Inflatable awning?

[Louey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PP6mabHrPs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Saw one of these mentioned elsewhere. Pretty cool.

[Wychall]

I'm sure Mr Soft will be along with more details shortly, but here is his Vango Airbeam awning.



I want one too!

[Mr Soft]

Right on cue!
Bought the Vango Airbeam Sapera after seeing it at an exhibition at the NEC.
Used it for the first time over the bank holiday.
Easy to put up, including taking the bits & bobs out of the polythene for the first time it took me & a 3yr old about 50 mins in total (including re-pegging my sons attempts at assistance & preventing him wondering off with the pegs!). Comes with a double action pump, all fitment options (pole & clamp, over van straps & poly cord to suit fig & even a mallet! Has an in built, but detachable 2 man inner & sewn in ground sheet. Takes approx. 5-6 pumps to fully inflate each of the 3 poles.
Much easier than the Khyam motordomes to use & seems a lot more study.
I always felt apprehensive when pitching/striking camp with the Khyam as the poles could damage the van with a good gust of wind. The Vango is attatched to the van & the 4 corners pegged out before inflating.

The only down side is the price, it wasn't cheap, but you can see that Vango have put a lot of time & money into the R & D. All on all a vey intuitive design.

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There is a smaller version, but I can't remember the name, but it is on the Vango website http://www.vango.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hope this helps,

Bob

[R0B]

50 mins to put up

[Sleedale]

Hooray, I've just got one of those. Going for its first pitch tomorrow.

By the way, Vango reckon 5 minutes pitching time, I suppose once you know what's what, and what's where, and you've unpacked all the bits, sorted them and the repacked it properly, it won't take so long. Friend also has one and tested it with her T2 and was impressed (and she is THE camping guru)

The smaller version is called the Kela

It comes with pole and clamp fitting, or you can use fig 8 or the gi-huge straps that come with it, as well as all bits mentioned above. Can't wait to roll it out tomorrow, was hoping to test it in the garden this afternoon, but it's still too blummin wet

I also treated Victor to the carpet and footprint so all set now.

Still have a just Kampers frame awning spare if anyone is interested? But that DOES take for ages to put up

[Mr Soft]

Pumping up the poles takes less than 5 mins (if you put the pipe onto the inflate side of the pump!!) You will also nee to identify which of the nozzles is required for the poles. A lot less stressful than other awnings & tents that I jave pitched in the past.

The awning with the free workout!

Happy pumping!

Bob

[Sleedale]

Cheers Bob, never thought about the prospect of a choice of inflate/deflate on the pump!

And it's got to be a lot less stressful than putting together lots of pieces of pole and trying to put canvas over it, especially on my own

I've also heard of folks whose vans have been 'damaged' by awning poles hitting the van in strong wind, so am hopeful inflated tubes won't cause injury to Victor, plus no poles to snap, and you can get replacement inflatable tubes for them

Win win

I've named it blow up Boris, well at least until tomorrow when I try to erect it for the first time, might have a different name by the evening

[R0B]

Never had a problem with poles damaging our vans.And we have had four awnings over the years.TBH I can't see how it can happen if the awning is erected correctly.

[Wychall]

plus no poles to snap,

I remember my first camping trip, as a nipper with my parents, when we had an inflatable igloo tent. Unfortunately my Father misread the required pressure. The tent was set up and sheltered us for the first night. The following day the sun was pretty hot so we went out for the day. Came back to the tent lying flat and our neighbours shell shocked because they thought a bomb had gone off. The shredded tube was hastly repaired and given an artificial leg of a broom stick.

Next day, same thing again! The sun was causing sufficient pressure rise to burst the tubes.

Thats why inflatable tents now come with their own pump (not a car foot pump!) with integrated pressure valve.

[Sleedale]

Well, took blow up Boris for his first trip over the weekend.

Was seriously easy to pitch, lovely space inside, very light with huge windows, good fine insect netting (note to self, keep netting doors zipped up or awning fills with bugs ) great large tunnel area to van, useful for all sorts, including the loo: its was perhaps a bit over the top for two dogs, one chair and very small table but had to test it and

Best of all........



Unpitched it myself, very easy if a little scary the first time I released the large valve, and............



It went back in the bag

Plus, footprint worth getting and using as sewn in ground sheet was lovely and clean, and the dedicated carpet is soft and comfy. Now to glamp it ready for a week in Wales. Already got some nice blue interlocking mats from Aldi today for tunnel bit to keep van floor dry.

Oh, and it was sunny and hot in the sun all weekend and it didn't explode

[dumbo]

hi all i got one last week cause my old royal traveller zip went on it.... its the same size...and yes its better awning ...should be cost more.. the bag its comes in is big will not go under seat no more http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/campe ... 9.jpg.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]and with built in ground sheet makes it a lot warmer simon

[Sleedale]

Hey, another convert, enjoy

[dumbo]

will do simon

[1664]

Dave and Lisa (dth17) had the smaller one at Deva. Seemed happy enough with it...

[evilnoodle]

Dave and Lisa (dth17) had the smaller one at Deva. Seemed happy enough with it...

It looked spot on. Very sturdy. Apparently stood up to some very high winds on it's previous trip out. Could have done with it at Anglesey this weekend