I am upgrading my porch awning to a full seasonal pitch awning but as always I am going it on a budget.
Would you buy a 10 year old Isabella? Looks pristine, it’s an old teal Ambassador Dawn with a flex frontage (you choose where door goes). I am limited in my options as my van is small so I need a size 6/7.
I also have the option of a younger Dorema Daytona. Thoughts?
If its in good condition and the right price, why not? They are a quality product.
We have a Dorema full awning which is over 15 years old. It's faded but doesn't leak so still used on longer stays.
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Yes, I’d happily go for the Isabella. At that age, the pegging elastics may be starting to go but they are easily replaceable and not too expensive, but the fabric, zips etc should be fine for a few years yet. Just check there are no holes in the “windows”.
With a second hand awning condition is everything. I bought my Trio awning (in my profile pictures) second hand and I have absolutely no idea how old it is, and I really don't care. It does the job and that is what matters. My caravan is old too, 30 years old to be precise, and that does the job too so am I worried? Not a bit. If the awning looks sound, and you like it, go for it and simply don't worry about the age.
Depends on condition, but Isabella awnings are so well made that potentially they can last for decades if treated well and not over exposed to sun light's UV.
Our Magnum porch will be 20 years old this year, it has been used extensively but still looks pretty good, not giving any hint of quite how old it is.
That's an awning that has been put up taken down and folded up, now more than 200 times, and used for anything from 3 to 28 days at a time here and into the south of France.
Most Isabella awnings I suspect see way less use, and at half the age ought still be good.
Where I would hesitate is if it has been in "seasonal" use but UV issues will show undue exposure to the sun etc, there work on the physical condition this one offered, actually is.
Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 13/3/2022
If its in good condition and the right price, why not? They are a quality product.
We have a Dorema full awning which is over 15 years old. It's faded but doesn't leak so still used on longer stays.
The same here except our Dorema full awning is 12 years old but still in immaculate condition including the poles. It's when awning sellers have had kids running about that you are more likely to find any material damage or bent poles.
I think the OP wants to use the awning on a seasonal pitch so it will have to stand up to the entire season. With climate change bringing more frequent storms with high winds etc, will a 10 year old Isabella stand up to this.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 13/3/2022
I think the OP wants to use the awning on a seasonal pitch so it will have to stand up to the entire season. With climate change bringing more frequent storms with high winds etc, will a 10 year old Isabella stand up to this.
"How long is piece of string", Navver. In all probability some brand-new awnings wouldn't stand up to what we have had lately. On the other hand, many much older ones might, who knows. It all depends on so many different factors, such as wind strength, wind direction, how well the awning is erected, etc. Our Trio full awning has stood up to some strong winds, and that could be anything from 5 years to 20 years old. We have had it 4 years and we bought it from a caravan breaker who had no idea how old it was. It came in with a caravan that he was dismantling for spares. He showed us it all laid out on the floor in his warehouse. It looked in good condition, we liked it so we bought it.
Fabulous. Thank you all. I knew I’d get sensible advice here. I too have an old van - late 1980s - but she is sound as a pound. And yes I need a seasonal pitch awning having had two second hand porch awnings both of which leaked by the end of the season. I would have gone for the 10 year old Isabella but there is something weird/fishy about the post (I found exactly the same photos on an older 2018 private seller post which says it’s been altered and end panel is a replacement in a different colour from a Dorema plus the size was bigger (875cm). The newer post (from a company on eBay) has no mention of alterations and claims it is an 800cm … but it looks bigger than that as the caravan it is pitched on is def bigger than our teeny van. Thought price was a bit low. So I think I will walk away at this point and look elsewhere … now armed with your advice. Thanks all, Katy
Worth checking with caravan breakers Katy. According to the one we bought our awning from, they often get them come in with scrap caravans. The one we have cost us £80, you can see it in my profile pictures. It's lovely and very strong. It's a Trio Sombrero and it's the second Trio awning we have bought, the other one being a porch that sadly wouldn't fit our current caravan without coming half way across a window, as the caravan layout is different to the one we bought it for.
I see your Trio awning. I am watching a Trio Mexico awning on ebay and a Trio Sport (not sure about model although I've asked the guy on Gumtree for confirmation) - I'm not familiar with Trio but they seem to get good reviews. I assume you'd recommend them? I'll need a bedroom annex and they seem a little harder to come by for Trios.
Quote: Originally posted by katymg on 14/3/2022
Hi Colin
I see your Trio awning. I am watching a Trio Mexico awning on ebay and a Trio Sport (not sure about model although I've asked the guy on Gumtree for confirmation) - I'm not familiar with Trio but they seem to get good reviews. I assume you'd recommend them? I'll need a bedroom annex and they seem a little harder to come by for Trios.
Thanks
Katy
Hi Katie,
Yes I would certainly recommend Trio awnings. They seem to be very well made and strong. The only snag is that I don't think they are made anymore, although I did hear they were taken over by someone. Having had that porch awning, which was a Trio Sport Midi, I was very impressed so I deliberately looked for another Trio awning for the caravan I have now. That one is a Trio Sombrero.
Just looked them up and apparently they were taken over by Trigano.
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 13/3/2022
Worth checking with caravan breakers Katy. According to the one we bought our awning from, they often get them come in with scrap caravans. The one we have cost us £80, you can see it in my profile pictures. It's lovely and very strong. It's a Trio Sombrero and it's the second Trio awning we have bought, the other one being a porch that sadly wouldn't fit our current caravan without coming half way across a window, as the caravan layout is different to the one we bought it for.
We had an awning thrown in as an after thought when we bought a van. It had never been out of the bag - never used. After an hour of trying to get it erected, we gave up and listed it on ebay. Three days later we had £350 in our pockets. Which we used to buy a new telly and some other stuff.
A mate bought a pretty new caravan, and as he was about to drive it away, the dealer remembered there was an awning with it, but no poles, and 'did he want it?'. Obviously, he took it (as it was for nowt), and on calling the previous owner, got the poles as well. The owner just forgot to throw them in when he sold the van. So my mate got a bloody good £600 awning free of charge, just because it was too small for the previous owners new van.
I think I've looked at the same ad on eBay. I bought an awning from same seller last year. There were parts missing which have never been corrected. I'm still trying to get satisfaction but they have now chosen to ignore my emails/messages. Therefore I'd say if it smells fishy then it probably is and I wouldn't touch that seller with a barge pole!
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Topic: Would you buy 10 yr old Isabella?
via mobile 13/3/2022 at 9:16am
