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Quote: Originally posted by willhay555 on 11/6/2010

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I've just bought a superb Isabella Ambassador 900 awning from ebay in superb condition and of course, one week later having delivered my Swift Challenger 440 for a service I went and part ex'ed it for a 2008 Bailey Ranger!
Thankfully my wife was happy about it when I told her last night!
Anyway, I'm on the hunt for yet another awning, this time a 950 and certainly another Isabella.
Trouble is, there seems to be far more 975's out there than there are 950's, at least on ebay.
My question is simple in that will a 975 just be too big for my caravan or will I get away with it?
I'm figuring the extra 125mm each side isn't that much, right?
Of course I'll keep a look out for a 950 but, as you've probably guessed, waiting isn't my strong point and I must have must have must have <blush>
Thanks,
Will

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We bought 950cm Isabella Ambassador Crown new in 2007 when it cost about £1,100 and then we changed our van a few months later.  We had it altered by Isabella to a 975cm.  It was a straight-forward alteration where they took out the two wedge-shaped roof panels from each end and replaced them with bigger ones. 

We didn't need any extra roof rafter poles as the frame size for 950 and 975 are the same anyway.  It was expensive to do, but I have to say the alteration is perfect.  You would never know that ours didn't start out as a 975cm.  We've forgotten about the painful cost of having it altered and feel it was a better option for us than selling it and re-buying.

We now have another van again, but this time the same 975 awning still fits (just!) even though our A-measurement is now 987cm.  So that was a big relief.

However, bizarrely, our 975cm Isabella Sun Blue Canopy (which we use in very hot weather instead of the Ambassador, using the same frame) was too tight, so we have bitten the bullet and that one is now back at the Isabella workshop for an expensive alteration.  I can only assume that our 975 Ambassador must've been enlarged a little generously (luckily), whereas the Sun Blue is more exact.

I would recommend never having an awning which is too big - it is very difficult to get rid of baggy sides and a sagging roof - which can then be prone to flapping in strong winds and ponding of rainwater on the roof.  They look terrible too!

Mrs U-M

I have just had my Ventura Atlantic awning made bigger from a 950cm to 1008cm by www.canvasrepaircentre.co.uk at Burton-on-Trent. What a superb company. They organised collection, insurance,redelivery did the adjustment, fitted some brass eyelets, supplied an awning pull and added all new awning channel cord all for £199. The alteration took 10 days from collection to our receiving the awning back. Had a phonecall from Barry on Tuesday evening to say we would receive the awning Wednesday or Thursday and got it back Wednesday lunchtime. Coud not give high enough praise, fantastic job

                                                Sue

Quote: Originally posted by JayEss on 11/6/2010

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I love it when that happens. I'm on the hunt for a 900 awning with annexe at the moment as I'm struggling to get an annexe for the awning I bought last year. It's a Ticamo and in stunning condition.

SO if you do decide to sell then I'd be interested - at least you can get the parts for Isabella without a trip to SPain

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Quote: Originally posted by beefysmum on 11/6/2010

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I wouldnt go for the bigger size unless your A measuremant is very near the upper limit, or between sizes.

An awning that is too long will look baggy, the sides will have to be stretched out further from the van,so it will look shapeless. the windows may look too low.

But if it makes the whole thing saggy , including the roof, this could cause pooling on the roof,and the added weight of the water could bend the poles.