We have decided to get an awning for our Eldiss 2 berth caravan. Its 5.5 metres. We've been having a look but there are so many to choose from!! We're preferably looking second hand and just looking for some advice from you all as usual!! 😁
If you can find one I would recommend a Trio awning. They are very strong and quite easy to put up. We have a Trio Sombrero full awning for our Elddis Wisp caravan, it's on my profile. We have also had a Trio Midi porch awning for our previous Elddis caravan, and we liked it so much we wanted another Trio for the one we have now, which is why we bought the Sombrero. They are only available second hand now as far as I know.
From experience I have always had a raw deal buying second hand awnings on three separate occasions as people appear to be somewhat dishonest when it comes to selling awnings. It's an item that you can rarely view before purchase so you purchase on the basis of trust. The first porch awning we bought second hand was a blue Royal Wessex 260 because it was lightweight but putting it up for the first time there was a small hole in the roof and smudges of boot marks of dirty black grease on the rear panel. Luckily I managed to clean it off with washing powder but decided to buy another in burgundy but missing the poles. As we already had the poles for this model I thought I was getting a bargain but found that all the mud walls were torn and had to have it repaired at a cost of 120 quid. Another was a full awning which we found had no curtains or rails and a large rip in one of the corners. We eventually gave up on buying second hand awnings and bought new as we like to treat our equipment with respect. We purchased a new Dorema Montana from their factory clearance in 2010 and after 12 years it's still like new then three years ago we purchased a Kampa 260 air pro (inflatable porch awning) which we use on shorter stays and use the full awning on longer stays.
There are several brands you can choose from which Isabella are renown for their quality but not cheap but can be a good choice if you intend to keep it for a few years. Dorema and Bradcot are a good choice too and a cheaper option if you are on a budget.
However, if you still insist on buying second hand then the advice is to have a look first to avoid any nasty surprises.
We have had several makes of awning over the years and I can say that our current Isabella is head and shoulders above any of the others. The quality is superb and it is relatively simple to put up. It was quite a bit more expensive than any other awning we have ever bought but we feel it was definitely worth it. You might be lucky and get one second hand, especially if you have a small caravan.
We have a Dorema full awning which must be 20 years old. We had it extended to fit a Bailey Pegasus which is the same size as our current Unicorn. It's a bit faded and has a slight tear on a mudwall.That was easily repaired.
We also have a Kampa Rally Pro 260 for short trips. It is a poled type and very well made,again its faded a little but excellent.
Air awnings are popular, easy to put up but can be pretty heavy to pull round the awning rail from my experience helping a mate with his.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Yes it is good advice to have a look before you buy. We bought our first Trio porch awning without looking at it but we were lucky. Everything was there and it looked like it had hardly been used. The one we have now we bought from a caravan breaker who had it all laid out on the floor in his workshop so that we could thoroughly inspect it. We couldn't find anything wrong with it at all, and have now used it several times. Well pleased with it, especially since we only paid £80 for it! Was a long drive to collect it, but well worth it.
There are several Trio awnings on ebay at the moment.
I've only ever bought second-hand awnings due to the price of them new, all have been Isabella and the experiences have all been great I'm glad to say. To be honest, most of them have been like new. I tend to use Preloved and would recommend it.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
It depends what you want to use it for, but generally for short stays you’re looking at either canopy or porch awnings, we have a Kampa Revo Zip, this can be used as either a canopy or a porch awning, probably the most versatile awning you can get as the canopy can be erected in about 20 seconds or the full awning (privacy room, carpet etc) erected in about 15 minutes.
We also have a Kampa Air Rally Pro 330 for a bit more space and longer stays, both are very good and we got both of them second hand from eBay
We did have a bigger Vango Montalena awning but to be honest, I didn’t really rate it
If we are going for less than a week we don't bother with an awning at all. Our caravan has plenty of room for the two of us as it's a 4 berth.
One thing to be aware of if you are thinking of an air-awning is that you need to be fit and strong, as they can be VERY HEAVY! We tried one once, the only one we bought new, and we just couldn't get on with it. Used it twice and gave up. My wife and I are both in our 70s and both have back problems. I can't lift anything heavy above shoulder height. As the air-awning came all in one piece we really struggled to get it through the awning rail.
Our Dorema came from a dealer at the NEC many years ago. It was a previous years model delivered to our house. A good saving on latest model at the time.
The Kampa came from a small camping shop in Walsall. My wife found them on line. It was ex display and slightly marked. The marks brushed off being dust. With a groundsheet storm guys and rear poles still less than full price and about 45 minutes drive away!
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
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We have decided to get an awning for our Eldiss 2 berth caravan. Its 5.5 metres.
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if you go for a full awning, then be aware that they are not measured in the length of the van.
the measurement is from the ground, up through the awning rail on the van, and back down to the ground.
awnings are sized in 10cm increments, so you would need to measure the van first
Having just been through the whole awning-purchase experience I would recommend doing your research. I have just upgraded my van but previously had 2 porch awnings on my old van … they were fine but after a whole season they leaked and one was definitely easier to put up than the other. They were also draughty as they never quite fit well to the caravan sides.
This year I wanted to get a full (seasonal) awning and thought I had got one with the van … the outer canvas NR awning was there and in good condition, but alas no poles! Having done a lotta lotta research this is what I would advise:
1) will you need an annex at anytime? If so see if you can source an awning with one included because there are a million different types of zips on the various types/age/models of awning. I noticed on the NR one that the part of side panels actually attached to the awning rail so any annex would need to have the beading on it.
2) will it be a seasonal pitch? There is a difference between All-Season/Four Seasons and Seasonal Pitch awnings.
3) double check your A measurement/awning rail measurement and make a list of all the different Brand of awning sizes that fit with your rail measurement - every manufacturer seems to have a different size!
4) Some manufacturers do awning in 2.5m and 3m depths - I bought a 3m one which is fab as I am on a seasonal pitch and only have to put it up once a year. My pitch is also bi enough but if you are touring a lot that might not work.
I spent a lot of time on Gumtree/Facebook Marketplace saving and watching different awnings and in the end I got a fabulous Isabella at a price I could afford because the guy inherited it with his van and did not want or need a full awning.
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Topic: Awning advice
via mobile 19/4/2022 at 6:11pm
With a groundsheet storm guys and rear poles still less than full price and about 45 minutes drive away!
