Hello, we recently bought a Dorema Dakota Lux awning, we used it for the second time this weekend and had problems with leaking.
There was a lot of water pooled on the floor, curtains were very wet.
The side panels were affected, the front were fine. The rain seemed to be coming in around or just above the zips. The side panels have a more exposed zip inside, with chunky white teeth(still protected by a flap outside), the front panels are a different zip and the teeth are covered by the side of the zip.
When we had light rain the following day we had no leaks.
The weather was awful, very heavy prolonged rain and wind. Are we unreasonable to expect the awning to be leak proof in such conditions? should we contact the supplier? Any advice would be appreciated!
Your awning should not leak coarse by saying that if made of fabric it may need "Weathered" as some one said on an earlier thread.
I found Awnings leaked mainly at the top of the awning rail on the van as,through the years with constant pulling the rail widens.
This can be closed with tapping gently on the rail with a rubber mallet,
Care must be taken not to close the rail too tightly as another tool called an awning rail spreader must be bought.
HI Toasty sorry to hear about your unwanted awning shower, I have used Dorema awings for 20 odd years and never had a leaker yet and have a lot of vanner friends who also use Dorema.I purchase my awnings from Dorema Castleford N/Yorkshire and never pay full price. My present awning a charcoal/cream seasonal size 19 or 1125cms is still standing and fully watertight after the tailend of the hurricane America sent us, Nearby Hull took a battering though I was up most of the night Sunday last in a bouncing van and ballooning awning both pulled through in perfect condition. Contact Dorema at Castleford and explain the situation I am sure they will sort something out for you. I have in the past found them very helpful were as dealers have tried to fob me off with all sorts of excuses when I have tried to replace a lost part. Even been told I had to purchase a complete new frame when a one metre lenght went a stray.
Thank you for your replies. I think I will contact Dorema to let them know situation, but will hope that now it is fine. I love the awning, after switching from a tent recently we assumed an awning is just a larger version. How wrong we were, they are warmer and feel more stable in high winds. We are really happy with it.
Should be fine now - we've just bought ours and while the instructions say there is a possibility of leaking during the first shower, the salesman made a point of saying "You do know the awning WILL leak the first time it rains don't you?".
Owners of expensive cotton frame and dutch tents know all about this phenomenon, which is natural and normal. If it leaks twice though you have a problem.
------------- Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.
Our new Kampa awning doesnt leak (anymore), but the amount of water that collects, hits the inner rails, then drops off; it may as well leak as the inside wouldnt be any wetter.
Quote: Originally posted by Toasty on 01/9/2014
Have been away this past week and had plenty of rain. Happily the awning did not leak at all so hopefully all be well from now on.
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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 01/9/2014
Any advice on condensation?
Our new Kampa awning doesnt leak (anymore), but the amount of water that collects, hits the inner rails, then drops off; it may as well leak as the inside wouldnt be any wetter.
We have 2 different size Kampa awnings and both suffer from condensation, for some reason Kampa seem to think there awnings do not need vents of any kind, so unless you leave the top of the doors unzipped its there to stay.
For this reason we have just purchased a Vango Varkala 420 Air awning, a much better designed and made product, no leaks first rain storm, minimal condensation that clears quickly.
Our Kampa has a triangular shaped vent at the top of the middle pole...we had some leakage (first time in rain) on our last outing, but it never suffers much condensation.
Our Kampa (Rally 330 Pro) has two large air vents one at each end. Our kampa also leaked on the seams but having been pre-warned it will for the first couple of times during rain I'm not over concerned. We did have a lot of condensation but I put that down to the previous days leak. The next outing will be its real test......