Pros and Cons of Inflatable Driveaway Awnings

Are you currently thinking of buying a new driveaway awning but are torn between choosing a traditional awning or inflatable air awnings? Do not worry, you are not alone in this. There is still a lot of debate going on as to which is preferable.

Just when you think you’ve decided to get an inflatable awning, a traditionalist comes along and gives you some new information that once again throws you into some confusion. This sadly is the challenge that many prospective buyers are facing today.

Given the sharp increase in the number of caravan owners now switching to inflatable driveaway awnings, you must be wondering if there’s some benefit to owning one of these despite whatever traditionalists may have to say against it.

To help you make the right decision, we will look briefly at inflatable driveaway awnings and list the advantages and disadvantages of owning one. With this information at your disposal, you should be able to decide exactly which one to go for.

What is an Inflatable Driveaway Awning?

This is a type of driveaway awning that is designed to be erected without the aid of poles. In place of poles which traditionally provide the structural frame on which the fabric is mounted, air awnings come with specially designed tubes which run through the awning. When inflated to the specified pressure level, the tubes are filled with air and become rigid, providing the structural frame for the awning.

This is the main difference between a traditional awning which uses poles and an inflatable awning which uses air.

Advantages of Inflatable Driveaway Awnings.

Inflatable driveaway awnings have some specific advantages over the traditional types of awning. We have already described what differentiates one from the other, so building on that, we will now look at the advantages that this difference offers.

Easy Setup

Compared to a traditional awning, an air or inflatable awning is pretty much easier to setup. Whereas with a traditional awning you will need to thread the poles through the tent and ensure the guy lines are well strung out to get the awning upright, all you will need to do to get the inflatable awning upright is simply to inflate it.

This is the main reason why most people prefer the inflatable awning. It cuts down the time it takes to set the awning up, as well as the stress involved. For example, one person can setup an inflatable driveaway awning but may not be able to solely setup a traditional driveaway awning.

This also means you do not have to be too concerned about setting up and packing up when you are just going to camp over the weekend. The thought of the stress of setting up and packing up will no longer stop you from taking those few days off.

Handles Bad Weather Better

Inflatable driveaway awnings fare better in windy conditions compared with their traditional counterparts. The reason for this is simple. Because the inflatable awning lacks rigid poles (frame), it is able to reduce effect of the wind’s force on it by flexing and swaying with the wind. This makes it handle the winds better.

The traditional awning with its poles is more rigid and will naturally withstand the force of the wind, increasing the likelihood of the frame getting bent or damaged as a result of the force of the wind.

All-in-One Design

Another great thing about inflatable awnings is that they offer an all-in-one design. You do not have many different pieces or parts to put together. Everything comes in one single package which makes it easier to manage.

With the entire awning in one place, the risk of forgetting or misplacing one important component is totally removed. This further increases the convenience offered by inflatable awnings.

It Is Safer

Inflatable driveaway awnings are safer to move than traditional ones. The reason is that the poles which provide the frame for the traditional awnings are absent in the inflatable ones. These poles have been known to cause some injury to users as well as damage to the caravan or vehicle conveying it.

The absence of these moving parts reduces the risk of accidents occurring as you transport or even set them up.

Disadvantages of Inflatable Driveaway Awnings.

Everything that has advantages also has some disadvantages. Here are few disadvantages to using inflatable driveaway awnings.

They are More Expensive

Considering the ease of use and technology that goes into making one of these, it is actually no surprise that they cost more than the traditional awnings. It’s basically a trade-off between convenience and increased cost.

It’s not just more expensive because it is inflatable, it is more expensive because it offers commensurate value.

It is Bulkier

Remember how we said that it has an all-in-one design? Well, as a result of this, it is usually bulkier to carry. This does not mean that the entire package is heavier than the entire package of a traditional awning.

With a traditional awing, you can separate the different parts, carrying the poles in one package and the fabric in another. You are simply spreading the weight, something that can easily lead to one part getting missing. Once again, you trade off the convenience of having everything in one place for some additional bulk.

It is not Available in Very Large Sizes

For now, you may not be able to get inflatable awnings in very large sizes. The reason for this should be pretty obvious. Remember that the inflatable awnings are designed to be a single package which makes it bulkier. Having very large sizes will not be convenient for the user as it may become too bulky to transport.

Conclusion

There you have it. These are some of the basic advantages and disadvantages of using inflatable driveaway awnings. Now that you have these information, you can confidently decide on which one best suits your needs.

If you are wondering where to buy an air awning for a caravan, take a look at our selection of inflatable caravan awnings for sale. We offer free delivery on orders over £100!