Inflatable awnings?

[Dr Fingers]

http://www.inflatabletentsonline.co.uk/ ... nings.html

Sounds expensive, but looks convenient, and well made. Anyone had experience of these? Also, they are 3m wide (?): how does this marry up with the Bongo?

Derek

[karena]

be interesting in a gale -though nothing to break i supose but way too big a hole in the bank account for me.

[briwy]

Hellish expensive, that's about £150 more than we paid for a Khyam which is a doddle to put up and has stood up to some really windy nights.
Not sure I'd want an awning called a "VANKELPAWNSTD"

[helen&tony]

Hi
Pricey but nicey ...another reason to get an onboard compressor...looking at these....BIG airhorns
Cheers
Helen

[Poohbear]

Vango's airbeam tents and awnings are surprisingly rigid when inflated so gale force winds won't be a problem. You don't need a compressor, they are supplied with a pump and as the volume of the poles isn't great they don't take much pumping, less effort than an airbed in fact. I think I'll wait until they get a bit cheaper though!

[mikeonb4c]

Vango's airbeam tents and awnings are surprisingly rigid when inflated so gale force winds won't be a problem. You don't need a compressor, they are supplied with a pump and as the volume of the poles isn't great they don't take much pumping, less effort than an airbed in fact. I think I'll wait until they get a bit cheaper though!

I suspected as much. Plus, yielding to the wind a bit can be much better than rigid sometimes. I wonder how compact they are when folded, and how reliable they are regarding punctures or air leaks (when presumably they become useless?)

[cujimio]

We have recently invested in a Vango AirBeam Kela awning - very pricey but very simple to put up. Has additional bracer straps for if it is really windy and we survived high winds and lots of rain on our first attempt at putting it up.

Comes with a pump, pegs, pole and clamp fixings, bit to put a fig 8 onto, over roof straps - so you can choose what is best - as well as the all essential repair kit!! Even came supplied with a rubber mallet

[Dr Fingers]

[quote="cujimio"]We have recently invested in a Vango AirBeam Kela awning - very pricey but very simple to put up. Has additional bracer straps for if it is really windy and we survived high winds and lots of rain on our first attempt at putting it up.

Must admit, I'm tempted. Certainly looks like they did their homework re the bracer straps (check out their comprehensive videos).

Would you say the Kela is big enough for 2 plus dog? I need somewhere big enough to double as a loo tent in the night, (poss use it's bedroom bit as a 'kazi'?) but sleeping in the van. I need something big enough for 2 chairs, cooker etc so we can sit out in comfort in the inevitable British Summer downpours .

The larger model is over 4m long. Seems quite a size.

Derek

[g8dhe]

Always remember one occasion where a pump up tent was used ... It was put up in the evening on a cool evening, next day Wife retired to the tent about 09:00AM on a lovely sunny day, midday there was a POP and the tent collapsed around her!!

[cujimio]

We have recently invested in a Vango AirBeam Kela awning - very pricey but very simple to put up. Has additional bracer straps for if it is really windy and we survived high winds and lots of rain on our first attempt at putting it up.

Must admit, I'm tempted. Certainly looks like they did their homework re the bracer straps (check out their comprehensive videos).

Would you say the Kela is big enough for 2 plus dog? I need somewhere big enough to double as a loo tent in the night, (poss use it's bedroom bit as a 'kazi'?) but sleeping in the van. I need something big enough for 2 chairs, cooker etc so we can sit out in comfort in the inevitable British Summer downpours .

The larger model is over 4m long. Seems quite a size.

Derek

Hi Derek

I think that if the sleeping bit was up you would struggle with a cooker and two chairs without blocking a door off. Without the sleeping bit, there is plenty room for a cooker unit thingy, two chairs, table, two small dogs and room to walk about without falling over anything or blocking the door to van or door to outside. We compared with the larger one and it is a lot bigger - too big for us.

Sharon

[Dr Fingers]

Thanks Sharon.

One more thing..

it says it's 3.1m wide..that's wider than the van itself, measuring from front edge of passenger door to tailgate. I don't understand how it marries up to the van. Is there a 'tunnel' section that is narrower than 3m? ie a connection tunnel that is less than 3m wide? If not, what do you do with the excess overlap?

It's not clear on their website, the plan just shows a width of 3.1m, which is surely too wide for a Bongo? EG a Fiamma awning is usually 2.5m wide to suit the van, not 3.1.

Appreciate your help, as it's a fair bit of cash and I don't want to get this wrong..

Derek

[cujimio]

Thanks Sharon.

One more thing..

it says it's 3.1m wide..that's wider than the van itself, measuring from front edge of passenger door to tailgate. I don't understand how it marries up to the van. Is there a 'tunnel' section that is narrower than 3m? ie a connection tunnel that is less than 3m wide? If not, what do you do with the excess overlap?

It's not clear on their website, the plan just shows a width of 3.1m, which is surely too wide for a Bongo? EG a Fiamma awning is usually 2.5m wide to suit the van, not 3.1.

Appreciate your help, as it's a fair bit of cash and I don't want to get this wrong..

Derek

The first time we used the pole and clamp (as we didn't have the fig 8 stuff) and the "roof" of the tunnel went halfway across passenger window and practically right to the end of the van. The "roof" of the tunnel is narrower than the ground sheet so maybe that's where the 3.1m is coming from. We now have an 8ft fig 8 and it was just the right length for the fillet strip (think that's what it is called!) that is on the awning. I have a pic of it attached to our van that I could send you if you want - was a first attempt at pitching so its not perfect but may give you an idea. I would put it on here, but haven't sussed how to get the sizes right yet, haha!!

Sharon

[Dr Fingers]

Sharon

you have pm.

Derek

[valley boy]

Having seen one perform in the wind at carmarthan show bought one on the spot

[Dr Fingers]

That's reassuring, as have just splashed the cash on the smaller version. Many thanks to Sharon for lots of advice and pics

Derek