Is it just me, or does anyone else wish that they could buy a small easy air awning just big enough for changing out of muddy shoes or sheltering whilst trying to load the shopping into the caravan in wind and rain?
Ideally something about 1.5mtr square, 2mtr wide max, but with a shallower depth than the cut down versions such as the Kampa rally Air pro 200, which is exactly the same dimentions front to back as its bigger brothers such as the 390, and much bigger than 1.5 mtr.
A smaller mini version would be much easier to handle through the rail threading process than the larger one too, and with less pegging out it would make a viable option for those looking for a touring awning for one night stays.
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!
I must admit I have never really thought about it. If we go for a week or more, well we only put the awning up once. If we just go for one or two nights we don't bother with the awning at all.
Thankyou for the useful suggestions, indeed Navver, we have had a roll out blind on a previous caravan, they are fine for just giving an 'umbrella' effect, but not so good at providing a bit of dry storage or shelter from the wind in blustery weather.
At the moment, for us its a choice of either using our Kampa 390 Air, which is quite a heavy beast to pull through the rail for my elderly husband, or its our old Kampa 260 poled version, which has served us well through many seasons. Its fairly light to pull through, but still needs a pair of steps to reach up and fit the roof bars, something that we wanted to avoid when we bought the 390 Air, as the Kampa version has totally linked air poles and this step happens automatically with inflation.
Peterrabbit, that awning from Vango is the perfect size we are looking for thankyou, and a good price too. Its something that l would like to see 'In the flesh' so to speak, especially regarding the fitting of the roof beams, as this is what put us off buying a 390 Vango Air when we bought the Kampa equivalent.
Many thanks again for all your suggestions, its very much apprieciated.
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!
We had exactly the same problem...Got a Kampa 390 air, but found on the last trip when wet we didn't put it up but needed a quick small jobby just for feet and drying the dog off, so got a cheapish 2nd hand Vango Braemar 150 just as suggested by p-rabbit.
Put it up for a test run and seems perfect for a couple of days, if I remember right, there are just a couple of beams that go across the roof part that velcro in and it's done. Think we'll use this one for winter trips and the Kampa for summer trips.
Thankyou Morepints, but after watching a few youtube clips of the single airbeam type awnings, my husband says he prefares either the tiny Vango Braemar, or a Kampa 200 Air. Pricewise l believe the Braemar will win.
We are not in any desparate hurry to buy, and may decide to wait and take our chances in the end of season sales. Our next couple of planned trips out are onto hardstandings, so indeed, no awning will be used.
The 390 will still be used for longer holidays, and any offers of help to thread it through the channel will be gracefully accepted and well rewarded with offers of a few beers or a nice bottle of wine or chilled Prosecco for the kind persons efforts.
We once watched an elderly lady caravanner arrive alone onto a Caravan club site neighbouring pitch, and await one of the wardens to come over and set the entire unit up for her, including an lsabeĺla porch awning, for which she handed over a tenner for his troubles with a Thankyou.
Our needs are not as relient as this lady's were, we are fine doing everything on our own apart from threading through this heavy 390 Air awning into the channel, even with an awning puller long handled pull hook its still quite difficult for my 78yr old husband to do alone.
Julia
Post last edited on 21/04/2018 08:36:35
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
We love the Kampa Rally air pro range, got the 390plus, 330, 200, tall annexe and the sloping annexe. We find the 200 is great for weekends and if we take the bikes they go in the tall annexe. If you don't already do so, give your awning rail a good squirt all the way round with an awning lubrication spray, makes pulling the awning through much easier.
Quote: Originally posted by romany girl on 21/4/2018
Thankyou Morepints, but after watching a few youtube clips of the single airbeam type awnings, my husband says he prefares either the tiny Vango Braemar, or a Kampa 200 Air. Pricewise l believe the Braemar will win.
Love the comments about helping one another - its one of the great things about caravanning. I am on a seasonal pitch and have been there for over 10 years - we usually keep in touch and know when neighbours are putting awnings up and all muck in to help. The joy of helping one another is tempered by the promise of cold beer at the end. Those with a more wicked sense of humour have been known to hijack proceedings and steal / hide pegs, mallets, poles etc. Even better fun was to sabotage somebody's pole marking system with coloured tape the night before ;-)
------------- "Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools."
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Topic: Tiny easy awning
