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.