Got one of the lighter ones
E.g.
Sunncamp Swift 260 Air Caravan Awning - weight 10Kg
Cost about £240 last year.
Fits to side of our MH using a 3M length of 'C-section' fixed 2.4 metres above ground. (height required to clear side habitation door when opened.)
It is big enough to hold table, 2/3 camp chairs and my wife's mobility scooter.
It's not a driveaway one as such - but we have a kit using a 'figure of eight section' to de-attach from van if required ... note that we enjoy 'unplanned' touring, often only staying 1 or 2 nights on a site so tend to use only when staying on same site for more than say 3 days or so when we don't want to move the van anyway. (e.g. site near shops or public transport etc) It is quick to erect and take down anyway.
... some are very bulky - after the salesman shows how quick they are to erect ask him to demonstrate how easy it is to get it back in the bag! (he won't be happy!)
Pleased with ours but do check the actual packed size and weight and decide where you will store it - especially in a smaller campervan.
Hope this helps. p.s. We love 'camping' - we are so looking forward to our next trip ... tomorrow!
------------- The older I get the better I used to be.
We have the Vango Kella air beam which fits our coach built motorhome very easy to erect and very stable in windy conditions. There are 2 different heights to these awnings standard for van conversions and taller for coach built motor homes, we are very pleased with ours, it also comes with a number of fixing types.
Hi, we are motorhome 'newbies' , have a bessacarr e435 and just purchased the 2016 Vango kela lll tall model. Being newbs, of course we would pick the windiest day to erect for the first time! It isn't quite as quick to pitch as advertised, at least not for us.
Once up it was very very secure and did withstand the wind. We have a few issues though but think it's just because we need more practice.
We found we needed a fillet strip and figure 8 device for a better fit to the Kador rail, but it slides about a bit when on, so maybe it's not the best figure 8 rail?
We also think we pitched it too far from the van as we haven't yet mangaged a taught fit with the joining tunnel area.
All in all we love the awning but hoping others might have a few tips?
Would recommend a footprint for underneath to keep groundsheet clean as it will be clean and dry before re packing.
Have a Kampa 400xl awning which is fixed to the windout awning
blows up easily and is stable 10psi in tubes can go to 11psi I bought the electric pump which fits the cigaarette lighter although the supply a hand pump.
Great bit of kit expensive yes but the best awning ive owned even fits in the bag supplied
deflates in a minute .
They do other sizes which are cheaper.
http://www.kampa.co.uk/motorhome-awnings/air-awnings
We looked at these but they all seem to have built in ground sheets which i don't like because of the damage to the grass. Also there are a fair few sites where you aren't allowed to use non-breathable ground sheets. Just another factor to consider.
We have 2 air drive away awnings....Both VANGO. We chose VANGO as they have been making AIR TENTS for so many years without issue. Our first one, a Sapera TALL, has been well used without any problems other than as it is so large we sometimes get sideways glances from other campers! They really should just ask us about it, not keep walking by and looking at it. We must pick up the courage to invite them in! The Sapera has a 'sewn in' breathable ground sheet. It came with everything you would need, and included an easily to remove,re attach double inner tent. The second one, is a Kela Tall. Bought as on some occasions we do not need the huge Sapera. Tall is for coach built vans, standard is for smaller camper vans. This one does NOT have a 'sewn in' ground sheet. It has an easily attachable (in each corner, so that it does not move)supplied ground sheet. The beams do however sit on the same material as the sheet and these are part of the awning, and are roughly 8 or 9 inches wide all around the awning. Damn good idea as this will meet every site owner/manager's requirements. We use a footprint for both. We like clean kit! We have no problems with either, we love the extra space they both give. We fish, and need the sitting and storage space they both give. Enough for 4 in the Sapera, and 2 in the Kela. You need the following, items to attach any awning to your van, in order to drive away, and come back and re attach. An awning rail with at least one 'c' section channel (some have 2 of differing sizes in mm on. They also have, if 2 of them, the open end at opposite ends) attached to your van, a Kador strip, made of webbing often referred to incorrectly, as a 'rail' of whichever size(in mm) your section on the awning rail is, a hard plastic figure of 8 to attach to the Kador strip, the figure of 8 then attaches to your awning of choice and its size in mm.
The ease of these types of awnings, and fitments is the figure of 8 hard plastic. Just remove it, and you are mobile again. I have answered the original post Wendy 1406 and have tried to cover the post from Lorfal in that the moving about would be diminished. If I could post a picture ( I fish...but not phish LOL) It would have been easier to explain. BUT just use the internet and type in Kador strip and up will pop pictures of the things everyone mentions everytime in all drive away awning posts on here. One thing I did not say is.....you must fill the entire rail that is fixed to the van....this will stop any movement. Or use an awning stop (kampa make some, but only 6mm!) and remember also, that the Kador strip can be of differing sizes in mm, on each side the strip. I am off for a beer or two now.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Inflatable awnings
