Looking at getting a caravan, (on lookout now for right one). Want a porch awning have been looking at them on ebay. But wanted to know what stops the sides by van from letting wind and rain in as pictures dont show.
Thanks
Caroline
If you erect the porch correctly, no problems. As previous some porches have pads and poles that fit snug to the caravan. That is the type of porch I have but not 100% draught free. demonstration of rear poles
We use an Outdoor Revolution Porch Awning which has an up-side-down steel "U" shaped pole at the front and two pads with poles at the rear that hold it against the van.
However during a gale 2 trips ago, as I tried to take the awning down, the action of the wind against the front pole system end with us ripping the awning quite badly.
Although I have repaired the awning, when this one is done we will be going for an air porch awning.
While the Revolution is easy to erect, it is not easy to take down in high winds.
Hi.Lobey. When we sold the folding camper we sold the porch awning as well as I didn't think that I would use it and that with it being adapted went well with the Countryman. However I thought that it had began to sound and feel a bit like paper so I don't think that I would have trusted it for much longer anyway.I got mine from Lisa around the same time that you did. We now have an air awning its the Kampa pro air it is quite heavy material but I have full confidence that it will last for years mind you at a penny short of £600 I should hope so.Its a bit like the folding camper scenario I have bought a lighter one for short trips. Cheers. Alex
Hi. Lobey its the 260 as our van is small and it nearly covers the whole van there are pictures in my gallery. As far as erecting it goes its heavy to start with till you get it through the rail but thereafter it is like any other awning for pegging out but there is only one valve to inflate on the Kampa and that inflates the lot
I got a Dorema alpha porch awning and had all the concerns you described. First time use was a week in Northumberland. Wind, heavy rain...sunshine... The awning was very good. Good seal to edge of van...only niggle was a very slight drip from the awning rail where the two halves met. Remedied with a dab of sealant when back home.
We had to carry out an adjustment once it was up....slid it further towards the front of the van as we had not covered the wheel arch. As you can see on the pic...this is pre adjustment.
Also, don't do as we did......have a practice putting it up at home or somewhere you don't have an audience who can watch and hear you swearing at each other for an hour as you try to decipher the instructions :)
We bought a Lisa porch awning for our FC and then, when we changed the FC for a caravan, simply removed the zip and used the existing beading on the caravan.
The FC Zip then went to another UKCS Member.