Our vans awning needs to fit the 965 awning size quoted in the Bailey handbook. We are looking for a 2nd hand Isabella full awning and am confused. Looking on Isabellas website and catalogue the nearest size they do is a 962cms but when I do a search on their website Bailey, 2004 and 962 says nil found. I've tried the 975cms size but that dosent list a 2004 Bailey Bordeaux. Anyone got any ideas what size we need? I wondered if back in 2004 Isabella didnt do a 962 size?
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
Their sizes are made to cover a 25cm bracket of lengths so the 950 will cover anything from 937.5 to 962.5 and the 975 does 962.5 to 987.5. so you either go for a very tight fitting 950 or a slack 975, Do a search on the Isabella site for your exact model and year of caravan and you should find which one Isabella recommends for the van.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
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I think we need a 975, I'm getting confused as so many sellers dont describe or really know what they've got iyswim. Theres no rush I guess but I have my heart set on a green Isabella or Ventura.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
I agree, it is confusing. People selling secondhand awnings don't seem very accurate on sizes. Saying it fits a 16/17ft caravan or a 4 berth doesn't really help, does it. It doesn't help when you're told the wrong size needed by the caravan manufacturers. I contacted Elddis & was told I needed a 9201cm awning but when I used the piece of string it came out as 895cms so quite a difference. A company called Bowen Awnings were very helpful & comfirmed my figure from their records.
I'm not in any hurry so will keep looking & hopefully the right one will turn up eventually.
Theres one or two on EBay selling awnings that are doing just that - selling awnings with no knowledge of the item's history. They've grasped that Isabella is the best make and buy up the ones that they can get cheap because nobody else wants them. If they don't sell then there's a reason for it not selling, but that doesn't deter these people, they've no idea about the goods they're selling, and tend to quote what other (genuine) sellers are saying.
Then along comes a novice who knows very little about awnings, apart from the fact that Isabella is a good make and assumes that all the good makes of awnings are worth buying. There was one awning on Ebay the other day that looked quite good. When you read the fine details, the person selling it was using a stock photo of an Ambassador awning, and the actual model number of the awning dated back to 1970 when I checked on Isabella's website!
I would suggest ringing the awnings dept at Highbridge Caravans (Somerset). There are two really helpful guys in there - Angus and Justin. Tell them what van/year you are buying for and I am certain they will advise you accordingly.
They do have second-hand awnings coming in all the time too, so if there is a certain size and colour of (say) an Isabella that you are looking for, they may be happy to keep your details on file and let you know when one comes in. We found our Isabella annexe by this method - whereas we failed to nab one on ebay.
I also found a used Isabella porch awning (Magnum) from another west country caravan dealership - Davans. Again, it was easier and much cheaper than ones on Ebay - where some of the bidding on awnings seems to reach sky high prices.
My personal experience with Isabellas is that if you are right on the cusp of sizes, you will get a better looking fit from a snug awning than a slack one! We bought a slightly larger van last year and our 975cm Isabella fits perfectly well on the new van which is supposed to need a 989cm. Loose awnings flap around and tend to gather rainwater on the roof - as well as just looking saggy!
Oh and for the Isabella net website - awning size database, I have found that entering in fewer details gets results - e.g. just your make/model of van - then you can scroll through the results and pick out the right year. The more detail you key in - the more likely you are to get 'no matches'.
Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 02/5/2011
thanks Janus, have put in Bailey, 2004 and the measurements but not getting any result. Will have to ring Isabella I think.
I have just put bailey 2004 in and got a whole list of caravans and sizes, they list the Bordeaux as having an A meaurement of 956cm and requiring a 650cm awning.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
Our Bordeaux definetly has an A measurement of 965, now thinking we are going to buy a 2nd hand Isabella Magnum Porch for now (found one very local to us) for now and a sun canopy like Mr &Mrs UMs when one comes up then we have the best of both worlds to suit our needs as main holiday each year will be in France with hopefully sunny weather and the Magnum will be plenty big enough for the UK when we will be mainly doing long weekends.
Thanks Mrs UM, will ring Highbridge and see what they have and ask some advice.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
In some ways I think your immediate decision to go the Magnum route has benefits not least the amount of wet canvas you might face handling. But to resolve your full awning sizing issue talk to or email Isabella in Thame they are very helpful and friendly.