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 Topic: BASECAMP VANGO AWNING
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03/9/2021 at 11:14pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift Basecamp 2
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Now we've been out and about a bit more, further thoughts on the RVA-1...
Just back from two weeks away and we've had a bit of a 'mare. We had figured out the setup/put down pretty well to the point I can do it solo with the caveat I'm 6ft3" so have a bit more reach than most. We also have two steps (we didn't like the original but it makes a good table/bbq stand) which definitely helps. With two people, getting it on the rail is a doddle.
The Good
- Its main advantage is the huge amount of space that it gives you once it's up. For an extended trip that's worked out really well for us and the dog.
- It does go up pretty quick, especially if you use drillable tent pegs instead of the ones provided. There's quite a few ground pegs, but not that many guys to worry about.
- Light is good with the big windows and it's very visible at night when the awning light is on.
- Same for ventilation with the two side doors (and the somewhat draughty nature of it, see below).
The Bad
- It is fairly heavy and bulky and takes time if you want to pack it away properly, we tend to just fold it up a bit and lob it in the back of the 'van and shove the pump, tubes and other bobbins in the bag.
- Detachable bits. Especially at the back, lots of straps on hooks to lose and leave behind when taking it down, we always do a walk around the pitch before we drive off.
- when it rains, the inside gets wet. There's a combination of factors here. First is that the groundsheet is not directly part of the awning, it's just a sheet that (awkwardly) clips onto the awning by the main tubes and pegs into the ground by the door. Second is all that funky plastic moulding on the caravan channels any water coming in from the back down the caravan then inwards towards the door. That's not the awning's fault in some respects, but the ease with which it lets in rain from where it meets the 'van is.
- The back doesn't fit very well.
Again, not entirely the fault of the awning, all the protruding plastic makes it very difficult to get a good seal, even with the little velcro cushions they use to work around it. When the wind blows in the right direction, it can be a little draughty. If you've had to level the caravan to any significant degree, getting a snug fit seems even more difficult.
- Size
Yes it gives you a load of space, but it's both wide and sits on the back of the van. On more regimented sites, this might be a bit of an issue especially getting the van on the pitch. At least it's light enough to lug forwards manually if needed.
- Tubes, so many tubes.
3 main tubes, 2 porch tubes, 4! support tubes.
It's the amount of connecting and disconnecting tubes that takes the time tbh. This is the cause of our problem on recent trip. the Two side tubes started to tear at the seams at the end. A simple hole puncture would have repaired no problem, the seams tearing left us knackered. I'm prepared to chalk that down to bad luck, but its a lot of interdependent things that can easily screw things up.
- The colours fade quickly. Looks really good new, we got ours in May, the Orange is already noticeably fading
Despite the ripped tubes, all things considered I do still like the awning, but we were already starting to look at alternatives for short breaks. Other than the RVA-2 there is also the Westfield Lynx 200 awning which fits the basecamp pretty well.
Our holiday salvage "quick fix", only made possible by an improvement in the weather, was using some Awning clips to attach a 3x3 tarp to the back of the van, poled up at the other end with a windbreak around it to give us that additional space, but as the autumn draws in, it's not a solution moving forwards (but will be something we're using when the weather allows it, it worked really well).
On a 3x3 we used the middle three loops to attach to the van. Poles on the far end two with the middle left free, and guyed the outside two loops at either end to give us overhead. The windbreak(s) gave us some side protection/privacy.
So we had this basic shape on the tarp:
/---\
Post last edited on 03/09/2021 23:24:01
Post last edited on 03/09/2021 23:39:19
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via mobile 28/4/2021 at 8:57pm
been a long time lurker and user of this site, just never got round to sorting out an account until now.
