Hi. I have just bought an Elddis Xplore 304 compact caravan and was thinking of getting a porch style awning. Due to the small size of the van I want to get as much space as possible in the awning. I was looking at a Kampa Rally 330 and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on whether the van is big enough for this size of awning or would I be better off going for a full awning from Isabella or similar? Any ideas appreciated.
Thanks. Our van is very compact with only a 3.8m shipping length. I am picking it up tomorrow so will measure the straight run of channelling to see if the 330 will fit.
I would go for a full awning cos it takes no longer to put up and you get maximum space and a better fit in the awning rail.
We bought a kampa rally 200 for our even smaller explore 302 a few years ago now, and bought a full awning last year, to be honest I don't think the porch awning will ever get used again.
If you buy a full awning, then you change the van to a bigger one,you are snookered, you either have to sell it or have it enlarged, very costly mistake, that I have made over the years, go for the biggest porch your van will take and it will fit your next van and the ones after that
The 330 may be a tight fit, the straight awning rail is lightly to be less than that, and its not advisable for the rear down poles to foul any windows, as this can lead to fine friction scratches from the movement of the fabric against them in high winds. The Kampa Rally 260 should fit fine, and due to its generous depth and increased front headroom compaired to other porch awnings, its a real tardis capable of taking a sleeping pod if needed, plus a table and chairs. We have the poled versions in the 260 and the 390, and are very pleased with both of them. The 390 is a bit tight on this caravan, but the 260 fits fine, they are so easy to put up single handed that my 76yr old husband can do this alone.
Like others have said, the beauty of buying a porch awning is that they are fairly universal fit and not unique to one caravan size like a conventional awning is, and after owning conventional full awnings in the past, and watching others erect theirs on site, The Kampa Rally type of porch wins the medal for all around ease of erection and stability in bad weather hands down. Our 260 is now in its 6th season and is still as good as new.
Julia
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Hi Stuart. I have checked our van and your awning will fit. Could you tell me it's age and send a pic if not too much trouble as I am definitely interested. Also if you are too distant from us ( we live in Hampshire ) for us to pick up would you post?
Hi , I have put a couple of photos of awning in my gallery , I think it's about 7yrs old , I brought it secondhand but it had only been used twice and we have only used about 5 times. We are based in chessington Surrey. I would prefer it if you could pickup so you can inspect it.
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