Drive Away Awning ‘Longevity’

[BeeBee]

Advice needed….
We’ve had our DAA , Vango Palm (air beam) for five years and just this weekend noticed considerable ‘water ingress’ in the morning, looking like coming from general condensation as no rain, warm days cold nights in Nth Scotland.
Is this the end of its lifespan or can we re proof in some way.

 

[KevH]

Presumably if there has been no rain then water has not penetrated the fabric.
Condensation seems the logical root cause.
I had always routinely sprayed my awnings annually to prolong their lives but that never prevented condensation particularly if we had cooked indoors.

 

[BeeBee]

Presumably if there has been no rain then water has not penetrated the fabric.
Condensation seems the logical root cause.
I had always routinely sprayed my awnings annually to prolong their lives but that never prevented condensation particularly if we had cooked indoors.

No cooking indoors and the condensation was on the outside of the Awning but dripping through accross the top mostly.

 

[KevH]

Unless the particular point of ingress has been touched from the inside, prompting the ‘leak’, then it could be symptomatic of a general degradation of the fabric.
It’s difficult to say how long a modern awning should last as there are so many variables but five years of average use (maybe six weeks use per year) would possibly be a reasonable expectation. That’s only my personal experience of course.

 

[scottk]

Warm days and cold nights mean much more condensation especially if the ground was wet when you pitched.

 

[BeeBee]

We’re home now and going to set up awning in the garden, give a good clean and check out the seams. Maybe look at some ‘reproofing’ sprays.
Any recommendations on brands ?

 

[WelshGas]

We’re home now and going to set up awning in the garden, give a good clean and check out the seams. Maybe look at some ‘reproofing’ sprays.
Any recommendations on brands ?

Ask Vango?

 

[BeeBee]

Ask Vango?

Just about to send the email with that exact question … lol

 

[AdamsFamily]

I've always found Vango CS to be pretty helpful (from my old camping days) but haven't had any experience of them in the last 8 years so could be different. They used to offer a reproofing service too IIRC?!
As KevH says, dependent on usage, it could be a number of things that's causing the ingress; UV degradation, worn seems, or just good old excessive condensation.
Fabsil and Storm are two of the popular re-proofers.

We're just in the process of looking at DAA's - and given the variables in material it seems you can expect them to last anything from 3 -8 years - but the general advice seems to be re-proofing annually on the lower specs.

Good luck - hope you get sorted.

 

[BeeBee]

Thanks, will update on our reproofing now we’ve been in touch with Vango.
Been very happy, for our needs, with the Vango Palm ( newest version , we think, is the Faros 111 ) .
We think the overnight temp changes 21c daytime to 7/8 c overnight was a major contributing factor. It wasn’t pools of water just lots of ‘drips’.
Optimistic re outcome as otherwise would need to consider replacement and have already looked at Comfortz room ( too reliant on wind out awning ) : Cinch hub ( not integrated to van access and some not great customer care reviews ) .
So fingers crossed.

 

[The Little Red Cali]

Thanks, will update on our reproofing now we’ve been in touch with Vango.
Been very happy, for our needs, with the Vango Palm ( newest version , we think, is the Faros 111 ) .
We think the overnight temp changes 21c daytime to 7/8 c overnight was a major contributing factor. It wasn’t pools of water just lots of ‘drips’.
Optimistic re outcome as otherwise would need to consider replacement and have already looked at Comfortz room ( too reliant on wind out awning ) : Cinch hub ( not integrated to van access and some not great customer care reviews ) .
So fingers crossed.

We love our awning room. Easy to put up and take down. Sometimes we’ll just put the sides on and use as a windbreaker. Great quality and flexible for use on short or long stays away.

 

[RockinNRollin]

If it's PU coated material, once the coating fails there's not much you can do. I've had mountain tents go that way, I tried Fabsil Gold and it didn't really do anything as the material isn't very absorbent.

There's something to be said for cotton (or polycotton) tent fabrics; they breathe and should last decades, but they are horrendously bulky and heavy even why dry, when wet it's like some sort of weightlifting competition.

 

[KevH]

I’ve looked at your awning spec and it seems to be on a par with Outwell which in my experience is above average in quality terms. Shouldn’t be too degraded at 5 years, so perhaps a good re proofing and avoiding touching the fly sheet when it’s wet will give you another season or two.
That said, who hasn’t been in your position and found themselves drooling at other awnings
Just so happens that there is a huge camping expo at the NEC next month………..

 

[Ch1pbutty]

How do I reproof my tent ?

After several uses in rain or sunshine your tents water repellent coating may wear off, this will cause your tent material to "wet out" (absorb water) instead of it beading up and rolling off. If you experience any "wetting ou...

vangosupport.vango.co.uk

 

[Chris Nicholls]

There have been significant variations in temperature and humidity the last few days. This may have contributed, but UV will degrade the proofing. But looks like you are contacting Vango about what best to use on re-proof. I'd be keen to hear their advice as a vango owner myself.