Hi Guys thanks for sharing the video on this awning. I have this model and have been living with it over the summer. To answer some on the questions below. and give my thoughts. First of all it is a great awning. It lets you have very good light and more or less 270 degree views if required. The only blockage is the line of site on the van side. You feel as if you are almost outside and you can adjust the windows etc to protect you from the wind and rain. You cannot get a bedroom however, the Skytrack system is designed for lights etc to be hung off. I have had it up in strong winds circa 30 / 40 mpg gusts and this it its maximum wind tolerance. It does not come with proper storm straps even as an an option so if you are looking for something to use in very bad weather then this is a limitation and you would be better with another model. The only other annoying issue I have with the awning is that it comes in two variants.Tall and low. I bought the tall as I have a Ducato based van and awning rail sits around 2.6m. This awning is supposed to fit vans between 2.45 m and 2.95 m. Unfortunately one size does not fit all even using the throw over straps. Hence ponding occurs in the tunnel roof during rain. I did complain to the sales company who more or less washed their hands on the issue. Vango does need to rethink this part of the design so that no matter the size of the van, ponding should not occur. Last but not least pitching the awning takes more than the ten minutes suggested in the literature. I would suggest after a few sessions, that 20 mins to half and hour is a more realistic time and you have to be reasonably fit to pump it up. On hindsight I do wonder if the air beam style is actually a saving in weight or space over a light weight pole construction as you have to carry a pump, the one of which supplied is probably as bulky as a set of light weight poles. Finally on the up side it is definitely one of the best looking awnings I have seen and it is a conversation piece on the campsite and a great design for a gathering or a party. Cheers
Maybe my English sucks but I want to tell you anyway that it is all about condensation when you see this hexagon thing under the roof top. And believe it or not - if you would take the Groundsheet out over night, you will be able to harvest gallons of water from the roof and the walls next morning. No kidding, I forgot the plastic floor when I went camping for the first time. So when I stood up in the morning and touched the Airnbeam or Steelpole or whatever kind of construction that was, while trying to open the Door. That touching impulse of the construction was the Lynch-pin for a cascade waterfall inside of the Tent - A Full free shower if you want rofl...so please keep the Groundsheet in and take care of Ventilation to fight the condensation problem, because in the morning and the evening the will be always a dew-point situation - Nice Video - thumb is up :-) Oops i forgot to ask what kind of Tyre's do you use and the red Windscreen and Sidedoorprotector or Privatizationer looks really impressive - where can i get it? All the Best Wolgasurfer
I have one of these and really rate it. I also have the now available footprint, which really helps when you position the awning. Just a few tips from putting it up a dozen or so times. I go over the motorhome with straps. after inflation. But before inflation peg the awning out to the shape of the footprint. Attach a tennis ball and throw from the opposite side to fixing and just have the straps loose to start with then gently pull them tighter before you peg in the tunnel. Pooling does not occur when you go over the top with a footprint. When letting it down leave the pegs in its a lot better to roll up and use the valve not the pump to deflate. I have a marker on the valve pocket so I only use this valve every time. Great video by the way lots of info to digest.
Another great review! We’ve had the standalone version of this for circa 18 months - used as a gazebo at home and small group space when camping. We were considering getting the drive away version to replace our Kela 3 but have decided against. The main issue we have is the webbing straps used to keep the shape - when they get wet (most times we’ve used) they take ages to dry - this means that we always end up having to get out to dry at home. Similarly, the base of the air beams usually end up sitting in a pool of water. A sewn in bathtub groundsheet would avoid these issues.
Hi, just stumbled upon your comment. Sounds like you know what you're talking about! We're considering one of these but maybe there's something better on the market now - are you aware of any products which improve on those issues you mentioned?
@@freakeystyley34 not long after my above response one of the air beams on our hex blew up - I had put the hex up on the lawn ready for an afternoon BBQ but hadn’t allowed for the increased pressure in the tubes as the temperature rose significantly. For us it was not economical to repair. We now use a quick pitch Coleman event shelter for home and have a Fiamma Awning Room for the van.
Guys I need to point you to outdoor revolution who make a florescent strip that you peg by the side of the van and when you get back you just line yourself up with it. They're brilliant and not expensive.
Thanks for this piece of great advice, however, I've been crawling around their website and cannot find it. Anybody got any tips on finding these strips please?
@@willsgetoff1157 Thanks but I'm clearly still being completely rubbish and can't find them on there either? I do appreciate you looking though, thanks mate.
Really useful video! I feel much readier for using our new Turismo when we go away next month now as you've made the whole thing seem less daunting - great tip on getting back into place- Thanks!
Great video thanks, best demonstration of driveaway awning technique, as we are about to buy our first awning. This one is too expensive for us, and the Noosa is a little too small, so looking for something around the £300 mark
Not sown in... a Velcro surround at 6 inches up to attach a tub style floor would make it weather proof and very convenient to remove and or replace since the floor is what wears out or punctures on stones the most. That hexagon cloth above the center is usually a place to store items or lay lights in to illuminate the entire space. Great job on showing the reality that you do get tired even with a pump.. keep it real for all of us viewers! 👍🏼 cheers from Florida..
We so very nearly bought this one, but we opted for the Galli ( which is currently returned to Vango for a repair) . Firstly some grown up proper questions. Do they do this awning in a low , medium and high? Can you buy a fitted carpet? Can you get a bedroom inner tent? We find when we drive away and return, as long as the gap is within a foot or 30 cm for the youth, there is enough adjustment in the straps to deal with it, so accuracy is great but it can cope with old farts reversing lol. Great review, you probably know @caravangossip used and reviewed this awning when the road tested a Bailey MH. Great to see Bentley getting involved, Not sure I have ever typed such a long comment before, but like a certain shampoos “ your worth it” lol 👍
I believe Caravan Gossip reviewed the high version for the motorhome. You’d have to check the Vango website for the other details but there is what looks like a runner along the inside that means you can add inner tents. Thanks for watching!
I went with the Galli Compact over this one, in the end, even though this one seems easier to set up. But I like the Galli's front porch for wet dog reasons.
Like the video, think Vango missed a trick not sowing in the ground sheet, will be taking a close look at this and the Galli 2 compact at the NEC. (Visiting Tuesday and Wednesday hope to see you there).
They may not have the groundsheet sewn in so it can be lifted from time to time on a grass pitch. I know some sites insist on this to prevent the grass from dying if as it looked like, it's not a "eco mat" type groundsheet.
Loved the last two videos about Appledore, sorry the weather was so bad for you, but that as you both know is the weather in the U.K., unpredictable. Sorry we missed the hour long special, will try and see it in the week. Keep up the good work. M & M, The Old Sea Dogs
Loved the review. Thanks. Been looking at one of these but wasn't sure how it easy it was to attach. Can I just ask which wind out awning you have please.
Great video, just a suggestion from my thoughts from a caravanner who takes a keen interest in motorhome owners using awnings. Do you think it would be possible to erect a windbreak flush up against the front or rear of the camper/motorhome and just coming round both sides a couple of feet, this would allow you to almost perfectly line up with the awning by maneuvering right up to the windbreaks. Just a thought, maybe you could give it a try and let us know if it works.
Years ago we had an inflatable tent where you just attached the cross tubes to the exhaust-went up in minutes-probably now been banned for safety reasons!😎
Nice to see the review, but for me, the great advantage of the California is rolling up and being set up in 5 minutes. And being able to pack up and go in 10 mins. I upgraded to a campveran from years of putting up tents. I don't want the time and hassle of puttng up an awning. I can see the potential advantage if you stay a week at one site, or if you have a kids and need more space, but for a couple (like you and us), and if you campe one or two nights (as we often do before moving on), I can say, it't not for me.
I know exactly what you mean and for us we would only generally use an awning if we were staying somewhere for a while, and for that purpose it is very useful!
Kampa could learn a thing or two about fitting a caravan awning snugly to the side of the van from that elastic strapping at 8.50 - our air pro awning not that snug even with the after market uprights!
Loving your videos i am looking to buy an Ocean when i retire , seen them for a long time and being a camper of all variations and frequent visitor to follow the tour de france want to upgrade for my early retirement and endless discoveries , your insight to all sorts of things has given me a great knowledge base as users on a regular basis, i honestly cannot wait , cheers Brian
Could use something like that here in the States. If I get a B class, having the extra enclosed space would be nice. Would definitely need an electric pump.
We currently have a different vango awning. It’s great, but as always a faff to put up, so we usually use the wind out awning with sides. The other issue is the attachment to the wind out, which we find is worse with the figure of 8. The problem it it catches on the door. Did you have this problem? I know it’s a known issue.
Far easier to clean a separate ground sheet I find, it's a nice looking tent, being a tent camper myself I really rate Vango products, I've never had any issues, just make sure the guy lines are tight and they are bombproof. What I'm interested in is the inflatable sofa, does it hold the pressure or do you need to top it up now and again? (Over a weekend say)
Excuse me but is it able to close the tent opening between tent and van when you are away or is it just opend and flapping? I mean outedoor camping furniture today is not cheap, aluminium tables, resting chairs with legrests, two clap seats....,get away living them with one side opend???! Intresting video's, nice precentation, and Bentley! BarbroSweden
we have the Vango Galli but dislike how untidy the side doors are- never seem to fit flush plus the bag is so bulky and heavy - loved your video though :-)
Could you please confirm the correct Driveaway kit that attaches to the pull out awning of the California 6.1. Their is 2 different sizes available: Vango Driveaway Kit for 6mm and 6mm (3m length) Vango Driveaway Kit for 4mm and 6mm (3m length)
Hi guys, just starting out with a T4 (T5 aspiring) of all the questions... Where did you get the big round vw mat that's on the floor in your van ? Like the Vango awning. Maybe persuaded to buy it 👍Thanks for the video
Looks like a great awning. I think being able to take the groundsheet out is an advantage as not all sites like people using them. Is it a breathable groundsheet?
Great review, thank you. Did they let you keep it? Would you still recommend it? We’re looking to change our Outdoor Revolution Movielite as we like the fact that the Hexaway has a removable ground sheet, plus only one pump point. Thank you for your help 🙌x
We still have the hexaway at the moment though we tend to swap items with Vango when they send us out something new. Yeah it’s a great awning! It stores quite small but gives you a lot of extra room when it’s inflated.
They’re from Rainbow Thermal Screens. No we’ve not reviewed the screen cover yet, only the pop top cover. But I can tell you now that we highly recommend the screen cover.
Great review as always! One question: can you open the sliding door completely within the tunnel or does it catch the end fabric? I’m not completely confident in my two young boys’ capacity for careful door opening! Thank you!
Hi guys, as the California's side door is on the offside, do you need to park 'nose in' on a pitch if also setting up an awning? I've been reading that on Caravan Club sites, you're supposed to park rear offside to the peg but just wondering how it works with the California and its door 'anomoly'. Hope you can help 👍🏻
Yeah that’s right. We just park nose in. It’s only really the caravan club that seem to be super picky about parking close to a peg. Other sites don’t mind if you just park further over on the pitch
Hi guys great vid. Do you find the fig of 8 bars move? We have this problem with our Vango awning fitting into the Fiamma. Hubbys tried all sorts of things to stop this. Many thanks 👍
Hi Teresa, no it doesn't seem to move much at all and that's in some very strong winds. Not sure what we are doing to stop it from moving though. Sorry
Thanks, on watching your video again, it appears that you have a flap that covers the grooves that the fig of 8 goes into. That might help keep it in place 👍
Greetings from Oregon USA, folks. I've been lusting for these Drive-Away tents ever since I saw them in YT videos from the UK. Sad to say, there is no such thing like Vango's inflatable Drive-Aways in the US, even non inflatable Drive-Away tents of any kind. On top of that, Vango's website detects that I'm in the USA and pops up a screen saying "Sorry, these are not for sale in the USA" or something of the like. Can anyone inform me of where I can order something similar in the USA?
There are foot pumps you can use, you know. Usually peoples' feet are stronger than their arms, which makes it easier to use one of those - you'll have the awning inflated in no time at all. www.argos.co.uk/search/foot-pump/
Great review - guess an electric pump would be ok - is there a recommended max psi for the awning? Our Kampa is 9-11 psi. And if you're on a hardstanding pitch, you'll need a lumphammer! I remember complaining about the "wrong pegs" once, and a bloke said "it's not the pegs mate, you've got the wrong hammer!" www.diy.com/departments/b-q-steel-club-hammer-4lb/258101_BQ.prd
Good looks but poor quality zips, door straps that get stuck in the zips like the fabric to that gets trapped,& water around it all the bottom pillars.this tent is the same as the rest basically disposable.
