Awnings??

[Glyn j]

The awning that came with the van we bought back in the summer is a starcamp cameo with steel poles, the awning is in great condition but  poles are steel and are very heavy, and at my age(70) I find them hard to manage,  I've seen a set of bradcot easy alloy poles and wondered if they would do the job, anyone out there tried it? Or any ideas. Thanks.

[KnausCol]

We have carbon poles for our Isabella awning and they are a huge weight saving on traditional poles and much easier to manage. Carbon would be even lighter (but more expensive) than alloy but I don't know if they are available for Starcamp. No doubt alloy would be lighter than steel but I would definitely check the difference between them to make sure changing is worth the investment.

[joanie]

if you can afford it , either sell or give the awning away and buy yourself a new  or second hand lighter one. It would make caravanning a lot easier, plus you would save on your payload.  We found from 70 years on we had to make a lot of compromises to allow us to carry on touring and getting a lighter porch awning was a main thing for us. 

[Alfie T]

If it’s not suitable try to do a trade in for one you want I have done this in the past

[daveat92]

Ask yourself if you actually NEED an awning. It might save you a lot of hassle and cost. 

[Glyn j]

Thanks for the replies, we need an awning for a bit of space, it's only a small van(swift challenger 470) I think the fibre poles, maybe the way to go. Or dare I say it, an air awning.

[CJ1149]

Glyn

Thinking along the same lines as yourself I bought an air awning.   I found it to be just as cumbersome and even heavier (size for size) than the canvas on my traditional full frame awning.  There are lighter ones but they tend to be less robust.    Also air awnings tend not to withstand windy weather as well as traditional.  No doubt there will be people who disagree but I have seen air awnings (especially if left unattended) collapse very quickly in a sudden squall. 

Google awning frames and you might be able to find some frames on sale.  There used to be a trader specialising in frames and if I can find the link I'll post it on here.  

[Glyn j]

Thanks for the reply,  you right about the air awning, speaking to a couple down the road from me the other day, and they told me there air awning came down over night, so I will look for alloy or fibre.

[Tuningdrew]

I’d look for a secondhand Isabella  Magnum or Ventura Marlin. Lightweight and simple to put up, top quality materials, the fibre/carbon pole system is the best on the market. 

[Pheasant]

I am surprised to hear air awnings not as secure as poles type,I have had two good pole types and went over to air 2019 for extended Spanish holiday,far superior and withstood high winds no trouble.

easy to erect on my own,I’m 79.

 

[Mr Plodd]

7 minutes ago, Pheasant said:

I am surprised to hear air awnings not as secure as poles type,I have had two good pole types and went over to air 2019 for extended Spanish holiday,far superior and withstood high winds no trouble.

easy to erect on my own,I’m 79.

 

[PMW]

24 minutes ago, Pheasant said:

I am surprised to hear air awnings not as secure as poles type,I have had two good pole types and went over to air 2019 for extended Spanish holiday,far superior and withstood high winds no trouble.

easy to erect on my own,I’m 79.

 

[richardandros]

Have a look at the Sunncamp lightweight air awnings.  Compared with the heavy fabric air awnings they are really easy to get on the awning rail and with an electric pump can be fully erected in three minutes.  Still have to peg them out - but that applies to any awning! Not expensive, either and also easy to dry if it has to be packed away wet.  As for withstanding high winds - ours has been out in 50mph winds on more than one occasion and was absolutely fine.