Awning size

Go to Baileys web site and look under the van technical spec. section

All details on sizes are there. Or alternatively 955cms

The awning size of 955cm refers the size of a traditional full awning that is required.  Effectively It is the length of the beading that attaches the awning to the caravan. The same Awning are sold in a range of sizes to fit different caravans so you probably would buy a 960cm awning.  As an example our caravan needs an  awning of 1050cm.  If I fitted a 955cm awning it wouldn’t reach the ground if you fitted a 1050cm to your caravan then you would far too much fabric.  

However most air awnings are not full awnings they do not run the full length of the caravan.  So they are it that sense more flexible.  In this case you need to consider if the awning will foul a window when a size smaller or bigger might fit better.  

The final consideration regarding air awnings is that they are heavy.  We recently acquired a S/h Kampa air ace 300 awning.   The reason it was being sold was because it was too heavy for the original owner it was only 6 months old.  

As, as far as far I can tell you have a pretty standard caravan, I don’t think that you need to measure the awning rail to floor height.  I never have but don’t let that stop you. 

https://www.isabella.net/uk/support/search-on-a-measurement

This link gives some info about Awning rail measurement the value the give is less than the 955cm quoted above.  If you are going to buy a porch awning then the Awning rail  measurement is irrelevant. All you need to make sure the flat part of the rail at the roofline is long enough. But I don’t think that is going to be a big issue. 

Prior to fitting the awning, clear any excess sealant from the awning rail.

We have a Bradcot Aspire Air 390 awning that is easy to fit, once the excess sealant in the awning rail had been cleared out. 

Not having had a caravan before, other than when kids, but a MH for the previous 9 years with 2 types of awning that were 'new fangled' we had been led to believe air awnings were heavy and difficult to fit in compare to traditional awnings. First time out we struggled to fit the bead into the awning rail from the rear end of the rail, until we found the rail obstructed by sealant. Soon ran a peg puller round the rail to clear it. By standing on the steps and using the highest opening in the rail with the peg puller in the eyelet in the leading edge of the awning, the other half slowly feeding the bead we managed to pull it through to the right position with ease.

If you have an electric pump with the awning, let it do its job (read the manual first); we didn't 1st time and found by switching it off when it finished its volume cycle before the pressure cycle the awning deflated. Also follow the destructions to the letter, it'll save heartache. eg peg the 2 'rear' corners under the caravan before inflating. The pump may need to be connected directly to the car battery due to the current draw, not a cigarette lighter socket or caravan 12v socket, establish where your car battery terminals are. Our first trip was with a hired tow car, where we approached fellow campers with the same vehicle as we could not find the battery terminals for plastic covers.

Since that first time I generally fit the air awning myself.

I'm not a young man (free prescriptions later this year) although am tall.

But most of all, keep calm and avoid the divorce in a bag scenario.

Re air awnings the general consensus of people I have spoken to,when we considered getting one, is that they are heavy. That's a relative term but all said heavier than a conventional.

We have always had Isabella being luck to get one secondhand when we got our first van and so far as availability a conventional full size awning will probably present a greater secondhand or new choice.

We use a Magnum part awning and whist now familiar with erecting it there is no doubt that a full awning on a van the size of yours will be less complicated.

Certainly if you are not planning on regularly changing vans, which we have been doing, I would go foe the full awning.

Isabella give an A measurement of 940 and an awning size of 950 and a quick search showed 11 results just on ebay.

Another thing to look at is youtube as there are loads of videos there, some official manufacturers ones.

Thanks Boff. There are a couple of posts above, from people who are nearly of pensionable age, and still able to work single handed. I’ve been drawing mine for a decade, which may go some way towards explaining our different perspectives.