Awnings in the Wind

[CamperCaz]

Hello, I just got a Quechua from Decathlon BUT have not used it yet. Has anyone coped with an awning in the wind, rain and recent unpredictable weather, can it stay anchored, do you have to run out and take it down in the pouring rain, what is the procedure..........sit and watch it fall down .....ha

 

[Bav]

I presume you're asking in relation to wind-out awnings, as drive-away awnings are effectively standalone tents, so they're able to withstand whatever weather a standard tent can withstand.

With a wind-out, ideally you should always use strong storm straps and heavy-duty pegs to tie the thing down. This will only really help in gentle/moderate conditions and you really ought to retract the awning if the winds any stronger than moderate.

 

[Drive Wayne]

Hello, I just got a Quechua from Decathlon BUT have not used it yet. Has anyone coped with an awning in the wind, rain and recent unpredictable weather, can it stay anchored, do you have to run out and take it down in the pouring rain, what is the procedure..........sit and watch it fall down .....ha

Hi there @CamperCaz , which particular model of Quecha have you got? They make several different ones...

 

[CamperCaz]

I presume you're asking in relation to wind-out awnings, as drive-away awnings are effectively standalone tents, so they're able to withstand whatever weather a standard tent can withstand.

With a wind-out, ideally you should always use strong storm straps and heavy-duty pegs to tie the thing down. This will only really help in gentle/moderate conditions and you really ought to retract the awning if the winds any stronger than moderate.

Hi Bav,

I do have a wind-out so thanks for the advice but really I was referring to the drive-away, so if it will stand up to this stormy British weather, that's good to know as I was worried about staying overnight anywhere, weather is so unpredictable at the moment.......thank you

 

[CamperCaz]

Hi there @CamperCaz , which particular model of Quecha have you got? They make several different ones...

I got the Quecha Arpenaz Connect Fresh, and it is 8 feet high, very nice one tho, but quite big, perhaps should have got the Kampa air

 

[Drive Wayne]

I got the Quecha Arpenaz Connect Fresh, and it is 8 feet high, very nice one tho, but quite big, perhaps should have got the Kampa air

That Arpenaz looks as though it has been designed for the wind to rip it out of the ground! What a beast!
We have a Drive away Kampa Touring Air which is very good but too big for regular use! Those air tubes are great for use in strong winds, they flex as required.
Our current awning of choice is another air awning the Outwell air touring shelter. Easy to set up and pack, kador strip built in to attach to the Fiamma wind out, only £250 ish. Great for 2 or 3 day outings.

 

[CamperCaz]

That Arpenaz looks as though it has been designed for the wind to rip it out of the ground! What a beast!
We have a Drive away Kampa Touring Air which is very good but too big for regular use! Those air tubes are great for use in strong winds, they flex as required.
Our current awning of choice is another air awning the Outwell air touring shelter. Easy to set up and pack, kador strip built in to attach to the Fiamma wind out, only £250 ish. Great for 2 or 3 day outings.

Wayne, thanks for that, I've seen the air tube ones they look strong, I'll have a look at the Outwell shelter, that might be better for me, and I have a Fiamma so it will fit on that, although wasn't planning on buying two ha

 

[Bav]

Hi Bav,

I do have a wind-out so thanks for the advice but really I was referring to the drive-away, so if it will stand up to this stormy British weather, that's good to know as I was worried about staying overnight anywhere, weather is so unpredictable at the moment.......thank you

There's some disagreement across the forum as to whether a poled or air-beam awning is stronger, but I've been in conditions where my windbreak was shredded and my sun canopy was left flapping against the van ( !!), but the air awning (not attached to the van) was just standing proud, utterly unaffected.

 

[CamperCaz]

There's some disagreement across the forum as to whether a poled or air-beam awning is stronger, but I've been in conditions where my windbreak was shredded and my sun canopy was left flapping against the van ( !!), but the air awning (not attached to the van) was just standing proud, utterly unaffected.

Good to know........sorry you've had some 'stormy' times with yours, so I can benefit from that advice.....I found it difficult to choose coz you can never see them all in one place so as to compare, but the air one did look very sturdy which you need this weather, thank you

 

[Texxaco]

re the air awning, when we had a caravan we had a full size air awning which held up great as it flexed with the air poles rather than being rigid. I can recall being stood in the awning at 3am with the wind gusts being 55mph, the awning took it in its stride. Never lost an air awning but have lost a pole awning in 10 years of caravanning.

On the van i have a Kampa drive away Air awning which was great at Busfest and it was windy on the Saturday night/early Sunday morning.

Make sure you get some decent pegs, the drill in pegs seem to be the way forward as they are screwed into the ground with an impact drill.

 

[CamperCaz]

re the air awning, when we had a caravan we had an full aize air awning which held up great as it flexed with the air poles rather than being rigid. I can recall being stood in the awning at 3am with the wind gusts being 55mph, the awning took it in its stride. Never lost an air awning but have lost a pole awning in 10 years of caravanning.

On the van i have a Kampa drive away Air awning which was great at Busfest and it was windy on the Saturday night/early Sunday morning.

Make sure you get some decent pegs, the drill in pegs seem to be the way forward as they are screwed into the ground with an impact drill.

That's good, about the drill pegs, I have seen them......it's great to know the Kampa Air is so resistant, that's just the reassurance I need, thank you

 

[Texxaco]

That's good, about the drill pegs, I have seen them......it's great to know the Kampa Air is so resistant, that's just the reassurance I need, thank you

Most welcome.
Try these - Drill Pegs

 

[CamperCaz]

That's perfect Thank You Texxaco.........

 

[Texxaco]

there is also these on Amazon - Amazon Drill Pegs

 

[CamperCaz]

Yes, good reviews, thank you

 

[JumpShip]

Air awnings all the way for us and would not trust anything poled near our van in heavy winds .
Air beams bend and flex and then pop back into shape , poles break or something lets go and then it all flails around beating your pride and joy .

 

[CamperCaz]

Yes, Jumpship, it seems to be the best thing, nice to know, thanks, the Arpenaz I got will have to be for good weather, everyone likes their air ones I can see why

 

[Bav]

Yes, Jumpship, it seems to be the best thing, nice to know, thanks, the Arpenaz I got will have to be for good weather, everyone likes their air ones I can see why

The main arguments against air are that they're heavier and bulkier (when packed-down) than their poled counterparts, and that it's easier/cheaper to buy a replacement pole than to replace a leaky/punctured air tube - all of which are, IMO, true.

Some also reckon poled versions are more resilient to the wind, but I don't buy that argument.

 

[Drive Wayne]

This was our Busfest set up. The shower/toilet tent (outdoor revolution Cayman Can) goes under the outwell a treat and even acts as a rain run off device.

 

[JumpShip]

Agreed that air awnings are generally bigger and bulkier
Agreed that poles are cheaper to replace than airbeams .. ..but the damaged caused by a broken pole flailing in the wind is way more expensive .

Now if was buying a tent that wasnt pitched anywhere near my van then i'd buy an externally steel poled frame tent every day of the week . ( not fibre glass)