Inflatable Awning

[LouiseandGeoff]

Is there anybody out there who can recommend an inflatable Awning for my chausson motorhome please.

 

[repairer]

Hi I have a Chausson 711, not sure how this compares to your van but my awning is an Outdoor Revolution E Sport Air 325 XL

On my van it fits very well, I have a pull out BBQ and awning sits perfectly between this and RH side of hab door. Giving hab door access to awning.

Not sure if this model is still available, quality of awning is good.

​

 

[Guigsy]

I've got a Vango Kela. It's a very nice design. Drive away attachment works well. Seems to be good quality. I previously had an Outdoor Revolution Cayman. It was a similar size. The reason I changed is the bottom of the doors were just storm flaps and the cats kept escaping. The Vango is zipped all the way around, which is good. But the inflatable bit doesn't really make it any easier to put up. It also makes it considerably bulkier and nearly twice as heavy.

 

[faraway]

I also have a Vango Kela V which I would recommend with my Chausson.

 

[stevewagner]

We use a Dometic Rally Pro which is excellent. Whatever you decide check out EBay and Marketplace as there are loads of good quality used awnings for sale.

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[Lyrick]

Another thumbs up for the Outdoor Revolution E Sport Air 325 . Its been an excellent awning and quite a bit lighter than our previous Kampa ( Dometic ) Motor Rally Air pro 260.
Approx 16kgs as opposed to around 25kgs

 

[Pablo19]

We have a Lichfield California, made by Vango for Amazon. It's pretty much identical to the Kela V but is considerably cheaper. We don't use ours often but it's a really good bit of kit. Check the height of your awning though, this comes in two sizes to fit low/high vans.

Lichfield California

 

[LouiseandGeoff]

Thank you all for your suggestions I will look at them all. Certainly will look on eBay to

 

[scotjimland]

check out EBay and Marketplace as there are loads of good quality used awnings for sale.

yes there are... and the reason why ?

bought and then never used or not used often enough as they are just too much hassle..

air models, I found it heavy which made it a toil to pull round the awing rails .. and a bulky heavy package when folded up..

and yes, it ended up on ebay

awnings made with rip-stop nylon, with fibreglass poles are much lighter, compact and no more or even less hassle than an air model

that's my experience or owning them ..

unless I go back to tugging and staying on sites for a couple of weeks I wouldn't have another ..

 

[LouiseandGeoff]

Well Jim a lot of good points made and from someone who has experience in owning one so

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[David and Sally]

yes there are... and the reason why ?

bought and then never used or not used often enough as they are just too much hassle..

air models, I found it heavy which made it a toil to pull round the awing rails .. and a bulky heavy package when folded up..

and yes, it ended up on ebay

awnings made with rip-stop nylon, with fibreglass poles are much lighter, compact and no more or even less hassle than an air model

that's my experience or owning them ..

unless I go back to tugging and staying on sites for a couple of weeks I wouldn't have another ..

Yes. Agree. Forget air and go for fibreglass poles.

 

[Simonnsj]

We are going to Purely Outdoors tomorrow as we are thinking of a Dometic 390 Air awning however reading the above comments is making us think again...the alternative is an aluminium poled Dometic for a lot less....I am surprised the poled version is only approx 4kg's lighter than the air...

Big question is how easy is a poled awning to erect compared to an air awning?

 

[David and Sally]

We are going to Purely Outdoors tomorrow as we are thinking of a Dometic 390 Air awning however reading the above comments is making us think again...the alternative is an aluminium poled Dometic for a lot less....I am surprised the poled version is only approx 4kg's lighter than the air...

Big question is how easy is a poled awning to erect compared to an air awning?

A lot more work. But another 10 mins? Who cares? Having had both I would not willingly choose an air awning again.

 

[AndyPK]

We used these on our ‘van - very easy to put up/take down….

Not inflatable though…..

 

[stevewagner]

yes there are... and the reason why ?

bought and then never used or not used often enough as they are just too much hassle..

air models, I found it heavy which made it a toil to pull round the awing rails .. and a bulky heavy package when folded up..

and yes, it ended up on ebay

awnings made with rip-stop nylon, with fibreglass poles are much lighter, compact and no more or even less hassle than an air model

that's my experience or owning them ..

unless I go back to tugging and staying on sites for a couple of weeks I wouldn't have another ..

Well it’s personal choice isn’t it. I wouldn’t be without ours. Takes 25 minutes to erect and stores easily in the garage. We lock our bikes in it at night and it’s a useful dining/relaxing space during the day.

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[scotjimland]

deleted

 

[stevewagner]

of course it is .. we all have an opinion because we are all different and use our vans differently ..

no point in me having an awning when touring France and using aires.. but if you were going to Beni for three months and living in a caravan park it would be useful .. something I will never do .. shudder the thought

but the OP question was about inflatable awnings .. do you have one ?

I

Yep as stated a Dometic Rally Pro

 

[scotjimland]

as stated a Dometic Rally Pro

sorry.. I missed that.. and can't edit now you have quoted ..

 

[Jim]

I bought a Kampa thing with the poles. At the time, everyone was getting them. I think I paid £700 for it from Peter at Johns Cross. I used it once at the Stratford Rally which ran over 7 days. When it was 2 years old it looked like new and not a mark on it, I put it in classifieds for £200, but by then everyone was buying air awnings. Then I noticed someone had a "Never Used" in classified for £100, so I dropped mine to £100 too. Neither sold.

Mine sat in a barn for another 6 or 7 years and mice got into it, I dumped late last year. Would I buy another? Air or Poles. No, I just don't see the point, they don't fit with our style of camping.

 

[dalspa]

I bought an Outdoor Revolution awning second hand off a fellow Funster many years ago - paid £65 for it. It has the metal curved metal pole on the front face. It’s not an ideal fit to the side of the van due to the wind out awning protruding but does the job. Only time it is ever used is when we go to the temporary holiday site at Wells Next The Sea when our grandchildren come to stay for a few days. Wouldn’t be without it for this use and would never fork out for a much more expensive and bulky air awning but, each to their own.

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[Brianmor]

I've got a Outdoor Revolution T2 drive away air awning that was put up once in our front garden to see if it fitted ok and was then put into storage in our garage. We bought a Quest Screenhouse 4 like a lot of MHF members and it's so easy to erect and drop. If we were staying somewhere for a couple of weeks then the inflatable might be worth the agravation.
The inflatables are also 2 to 3 times heavier than the Quest so you need take into account your available payload.
If you're interested in my air awning pm me and make a silly offer, you'll probably get a bargain.