Hi fellow campers. We purchased a Rally Ace Air 400 at the beginning of the season and have had nothing but trouble and would like to know if anyone else has the same problems.
1. It leaks at the lower seams and along the seams of the upright poles.
2. The condensation is a real nightmare. We cannot store anything in it at night and can't sleep in it and apparently the optional roof liner doesn't make much difference.
3. At night when the air gets colder the tubes lose their rigidity and the roof collapses.
4. When its windy the roof implodes and explodes.
5. The air tubes twist.
We are in contact with the seller who says they will send it back to Kampa to test for the leaks but that doesn't help with all the other problems. we feel like we have bought an awning that is not fit for purpose as we cannot store much in it or sleep in it.
Has anyone had the same problems? Or are we just unlucky?
Reference to number 1 (It leaks at the lower seams of the upright poles). Is it leaking inflated air or leaking in water?
If it's leaking air then this suggests the reason for the poles losing their rigidity and a collapsing roof.
Do you have re-inflate the poles the next day?
We too have just bought a Kampa 390 Air awning, and have experianced the air poles on the outer corners twisting slightly and bending when the outside tempreture suddenly drops during the night. We contacted Towsure who sold us the awning, and explained what had happened.
They in turn contacted Kampa and we received an email back with instructions on how to straighten the poles at the base.They also said that twists and zips that were not straight on the inside were not a fault, as long as the air poles looked ok on the outside. The awing is very good though in high winds, yes the poles bend a bit, but they pop straight back up as the gust of wind passes.
We had also purchased the 12v inflator pump, but soon found out that this stopped short of reaching the 11psi pressure required to keep the awning erect, and found ourselves topping up the airpoles each evening with a few pumps from the hand pump as the outside tempretures started to drop.
Kampa also recommend using a waterproof groundsheet to help stop condesation forming from the moisture in damp ground. This certainly worked for us, although l know that these type of groundsheets are not allowed on some pitches due to it killing the grass undernieth.
All in all, im quite impressed with the Kampa Air Awnings, but my husband says he still prefares the poled versions, and we will be keeping our old kampa 260 poled Rally for short breaks away when we dont need such a large awning.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Re the condensation, yes, a nightmare, running down the upright poles and making puddles in the corners. Bought the roof liner which just caught the condenation and dripped it all off the front!!!! Finally sorted it by closing the fly screenon the doors but leaving the fabric part of the door unzipped about 6 inches at the very top. We have had the awning on a seasonal pitch and left this gap open even when away and have had no condensation.
We have not had to add any additional air since Easter when we first inflated the awning.
The awning has withstood torrential downpours and gale force winds.
Re the other problems they all sound as though you don't have enough air in the tubes.
I see a lot of air awnings all behaving, if I were you when next inflated, see if anyone on site has an air awning and ask for them to have a look. Do you have a psi gauge when inflating?
------------- Started with a motorbike and tent.......my gallery, my life.
Thank you. This was most helpful. The awning is going back to Kampa to check the water leaks. I am hoping they will also give advice on the condensation problem. The water proof groundsheet sounds a like a good
solution.
we have a kampa 390 air awning and have never had any issues with it losing air once its up.do you close all the valves once you have inflated it?we do get a small amount of condensation but we have been told if you fit the roof liners that help.i`m sure kampa advise you only inflat it to 7 psi not 11psi which might be the reason your pump is stopping.
I purchased an air ace 400 approx 18 months ago, water was pouring through the fabric, at first Glossop’s said it was condensation until they put a hosepipe on it..then they reproofed it and Glossop/Kampa said it would need treating every year for moderate use...I only had it up 5 times?
No more Kampa for me! They look great but the fabric is pants
Kampa then hide behind the stockists and will not talk to the end users...not for me Thanks kampa
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Topic: Rally Ace Air 400 Condensation!
