Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Tue Apr 09, 2019 8:52 pm
by Phia (deleted)

Hi, we've very recently bought a 2004 540 Troll and are looking to buy an awning. New to Eribas having previously had a VW T4. Have seen mixed reviews re the Kampa air 365. Has anyone got any alternative recommendations? Also, any tips re sun canopies and other must-have accessories? Thanks.

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#2

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:17 pm
by eribaMotters •

| 5.600 Posts

Welcome. I am one of the unfortunate who had a Kampa Pop-Air awning, but you are lucky. With a pre 2010 van you should have no problems. For the price it is a good awning, yes it is a bit heavy to get into the awning track but it's fairly quick to put up, very quick to take down, decent fabric but you can get condensation [leave top of the front "doors" open a little at the top], reasonable size etc. The genuine groundsheet is also very good. If you buy one don't bother with the gutter strip or the extra tie down straps. If buying new the 2019 model has the useful option of a front canopy.
Talking of canopies, the favourites are a 3m Isabella Shadow or a 3.1m Fiamma Caravanstore. I've owned both and if you can live with the bag fouling the top of the door then the Fiamma is the better unit as it's more useful in the rain.
Moving from a T4 you will find the space in the van huge and could possibly live without a full awning. Why not try a canopy out for the summer and see how you get on. If you find an awning is the way to go keep an eye out at the end of the season.
If you wanted a bigger awning, something really special you should look out for a Unico or a Fortex. At £1500/2000 new they are eye wateringly expensive but do come up second hand. Look on e-bay and you will see I have a Triton size Fortex for sale, lots of photos so you can get the idea.

The Sunncamp Swift is also worth a look. Sunncamp Swift Van Canopy 260 (2)

Colin

Audi A3 1.5 petrol _ ex 430, 552, camplet trailer tent, 310, now a nice white 2017 430.

Last edited Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:22 pm | Scroll up

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#3

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Thu Apr 11, 2019 10:51 pm
by Phia (deleted)

Hi Colin, thanks very much for the info and advice. We'll check out those awnings/canopies. It's a minefield! It's so tricky when you read conflicting reviews. We're going from knowing lots about our T4 and what's compatible/needed, to knowing absolutely nothing about Trolls. Every day's a school day!

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#4

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Thu Apr 11, 2019 11:02 pm
by eribaMotters •

| 5.600 Posts

Glad to be able to offer some help. It might help if you let members know where you are located as you may be able to see some canopies/awnings in the flesh.

Colin

Audi A3 1.5 petrol _ ex 430, 552, camplet trailer tent, 310, now a nice white 2017 430.

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#5

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Fri Apr 12, 2019 1:55 am
by Frantone (deleted)

Colin�s awning advice is spot on. Don�t forget there is an album in our photo gallery dedicated to awnings and canopies.

Eriba #5. Triton 420 GT gently nudging Ford Galaxy.

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#6

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:51 am
by Stevejoyce (deleted)

Worth noting that the new Eriba specific Kamper air pro's have the peg down points set at 3 different heights to cater for earlier as well as later Eribas. We bought one for our 2015 420. All seems good so far. We haven't had any problems with the awning bead pulling out of the track, although it is fairly heavy to get it in there. I tend to stand on a stool and feed it in from the rear, whilst Mrs J pulls at the front. Once its in, it is a doddle to finish off. Also very quick to take down.

Triton 420 towed by a Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi

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#7

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Fri Apr 12, 2019 10:38 am
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Stevejoyce wrote in post #6
I tend to stand on a stool and feed it in from the rear, whilst Mrs J pulls at the front. Once its in, it is a doddle to finish off.

I think Masters and Johnson missed this one.

.

granddadgrape and highmiler like this post!

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#8

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Fri Apr 12, 2019 11:34 am
by eribaMotters •

| 5.600 Posts

Oh another Ronnie Barker moment. Today is turning out well. First one here Sod Brexit !

Colin

Audi A3 1.5 petrol _ ex 430, 552, camplet trailer tent, 310, now a nice white 2017 430.

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#9

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:02 pm
by Stevejoyce (deleted)

Sorry all! why have I just gone red?

Triton 420 towed by a Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi

Eribanut likes this post!

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#10

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:07 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Stevejoyce wrote in post #9
Sorry all! why have I just gone red?

Don't apologise. A change is as good as a rest - I've just bought a new stool from Argos.

.

Eribanut likes this post!

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#11

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:48 pm
by highmiler •

| 367 Posts

Hi,
I think a lot depends on where you are going. If it's to europe and it's going to be hot, then a simple shade awning is fine. If you are going to be mostly in the Uk then
an awning with sides and a front is a must. My Soplair Ardeche which I inherited when I bought my troll, works for all, the sides and the front can be removed. I don't think you can buy these anymore, but a lot of other awnings have this facility. The thing I don't like about air-awnings is that they don't allow the door to clip back and
don't cover my side rear window completely.

Highmiler.Troll 530GT and Skoda 2.0 TDi

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#12

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:14 pm
by Phia (deleted)

Thanks for all the advice (and laughs!) everyone. We're down on the south coast in Eastbourne and will mostly be travelling within the UK & France. We were thinking of having a sun canopy fitted as well as buying a full awning with ground sheet to cover all weathers. We had initially thought a Fiamma would be best but have been told that the Thule canopies are better. 🙄

One other thing....... Any advice on how best to remove gooey black mastic that seems to have oozed out from under the rim/seal? Or should I start another thread!?

Thanks all

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#13

RE: Advice for newbie 2004 Troll owners re best awning & canopy

in Making the most of that expensive pitch Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:27 pm
by eribaMotters •

| 5.600 Posts

The mastic will ooze out for years to come. Do NOT pull it out. Best I've found is to wipe the are with a white spirit soaked rag and then slice through with a credit card or similar, again wiping the area with the soaked rag. When dry car polish the area as the paint may be flat. Repeat as needed.

Colin

Audi A3 1.5 petrol _ ex 430, 552, camplet trailer tent, 310, now a nice white 2017 430.

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