Air awnings - do they last ???? (1 Viewer)

Dai Motorhome

Free Member
Nov 27, 2012
151
19
Burnham on Sea, Somerset
Funster No
23,813
MH
a class
Exp
1
Hi All. I'm attracted to the simplicity of assembly of an air awning. I went to a local dealer today and enquired about them, but when I said we were going to spend around a month on one site with the awning erected, he said. 'no! they're not suitable for that sort of use!'
This floored me some-what! He said that the material broke down after a short while and couldn't stand sustained use / sunlight.
Is this the case in practice? What's your experience.
I certainly don't want to spend £700 to find it lasts for one extended trip !!!
Dai
 
Feb 24, 2013
12,991
101,155
Bolsover, Derbyshire
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24,833
MH
Hymer S800
Exp
not long enough
If you are spending £700 I would guess you are looking at Kampa, we have one ourselves had it 12 months, but only used for a few days at a time

I would contact the manufacturer and ask them rather than a non product specialist salesman

It will under warranty for 12 months, you will certainly find out in that time, if it fails send it back (y)

David
 
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OP
D

Dai Motorhome

Free Member
Nov 27, 2012
151
19
Burnham on Sea, Somerset
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23,813
MH
a class
Exp
1
I've left a message on the Kampa facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kampa/613095028719654

as rather ominously there are no contact details on the website. Having read some of the existing messages on the facebook page re' not being able to contact Kampa / not getting replies I'm feeling rather wary!

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Feb 24, 2013
12,991
101,155
Bolsover, Derbyshire
Funster No
24,833
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Hymer S800
Exp
not long enough
I had some decent support from this chap, his name is Neil Yelland and he was sent my technical query when I asked for help

Kampa UK Limited
Little Braxted Hall
Little Braxted
Witham
Essex
CM8 3EU
Tel: + 44 (0)1376 500111
Fax: + 44 (0) 1376 500115
neil@kampa.co.uk
www.kampa.co.uk
 

Forestboy

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 31, 2007
5,023
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Forest of Dean
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46
MH
A Class Hymer B694 tag
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9
Not owned one but have read of this problem occurring, I'm sure if you do a search you'll find reference to it. Better to check first £700.00 a lot of dosh to lose.
 
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Dai Motorhome

Free Member
Nov 27, 2012
151
19
Burnham on Sea, Somerset
Funster No
23,813
MH
a class
Exp
1
this is the reply I received from Kampa.

"many of our dealers are cautious about setting expectations as consumers often say they are only going to use an awning for 2 or 3 weekends a year - then take it for 3 months in the summer to Spain and knock the hell out of it and come back and complain. The purpose of a lightweight and inflatable awning is to be a quick up /down product for weekends and the odd weekend away. If you are going to stay away for long periods you need an "all season " awning. The fact you have said 4 weeks away from the start of your conversation means the retailer is envisaging 6 months away as reality !! based on previous experience !. The secret about lightweight awnings is that they are great in snow /wind and Rain , but Sunlight can fade them - like carpet and curtains at home. This fading takes the strength out of the material . I suggest if you have been in nice SUNNY weather every 6 weeks of use , you spray it with Fabsil or equivalent to give a protective layer to the awning not from the rain but from the sun - then you will get 7-9 years of use from it. Don't look after it and you will get 2-3 years. Don't forget to spray pegging points etc I hope that gives you an understanding of why the retailer reacted as they did ! cheers. P.S The most popular size of inflatable awning is 390cm - this tells me the general public are replacing the heavy and difficult to erect full awnings with Lighterweight products. Which means 2 week holidays in these is becoming common place."

Still not sure what to do now!

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Chris69

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Feb 5, 2014
52
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since 2006
we had a Vango Kela, now sold, there was signs of wear after 4 days use. The base of the beams had rubbed in windy conditions and created a small hole.
Other problem we had was with the pump which failed twice. once with faulty pressure regulator and second time with split hose. I
would not recommend air awning stick with easy to errect pole version
 
Feb 24, 2013
12,991
101,155
Bolsover, Derbyshire
Funster No
24,833
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Hymer S800
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not long enough
I would add a serious note of caution

We do like ours although it still has an issue with a twisted corner

It maybe sold as lightweight, but it still weighs 30kg, hang it off an extended wind out awning and the strain on ours is already showing

The front of our wind out has a distinct bow and is becoming harder to wind in

Just a comment from your OP, are you really intending to park and not move at all for a month, these are not drive away awnings, it has to be taken down to move away

edit - if you do buy check the height carefully, we needed the XL for added height
 

Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
Just a comment from your OP, are you really intending to park and not move at all for a month, these are not drive away awnings, it has to be taken down to move away
Whilst the one on the link to facebook is a caravan type awning there are inflatable drive-away awnings available so it would still be possible to move the MH without taking it down assuming the correct type is bought.

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Jim

Ringleader
Jul 19, 2007
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I don't think you can buy an awning from them direct. So choose a dealer you can trust as it will be them honouring the warranty. I recall someone having problems with fading panels on a Kampa awning they had bought it 8 months previously from @Johns_Cross_Motorhomes who swopped it for a new one without question. (y)
 

MikeandCarolyn

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Mar 18, 2008
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Oh dear-we bought ours with the specific intention of using it for 3-mths at a time in Spain during the winter :doh: It can't be any worse than the flimsy Sun Camp one that it's replaced after I left it in a skip at Marjal.
DavidG58-when you talk about hanging it off an extended wind-out Awning,do you mean that you wind out your awning a short distance to attach the air awning and then wind it back in with the air awning attached ?
I thought about doing that,but decided that it would put too much strain on my windout awning,so,initially I stood on a step to thread the air awning into the slot on my windout.
Now I have attached an aluminium awning rail to the motorhome just below my windout.This removes any strain from the windout awning and puts the air awning really close to the side of the van.
Mike
 
Feb 24, 2013
12,991
101,155
Bolsover, Derbyshire
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Hymer S800
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not long enough
DavidG58-when you talk about hanging it off an extended wind-out Awning,do you mean that you wind out your awning a short distance to attach the air awning and then wind it back in with the air awning attached ?
I thought about doing that,but decided that it would put too much strain on my windout awning,so,initially I stood on a step to thread the air awning into the slot on my windout.
Now I have attached an aluminium awning rail to the motorhome just below my windout.This removes any strain from the windout awning and puts the air awning really close to the side of the van.
Mike

You describe it perfectly, our MH is quite tall 3m to the roof, we would need a pair of steps to get high enough, something else to cart around with us, so I wind out our Omnistore about a metre then hang the Kampa off that, hence the strain on retraction

I am not keen to drill holes in the outside to attach another rail

I am going to try blowing it up before connecting this weekend, that should be less strain, although technically it is still the same weight I guess :doh:

it does make quite an easy erect space, but I do it because Bev likes it more than I want to do it ::bigsmile:


edit - apologies to OP for going slightly off topic
 
Last edited:

Chris

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May 5, 2010
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They are smart looking aren't they?

I looked like a gypsy in Cornwall in May when I sat drinking beer from the can in my basic Kampa with poles whilst Mr and Mrs Perfect next door sipped wine in their fancy awning.

I wouldn't pay £700 for an awning though I don't think.

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Feb 24, 2013
12,991
101,155
Bolsover, Derbyshire
Funster No
24,833
MH
Hymer S800
Exp
not long enough
They are smart looking aren't they?

I looked like a gypsy in Cornwall in May when I sat drinking beer from the can in my basic Kampa with poles whilst Mr and Mrs Perfect next door sipped wine in their fancy awning.

I wouldn't pay £700 for an awning though I don't think.

You should have introduced yourself, I would have lent you a glass for your beer :rofl:

Seriously though, ease of putting up, no confusing poles, whats £700 in whole scheme of an easy life in a MH ::bigsmile:

and its paid for now anyway, so a real bargain
 

Brisey

Deceased RIP
Sep 4, 2007
8,087
17,512
Sutton on Sea
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223
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We spent 3 1/2 months at Camping Villasol, Spain last winter. A few pitches along from us a guy had a Kampa 390 Air awning erected. In all the time we were there it stood up to all the Spanish winter could throw at it. Strong winds, rain, hail etc, whilst others were rushing around taking their awnings down and trying to repair them the Kampa Air stood as firm as the rock of Gibraltar.

Brisey.

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