Hi all,
I was intrigued to find out if any member has got the 2021 version of the Dometic Pop pro 365 awning for a Troll ? And if anyone has got the front canopy extension. Is it any good ? Other reviews online say it looks like “a bag of spanner’s” when up 😳, but in the pictures it look pretty good to me. I guess its heavy ish to slide on the rail, but made the weight could be reduced by zipping out the front and side panels and storing/fitting them separately. Any experience or advice on this awning would be much appreciated. Thanks, Robbie

Hi Colin, thanks for all that, really helpful. I hadn’t seen the photo’s. Agree it does look a little “sloppy” Wish they had made it more level on top, like the Bologna. Maybe the Bologna is the awning of all awnings - what do you think ? Thanks, Robbie

Like Colin we have a Triton so ours is the smaller 340 model. On a flat pitch the awning goes up fine. It looks slightly odd because it slopes down as a consequence of being universal for both older and newer models (100mm height difference). On sloping pitches some interesting shapes can develop some being definitely bags of spanners. We carry two 4” wooden blocks to slip under the air beams on difficult pitches, this helps get a better shape sometimes. Once up the awning is excellent and performs well in wind. The canopy extension is also well worth having, to extend the covered area, it fits well.

Thanks for your reply Jef. Don’t suppose you have a photo of your awning with the 4” blocks installed ? Just to give me an idea of how much less slopey it looks. Thanks, Robbie

Thanks again Colin. I think the Unico re probably as good as it gets.

No I don't I'm afraid.
I don't use them if the pitch is flat so my awning slopes just the same as Colin's. It's designed that way and if put up properly is fine, just a bit slopey. I think you would run into problems if you did, with insufficient fabric in the sides as it is designed to slope, there would be wrinkles everywhere.

The blocks are for if the ground slopes away from the van which would make it even more of a slope, it allows the sides to flatten better. Or, if the slope is side to side a block goes under the downhill air tube end to level up the awning with the van, which is of course, level. They don't make it perfect but but do stop some of the bagginess that develops on slopes. Makes it look a little less like a bag of spanners.
If the slope is too much, we had a pitch last month in Shropshire that sloped 10 inches from front of the van to the back, well, we just abandon the idea of using the Kampa and make do with the Caravanstore.

Hi Robbie

We have the original 365 on our 2016 540. I think Colin's later model looks much better than our earlier model.

I have at times been very critical of its performance on sloping grass pitches, when it can look worse than a bag of spanners. I tried what Colin & Jef use to go under the poles on undulating grass pitches but it didn't help that much. Now we only use the Kampa when we book a hardstanding.

However the more we use it the more I see its good points.

I have commented in the past on how heavy it can be to put the last few feet into the rail. However it seems to be getting quicker & easier. I always lubricate the rail immediately before putting the kedder cord in. We always now start at the front end of the Troll and ensure that Kath and I are on little stools at the same hieght. We used it on a very windy Walney Island last week in a strong wind & it went up a treat.

In fact it went up far easier than our Sunncamp Vareo in a similar wind strength at Knaresorough a week before. The extra weight of the Kampa proved a real benefit in these circumstances.

The Kampa copes really well in the stronger winds off the Irish Sea that followed. The skirt and my home made wooden wheel wind blocker both also coped really well.

We do like the idea of the canopy and the zip in side sleeping tent as really useful additions. So much so that when our current 365 "dies a death" we would look to replace it with the newer model

MikeT

Hi Mike, sorry I just noticed your reply. Thanks for all that information. I think I have made my mind up and will go for it. Our Vango Hex air hub is very good, but there is something about the Pop Pro’s full width (rather than a connecting tunnel) that appeals. Also (as you say) the idea of being able to add in an annex is a very nice feature. Hopefully I can upload some pictures soon. Robbie