We are looking for a porch awning to replace our very old worn out NR porch awning .
An air awning might be nice if it’s not too big and not too expensive. If not an easy to put up awning like my old NR x this is for winter use and short trips .
Thank you
Hi Nora
We have two Air awnings Suncamp dash 220 and Camp- tech Starline 260.
Suncamp is 75 Denier fabric with single inflation point.
Camp -tech is 210 Denier fabric with 3 inflation points.
I am able to put both up on my own in about 15-20 mins, never had a problem with either. They have had plenty of use.
We use Suncamp for weekends and Camp-tech for longer trips.
We also have a Kampa Dometic 390 pro poled awning which is also a great awning, but i need help getting it through the awning rail.
Regards
We are just the opposite! We bought an air-porch-awning a few years ago and used it just twice as we found we couldn't manage it. It was just too heavy for us to get through the awning rail as neither of us can lift very high. By contrast our full-poled-awning, which is huge, I can manage on my own once we have pulled the roof section through the awning channel. It comes in 5 pieces, which means that each section is quite light, even the roof section. The air-awning was all in one.
We generally don't use one at all these days if we are just going for a week or less.
We have a Kampa Rally Air Pro 330 for longer trips and use a Sunncamp 390 canopy for short trips, the Sunncamp packs down that small and only weighs about 3 kgs so it's just left under the caravan bed in case we decide to use it, whereas the Kampa is a lot heavier so travels in the car
We have a slightly smaller kampa rally pro. Well built awning, but as others mention, a bit heavy. We are able to cope with the weight, but if it were a problem, then it would be possible to unzip and remove the side pieces ( these are interchangeable ) and the front, leaving just the roof section to fir to the awning rail.
Of course, this would somewhat defeat the idea of the air awning, which is intended to be speedy to erect.
Quote: Originally posted by Ancient Uncle on 02/9/2023
We have a slightly smaller kampa rally pro. Well built awning, but as others mention, a bit heavy. We are able to cope with the weight, but if it were a problem, then it would be possible to unzip and remove the side pieces ( these are interchangeable ) and the front, leaving just the roof section to fir to the awning rail.
Of course, this would somewhat defeat the idea of the air awning, which is intended to be speedy to erect.
That was the problem with our air-awning, nothing was detachable, it all came in one piece. I don't think we really took that in when we bought it. Our big awning is in 5 pieces which is why it is so much easier.
Thank you everyone . We have an Isabella magnum for longer trips . That we still like and use .
I think the sun camp dash sounds like it might be just right for what I need .
I had looked at these but couldn’t see any reviews .
I've got a rather heavyweight Kampa/Dometic 330 Air awning which is too much effort for short stays, and a pain for me to dry if packed wet, so I use my lightweight Sunncamp SC260 Deluxe awning for those times, in fact it's pretty much the only awning I use for most stays now!
It's so simple to erect with only one diagonal hooped pole (consisting of two adjustable steel side poles and single fibre pole across the roof), easily done by one person. I really wouldn't bother with the airbeam version, with the inherent risks of leaks etc., the single pole is REALLY no hardship, pole all sorted in literally under 5 mins, and it's a fair bit cheaper.
It is a lightweight awning in all senses, the fabric in not as heavyweight as some awnings (but absolutely no worse than some MUCH bigger awnings I've seen!), but it's stood up to some severe battering from storm winds and torrential rain for over two years now, without any signs of deterioration, so not what you would call flimsy.
It comes in various sizes, bigger and smaller than my 2.6m version. You can open side doors or front wall, and the front wall can be opened as a canopy with optional poles.
The only point I've found where it could be improved is that it lacks any mesh type ventilation points at the height of the roof against the caravan rail, but that's pretty minor.
It's a VERY popular design seen in significant numbers and similar style available from a number of rival brands. Very happy with my choice, would buy the same again if I needed to.
Strangely enough that Sunncamp awning looks just like my air-awning but without the heavy air tubes. Wish I had bought one of them instead, and it's cheaper than I paid for mine which I can't use. Maybe I'll sell it next year.
Have to agree on the air awning v poled awning if you want a short stay awning, our Sunncamp canopy is a poled design, similar to the one that Monty described (single hooped fibreglass pole and then a single steel roof support, extremely 🤫 CK and easy to put up on your own and also no concerns about getting a puncture.
I have a Sunncamp Swift 260 (poled low version). Relatively light and quick to put up but it does say for use in fair to moderate weather. No storm straps etc so you may want to buy one. I found on mine you get a nice large puddle in the middle of the roof but you can get round this by buying the optional roof ridge pool or use a much cheaper extendable clothes line prop (about £4).
Quote: Originally posted by gari on 04/9/2023
I have a Sunncamp Swift 260 (poled low version). Relatively light and quick to put up but it does say for use in fair to moderate weather. No storm straps etc so you may want to buy one. I found on mine you get a nice large puddle in the middle of the roof but you can get round this by buying the optional roof ridge pool or use a much cheaper extendable clothes line prop (about £4).
Not sure that I've ever seen an awning that doesn't have the caveat of "for use in fair to moderate weather"! My MUCH heavier duty Kampa Air awning also has that stated, AND still despite that warning has storm straps, but instructions say to take down if strong winds! Some of the long use 'seasonal pitch' awnings may be more robust, but have never been of interest to me, so never really looked at them and can't comment from any knowledgeable position.
No roof puddles on my Sunncamp (and it's seen some spectacular rain!), but with the curved roof pole/profile and steepish rake from caravan rail not really anywhere for a puddle to form, wondering with yours being the 'low' version, that shallower rake gives opportunity for more of a dip in roof.
With the vagaries of the weather and unreliable forecasting, when exactly are you supposed to refrain from using your awning, or take down once the storm winds have started! My view is, if the wind has reached a level where you are concerned for your awning, then it's probably far riskier (for the awning, your caravan and your personal safety) to try and take down an awning in exceptional winds than to leave it to it's fate. Mine have certainly been through winds that I wouldn't have knowingly subjected them too if I had the crystal ball that told me what was coming wind wise!
Having nearly witnessed a friend have his teenage daughter catapulted through the air into next field when wind caught his tent during break down (the tent took off, battered a neighbouring caravan on the way, and landed a torn and broken poled wreck 300yds away! - wisely she let go when her feet came off the ground rather than trying to hang on!), I'm VERY unwilling to attempt to take down a large lightweight fabric structure in anything approaching a strong wind!
im with Monty15 got a 260 for this year which is all we use, had a Kampa air 330 but sold it as its heavy and im now of an age that I dont want to struggle I have a Swift 220 from previous use which is surplus to requirements
Just look at the number of secondhand air awnings up for grabs. 'Used once', or 'used twice'. Theres a reason for this, and it isnt the fact the sellers like losing money. Our 260 poled awning is lightweight, and can be up in 10 minutes, if im lazy and dont bother with the guides etc. (better weather). Its withstood quite a bit of stormy weather as well. A mate has a similar air version, and he is restricted to where he can put chairs due to the girth of the uprights inside.
My suncamp pole awning came . I’m happy with the look . And hope to try it out soon .
I sent fir roof poles but can’t see how or where this will go . It’s only one pole also says a veranda pole as well . I’ve looked on you tube and Google but can’t see how you fix it . I thought there would be two poles . Do any of you have these ?
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Topic: Small porch awning ( air ) ?
via mobile 02/9/2023 at 1:15pm
