
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I used to have a Bradcot Portico porch awning which we used for dining. We didn't have to accommodate a kennel/wheelchair though. From memory, it was 2.5 x 2m. A larger porch, say 3.3 x 2.5 should be adequate for your requirements.
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I have a kampa rally 260 which I put up by myself - I have heard the Air Awnings are too heavy as they sounded a great solution. That would be ok for dining and a wheelchair - just about or the next size up. However I have just recently treated myself to a Suncamp Canopy and that is lovely and easy to put up and could shelter a wheelchair close to the van. It has sides but no front - on my next trip I am going to dig out the nice windbreak that is somewhere at the back of my garage.
As has been said though the lighter they are the less robust - the KampaRally withstood some hefty winds last year - the canopy I would take down in a gale! Good luck.
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You’d be right about problems with sloping ground. In that situation, the lack of adjustment for the air poles leads to twisted/ rippled panels. Perfectly usable but messy looking. Looking around this year, Kampa are leading the field with their Pro awnings, particularly air ones. We’ve got both types and do find the air to be very heavy in comparison with poled. Alternatively, buy a good cordless drill and screw pegs and save yourself arm ache and time that way.
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We went airframe and offer the following thoughts;
The air frame comes a single package with the accompanying weight and bulk. Traditional frame and canvas may be easier to store and transport in seperate bags.
Our Outdoor Revolution has a built in groundsheet, so we are confined to hard stands. Other makes have removable ground sheets so can be lifted every few days to vent and air. Had we realised that at the time we would gone removable !
Not to sure if the awning is any easier to errect, just different.
Rgds
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We’ve just packed away our breathable carpet after 21 days in one spot, and the grass is hardly marked - which surprised me. The mat which we used in front of the step, on top of the carpet, has clearly marked the grass. I’ve felt up until now, that an attached groundsheet would be useful when setting up. But I’m sold on breathable carpets now.
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