Thought we'd post a few thoughts on the first use of our awning (and indeed our Puck L) to see if anyone else may have shared our experiences......

We've just replaced our Conway folding camper with the Eriba, which came with a Soplair awning, so were very au fait with the world of canvas. We didn't get a chance to test run the Puck and awning other than a couple of practice erections in the garden when the neighbours weren't around.

1. It's not a canvas awning, apart from bits of the front and side panels. A statement of the bleeding obvious perhaps but a surprise at first. Quite good because it shouldn't leak (more of that later) and doesn't need treating with Fabsil.

2. It's fairly easy to put up compared to other awnings we've had designed for trailer tents/folding campers. A slightly lower divorce potential.....

3. We had some pretty biblical rainstorms in the Dordogne this year and have to admit to finding the Soplair not quite as good as a canvas awning because:

4. Being plastic it doesn't breathe at all. So when it really hisses down the condensation inside is worse than in a canvas awning it also takes longer to dissipate once the rain goes.

5. We found rain coming through some of the stitching holes around the zip into which the side panels or bedroom annex fit. I'm guessing that, being plastic, the material does not contract and seal like canvas does. Thus, the rain finds a way in through some of the stitching holes and then runs around the braiding inside the zip to drip onto the heads of our unfortunate sleeping teenage children. While this is undoubtedly God's way of making us as parents feel better it's not that impressive in terms of awning performance!

6. Today, I've sealed the outside of the stiching with Mcnetts seam grip, which should stop any further ingress.

7. It doesn't smell as nice as canvas!

So, on balance we're not as impressed as we thought we would be mainly due to the condensation and water ingress. The latter, hopefully, is sorted. The condensation seems to be part of the package due to the material used in making the awning.

Does anyone have similar experiences

"a couple of practice erections in the garden when the neighbours weren't around. "

This could get you in trouble with mr plod

My Puck L 230 GT had a Soplair Bretagne awning (bought 2007)
but it had none of the problems you describe. It was encases in ice,
pounded by Bristol channel storms, it did leak along the awning rail
when the gutters overflowed but a judicious opening up of the gutter
drainage holes helped greatly with that. I used ladder rubbers to help
keep an even tension on the skirt and walls. The Tencate material and
stitching was top quality, only topped by the VanderHorn Sneek on my Troll

There's no doubt that the purpose made Eriba awnings are excellent. We have had a Soplair, a Van der Horn Sneek and a Unico Bologna which have all been superb weather proof awnings. We have also had a couple of different tunnel types. In my opinion if you want strength and weather proofing then you have to accept that there will be weight. The 'lightweight' awnings, sun canopies and drive away types will usually be flappy and thin. If you would like some temporary shelter without going to the trouble of erecting a full awning then it's hard to beat a Fiamma Caravanstore coupled with a windbreak.
TonyP

Interesting.....Seems we must have been a bit unlucky with our Soplair, goes with the territory of buying used gear I suppose. Hopefully, the Seam Grip will have done the trick and sealed the stitching.

Still don't like the material as much as good quality canvas though for the reasons I mentioned above regarding it's lack of breathability.