Inflatable awnings

@ TimboC ... The advantage is that if you get a puncture, only the one beam deflates and needs replacement. I don't know about other types of air awnings so can't comment on how this compares.

The various tubes on my Kampa single point inflatable awning all have an isolation valve at each end. 👍

I've got a Kampa Rally Air Pro 390 plus for sale with various optional extras if it's of any interest?

I swapped to an Kampa Air awning in 2017. It was a total disaster, not because of the quality etc, but because the fit had not been thought out. Version 2 for my van came along in 2019 and it i a different beast in that the fit is very good.

I do not find it much quicker to put up than previous pole awnings but it is unbelieveably quick to take down and pack away. The only problem I have found is the weight getting it into the awning track. I am converted and have bought a smaller lightweight Vango Siesta for short stays. This is a generic camapervan style that fits our low Eriba and is a good compromise on quality, price etc.

I do believe there is still a market for frame awnings. If you need something very large then they should still be a consideration. Our previous Fortex frame awning was twice the floor space as our current Kampa air awning but was not twice the weight and only took an extra 10 minutes to put up. At £2,500+ it was however also in excess of twice the price.

Colin

Hi Colin,

I've found the weight of putting up an air awning a pain as well. If there are 2 of you, clip a dog lead onto the end of the awning and get your partner to pull as you shove

On one of mine, can't remember which but fairly sure it's the Kamp, there is a hole at the end that takes an 'awning pulling pole', not sure what the technical name but it's metal with a handle at one end and a hook that goes into the hole and about a few feet long that does the same thing. I think Kamp do one too but there are cheaper ones about too. 

Your sounds a cheaper option, if you already have a dog, and in which case you could train it to do the pulling?

I'd thought about one of the pullers, but the awning rail set-up on an Eriba will not allow it's. Image a gutter running all the way around the van, about 200mm down from the flat of the roof. When the gutter gets to the end of the sides it does a radius turn and then continues across the end of the van before turning again onto the back of the van. You would be pulling in several directions.

Photos attached of 2017 version 1 that used to pull out of the track.

Colin

Cornersteady

                      It may be a Husky ( not a soar throat ) so wouldn't need training.....job sorted 

I may have missed someone else making this suggestion.

Kampa do inflatables with removable front and side panels e.g Club Air range. This allows you to erect the awning much lighter. Fitting the panels after inflation. Another advantage is with storage. We have two bags with main awning in one and the sides and fronts in the other. Sharing the weight is an advantage. Using this method means I can put it up single-handedly and not over strain my rapidly ageing body- now 78 years young.