Drive away awnings for the T7

[kevin1000]

Hi all, looking for a drive away awning for the t7. Lots of the awnings say they are compatable with the t5 and t6 but often don't mention the t7. I'm hoping this is just marketing material that needs updating. My question is, does the t7 present any compatability problems with any awnings or can I just opt for any that have a matching van height (normally the low version)?

Also, what awning do you have on your t7, are you happy with it?

I'm thinkin about getting the Kampa Dometic Trip Air DriveAway Awning. At £250 seems a good value if your after a small, easy to pitch awning that doesnt take much space. Review here:

Thanks

 

[Dixiewixie]

Having tried a few of the drive away awnings with my T6 and found them all a bit of a faff, we have settled on the Berghaus air shelter for our T7. No floor so no campsite issues and easier to just park up and wind the sun canopy over to it.. for all intents it does what I need from a driveaway awning.

Air Shelter

Become the envy of the campsite or neighbourhood with this revolutionary new Air Shelter from our exclusive Berghaus Air Tent collection. From camping trip to garden party, this spacious gazebo is both functional and fun. Quick and simple to pitch with excellent headroom, sky light roof panels...

www.millets.co.uk

 

[thehoggmeister]

As long as the awning is the right height for your awning rail it will be fine. T7 rail is the same height as T6.

Look carefully at the packed size of the awning as it will take a big chunk of your boot space. Also be mindful of the whole awning footprint as some of them are massive. Consider what you are going to use it for as you might not need such a large model.

If cost is a consideration then companies such as Olpro and Vango sell refurbished customer returns to take away the worry of an ebay or gumtree purchase. You can of course get some really good bargains that way as well as members selling on here.

We got an Olpro Uno Breeze Air refurbished in Orange so it matches our van. Ideal size for two of us and the dog.

 

[cally215]

Could anyone help me know which specific Thule awning is on the T7 California?

I am looking at a compact drive away awning too bu tI am not sure if I need to get a specific fixing kit

For example, Outdoor Revolution Cayman Air T2 Low Driveaway Awning comes with 4mm and 6mm 'twin cowl' connection rail piping, where the Kampa Cross AIr has the option of a 'Dometic Twin Driveaway kit 3M' - others mention a Kador strip. I wonder if they are different words for the same thing...

But how do I know which would fit my rail? and would this connect to the Thule awning or would I need to use the other side?

Thank you!

 

[stoobthealien]

Having tried a few of the drive away awnings with my T6 and found them all a bit of a faff, we have settled on the Berghaus air shelter for our T7. No floor so no campsite issues and easier to just park up and wind the sun canopy over to it.. for all intents it does what I need from a driveaway awning.

Air Shelter

Become the envy of the campsite or neighbourhood with this revolutionary new Air Shelter from our exclusive Berghaus Air Tent collection. From camping trip to garden party, this spacious gazebo is both functional and fun. Quick and simple to pitch with excellent headroom, sky light roof panels...

www.millets.co.uk

We've done the same with a decathlon base awning which we just pitch next to the van, hadn't thought about winding out the awning to meet it though!

 

[Souter]

Could anyone help me know which specific Thule awning is on the T7 California?

I am looking at a compact drive away awning too bu tI am not sure if I need to get a specific fixing kit

For example, Outdoor Revolution Cayman Air T2 Low Driveaway Awning comes with 4mm and 6mm 'twin cowl' connection rail piping, where the Kampa Cross AIr has the option of a 'Dometic Twin Driveaway kit 3M' - others mention a Kador strip. I wonder if they are different words for the same thing...

But how do I know which would fit my rail? and would this connect to the Thule awning or would I need to use the other side?

Thank you!

Thule Awning on T7 is the “Sidehill”. Chanel for attaching awning is 4mm “double-sided” driveaway awning kit will attach it to your wind out or if you use the 6mm this will attach to existing Chanel on other side of your T7.
I just bought a Vango Faros III Low Air drive-awning for my T7. Went for that as footprint is approx 2.80m deep and 2.90m wide with sewn in ground sheet and tunnel between van and tented area. Not used it yet.
The driveaway kit connects the awning to the van by virtue of a figure of 8 fixing that just pulls off to enable the disconnection. Hope that’s clear. Took me a while to get my head round it!

 

[cally215]

Thule Awning on T7 is the “Sidehill”. Chanel for attaching awning is 4mm “double-sided” driveaway awning kit will attach it to your wind out or if you use the 6mm this will attach to existing Chanel on other side of your T7.
I just bought a Vango Faros III Low Air drive-awning for my T7. Went for that as footprint is approx 2.80m deep and 2.90m wide with sewn in ground sheet and tunnel between van and tented area. Not used it yet.
The driveaway kit connects the awning to the van by virtue of a figure of 8 fixing that just pulls off to enable the disconnection. Hope that’s clear. Took me a while to get my head round it!

That does help thanks and is about in like with what ive seen.

So will you extend the wind out a bit, or just have the drive away on the right hand side of the van? I'm feeling like that could be easier but not sure if that's based on any kind of reality

 

[pchmlk]

We've done the same with a decathlon base awning which we just pitch next to the van, hadn't thought about winding out the awning to meet it though!

Going to be listing my Air Shelter soon on here, very lightly used - anyone interested prior DM me.

 

[Souter]

That does help thanks and is about in like with what ive seen.

So will you extend the wind out a bit, or just have the drive away on the right hand side of the van? I'm feeling like that could be easier but not sure if that's based on any kind of reality

You can do, have seen some people with it fully wound out and attached the driveaway awning to to it. If you dont want to attach it, there’s an awning rail on the van under the the window out awning

 

[sticky1]

We use the Dometic Hub it’s such a flexible system to add panels, doors, sleeping pods, dedicated VW connection tunnel.
It is incredibly robust and I suspect this is why it’s on the more expensive side.

 

[Californiacation]

I have trail Foxley awning, I did a nice review of that. Fits behind the seats when slid forward. I have now got the Airbeam version which is so much easier.

 

[cally215]

I've settled with the Vango Cove III Air.

May the odds be in my favour.

 

[Souter]

I've settled with the Vango Cove III Air.

May the odds be in my favour.

Don’t know if you’ve ordered it yet, but Purely Outdoors in Nuneaton have it just now for £624 inc free delivery in 1-2 days. Excellent company to deal with.

 

[cally215]

Don’t know if you’ve ordered it yet, but Purely Outdoors in Nuneaton have it just now for £624 inc free delivery in 1-2 days. Excellent company to deal with.

Thank you, that is a good price! I am pretty new to this and a friend recommended Outdoor World. I wanted it for the weekend and gave them a quick call - it was here the next day!

I went with their bronze bundle which included the awning plus driveaway kit, universal carpet and groundsheet/footprint for £699

I had looked at a few other ones but found they were older units/less stock eg the Outdoor Revolution Cayman Air T3 Lite which looked great too and a lower price but after a bit of digging around I settled with the Vango and I am sure it will serve us well.

I have now also registered it for the extra years warranty (so 3 years total)

Will definitely check out Purely Outdoors next time too though and thanks for the suggestion

 

[Souter]

Thank you, that is a good price! I am pretty new to this and a friend recommended Outdoor World. I wanted it for the weekend and gave them a quick call - it was here the next day!

I went with their bronze bundle which included the awning plus driveaway kit, universal carpet and groundsheet/footprint for £699

I had looked at a few other ones but found they were older units/less stock eg the Outdoor Revolution Cayman Air T3 Lite which looked great too and a lower price but after a bit of digging around I settled with the Vango and I am sure it will serve us well.

I have now also registered it for the extra years warranty (so 3 years total)

Will definitely check out Purely Outdoors next time too though and thanks for the suggestion

That’s not a bad deal. We got a Vangos Faros IIIAir, 2 x Double sleeping bags, driveaway kit, pair of sunshade poles and a Yeti bag at Purely for £750 so a good deal. Bought a footprint off Amazon and interior mats at Home Bargains 3 £5.

 

[DynamoD]

I've settled with the Vango Cove III Air. May the odds be in my favour.

 

[DynamoD]

I ordered the Vango Cove III Air from purely outdoors, arrived next day. Its a gamble because don't pick up my T7 until tomorrow, then our first trip is the following day. I will report back with photos and feedback.

 

[cally215]

I ordered the Vango Cove III Air from purely outdoors, arrived next day. Its a gamble because don't pick up my T7 until tomorrow, then our first trip is the following day. I will report back with photos and feedback.

As long as you got the driveaway kit you should be golden but it seems we will be grappling with this bit of kit for the first time on the same day

 

[Dixiewixie]

New driveaway awning.. impending heatwave.. make sure you pop the fridge on and cool the beer !

 

[cally215]

Well we are back from our first weekend with the Cove Air III

I'm pleased to report that neither putting it up or pulling it down has caused any risk to my marriage!

First time I've ever put up an awning. 10 minutes is ambitious. Probably took us an hour to be fully finished but a good chunk of that was whacking pegs into hard ground and where to put it. We'll shave off time next time.

It transformed the pitch.

Pull down was no drama. A little tricky to get all the air out but we got it back in the bag without much hassle.

 

[AdamsFamily]

Well we are back from our first weekend with the Cove Air III

I'm pleased to report that neither putting it up or pulling it down has caused any risk to my marriage!

First time I've ever put up an awning. 10 minutes is ambitious. Probably took us an hour to be fully finished but a good chunk of that was whacking pegs into hard ground and where to put it. We'll shave off time next time.

It transformed the pitch.

Pull down was no drama. A little tricky to get all the air out but we got it back in the bag without much hassle.

Vango do an electric pump (I'm sure there are others) that suck the air out making it so much easier.
Leave mine plugged in and let it get on with it whilst I'm doing other bits of breaking camp.... or just having a coffee.

 

[DynamoD]

As long as you got the driveaway kit you should be golden but it seems we will be grappling with this bit of kit for the first time on the same day

So mixed review from me. I positioned it and got pumping, after 10 minutes and 10 gallons of sweat. I concluded the manual pump was faulty. A helpful VW neighbor kindly let me use his vango electric pump and it was up in seconds. Purely outdoors have been great and swiftly sent a replacement. Ive since ordered a electric vango pump because i was so impressed, I'll keep the replacement as a back up.

@cally215 what doe the drive away kit look like? I just slid the black beaded edge onto the van. is there something between this and the awning?

 

[sticky1]

This is an example from the forum shop, it fits between your awning and the vehicle allowing you to quickly remove the grey plastic ‘figure of eight’ thingy (which are usually in shorter sections) and simply drive away.

 

[DynamoD]

Ah that makes sense. Thank you. I'll get one ordered.

 

[Californication69]

Where’s the pictures of the awnings.
Need to see finished results !