Air awnings
We would like to purchase an air awning for our caravan (Eldis Chatsworth 636 2016 model). We have been comparing the Kampa Club Air All Season awning with the Suncamp Airvolution Icon Air and had all but decided to purchase the Kampa air awning.
However one last check reading the reviews has thrown a spanner in the works as the reviews we have read regarding Kampa are rather off-putting with regards to leaking roofs and exploding poles! The Suncamp appears to have more positive reviews.
We would welcome your opinions on the above two awnings and appreciate your guidance.
Tiggey
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No experience of the Suncamp I'm afraid but do have a Kampa Rally Pro which is brilliant.
Not had any problems with leaking roofs, apart from the normal drips from stitching first time out until it seals itself which is normal for all awnings. No exploding poles so far though I've seen, and heard, a few going on other makes.
Make sure the Suncamp can be filled from a single valve like the Kampa. Much easier than faffing about filling individual poles as seen on some makes of air awning.
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Have a look at my post on page 2 of this thread!
Although mine isn’t an All Season (wasn’t available in 2017) I would still expect it to last longer than this.
Apart from the leaking issues I had 2 air poles burst last year and before anyone asks, they were blown up to the recommended pressure.
If I had the choice again, I wouldn’t buy Kampa.
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We have both a Kampa Air 390 Grande and a Sunncamp Air 390. This is our third Kampa awning and we have never had a problem with leaks. Both are quality awnings commensurate with their price. The Kampa was about £1000, whereas the Sunncamp was £350. You get what you pay for! Kampa much heavier than the lightweight SC but the Kampa is much more versatile in terms of opening panels etc. Sunncamp much easier to dry if it has to be packed away wet.
If you over inflate any air awning there is a danger of the tubes going pop in hot weather- so stick to the recommended pressure and you will be OK.The single inflation point is a bonus with the Kampa but in all honesty, it’s not a big issue having to also inflate the three roof poles on the SC - takes a few seconds with an electric pump.
Pays your money and takes your choice!
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+1, I find the more inflation points the less chance of the whole structure failing. With one inflation point a leak renders the lot unusable. With a battery inflator(Lidl) it’s a breeze👍🏻
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Thankyou👍🏻. My experience has obviously come from the erect to the flaccid with one small puncture awnings.
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Thankyou👍🏻, see my post on the previous page.
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As said earlier, be mindful of the recommended inflation pressure. I had a Kampa 390 and filled it to the recommended pressure whilst the ambient temerature was cool. The day after inflation the ambient temerature more than doubled and caused an over pressure in the system and one of the bladders went with a big bang. With no over pressure dump valve fitted this will always be a problem, the black outer material absorbing the suns energy and heating up doesn't help either.
One more point raised earlier in the thread regarding the isolation valves. They are an excellent tool to troubleshoot a slow leak in any of the bladders. To find a leak all the valves are closed after normal inflation so that only the bladder with a leak will deflate identifying it quickly.
I wouldn't close the isolation valves for any other reason other than fault finding.
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I wouldn't close the isolation valves for any other reason other than fault finding.
So if the isolation valves are not closed off in normal use and a leak occurred during the night or when out for the day, you could wake up to or return to a completely collapsed awning onto everything inside.
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Such would be the case if one tube were punctured by a meteorite, or a shard of ice from an aeroplane wing, maybe a crashed drone. But from a realistic risk standpoint, you would need to be amazingly unlucky to find that your correctly erected and inflated has collapsed. If I felt so unlucky, I’d probably never leave the house - then again most accidents occur at home!
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We have had 2 Kampa air awnings and have had no problems at all with either of them,we have currently a Kampa Pro 390 and yes i would agree it is quite heavy but it is a quality awning and i would certainly recommend it ,
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Hi there we are on our 2nd Kampa Air Pro awning and no problems with either ,great bit of kit,as has been said a little on the heavy side but that’s tha quality of the product.Can highly recommend.
Brian. & Jo
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I spent a year thinking about going for an air awning and sought advice here where was positive. In the end I got a fantastic deal on the Kampa Club Air pro 390 during lockdown from Camping and General online for £900! https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/kampa-club-air-pro-390-plus
First use we had heavy rain and about 3 leaks. Relaxed as knew the stitching had to swell. Second time out...torrential rain minor leak on one corner but that has stopped and no issues
Delighted with it. Easy to pump with the standard pump supplied. However, very heavy but I can cope and I’m lazy as I dont unzip the sides.
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I have a Kampa air pro awning and initial there was a slight leak on the roof seams which I treated with an aerosol water proofer and have not had any further problems. I also have the Kampa electric air pump on which you can set the max pressure. I find that just 5lbs psi, which is half the suggested amount, gives firm enough pressure and gives me a wide safety margin and consequently I have not had any burst tubes in 2 years since new.
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