After the winter months are you dreaming of future sunny times in your home away from home and thinking how you can make it even more comfortable, organised and relaxed? Are you thinking that it is maybe time to get a new Caravan awning? Even though there may be a few functional years of use left in your awning, perhaps you would really like a bit more space, especially headroom, or maybe you want to be more stylish on the campsite. Is it time you invested in Airbeam awning technology, giving you way more time to sit back and relax. You have access to a huge array of Caravan awnings here at Leisureshopdirect…you really are spoilt for choice! However for now let’s take an indepth look at the innovative and stylish the
Vango Tuscany Air 500 Elements Proshield Caravan Awning. If you really want the extra space the Tuscany, being significantly longer in length and wider than many other similar caravan awnings, then a Vango Tuscany could be the latest addition to your home-away-from-home.
What makes the Vango Tuscany Air Caravan Awning stand out?
One of the first reasons Vango Tuscany Air caravan awning will catch your eye, is how it stands out from the crowd with its sleek style. By using the caravan straight rail, Vango have managed to design a truly luxurious awning, incorporating Vango AirBeam technology to make it not only striking in looks, but exceedingly quick to pitch. The Vango Tuscany Air caravan awning has a pitching time of only 18 minutes. It’s eye-catching shape, with contemporary styling is backed up by the innovative Vango Elements Proshield fabric, which is robust and has the added benefit of ColourLok technology to aid colour retenetion. Arrive at your chosen campsite, pitch-up and relax in no time at all, and be the envy of the whole campsite! If you like all the benefits of the Vango Tuscany Air 500 Elements Proshield Caravan awning, but there is only two of you on your hols, then there is the smaller version
Vango Tuscany Air 400 Elements Proshield Caravan Awning, that will suit you down to the ground.
What is Vango AirBeam technology?
The Vango AirBeam technology used in the Tuscany Air Caravan Awning, gives your awning a number of benefits. All Vango AirBeam® Caravan Awnings come with a double action pump and Vango’s patented AirSpeed Valve®. This technology has been designed so you can pitch your tent in record time with as little effort as possible, and it is just as easy to pack away your inflatable awning. Vango have made it a breeze to jump over the first camping hurdle, pitching your Vango Tuscany Caravan Awning, meaning you can get on with more important holiday obligations like playing hide-and-seek or football!
Most impressively each Vango AirBeam® caravan awning is designed with multiple separate beams, which are individually inflated via AirSpeed Valves®, which means that you are not putting all your faith on one AirBeam® to keep your awning upright. Instead, the multiple singular beams will hold the structure of your awning, each supporting the other.
So what actually is a Vango AirBeam?
An Airbeam® consists of two components which are the heavy duty plastic inner tube (which holds the air) and a strong protective ripstop nylon outer casing. When inflated collectively the beams provide a large stable surface area meaning that the outer of your caravan awning is pulled taut. This results in a much more stable structure overall which is great at reducing noise made by wind or rain pattering against your tent. The Tuscany also has a SuperBeam down the centre, providing additional structure and awning stability in adverse weather conditions. Stay cosy, dry and safe in the unpredictable English weather.
How do Vango test their awnings are fit for purpose?
You really are prepared for all weather with the Vango AirBeam technology. One of the main apprehensions for campers surely has to be coping with the unruly, erratic weather we experience in this country. However, when purchasing a Vango AirBeam® awning like the Tuscany, surviving the elements on a windy miserable day is no problem at all. There is very little chance of your awning being overpowered and you needing to retreat into your caravan because the awning has collapsed. All Vango awnings from the biggest to the smallest, poled and AirBeam® undergo extensive testing to meet strict European Standards. This involves Vango tents being put to the test within a weather-controlled environment; against 300mm of rain per hour and wind gusts up to 90 km/hr. By testing their awnings against such extreme conditions, you can sit back, relax and enjoy your camping holiday inside your warm and dry awning. I was chatting to a regular Leisureshopdirect customer the other day and they explained how they use a Vango AirBeam caravan awning that is designed for touring on their seasonal pitch. He was very pleased to tell me it had stayed totally water-tight and absolutely steadfast for the last year, weathering all the storms we have had through the winter (and the few we have had recently!). Very impressive!
The Vango AirBeams are exceedingly robust and very difficult to puncture, but in the very unlikely event you damage one, it is relatively easy to make a quick repair, using the repair kit which comes with your tent. The repair kit is ideal for field repairs while at the campsite, so make sure you keep it with your awning. It is a good idea to keep it secured in your awning bag or maybe with all your caravan paperwork in the van or inside your first aid kit. An AirBeam® works on much the same principle as a bicycle tyre. Alternatively, if you wish to completely replace a damaged AirBeam, replacement Vango inner tubes can be purchased.
This super rigid AirBeam structure has made it possible for Vango to design the Tuscany’s very tall profile and along with its square footprint, it creates a charming, light, spacious awning atmosphere. You have access to all corners and all the sides of the awning are usable. You (well a person within normal height range!) can literally walk around the very inside edge of the Tuscany with comfortable room. Vango have designed pre-angled beams that definitely give you so much more usable space, enabling you to have more furniture if you like, storing away all your camping clutter.
How does the Vango Draught Seal System work?
The Vango Tuscany caravan awning, as all the new Vango AirAway caravan awnings have, has the ingenious Vango Draught Seal System. It is a new innovative solution to create a tight seal between your awning and your caravan. Patented to Vango, with 4 years of development the Vango Draught seal system ensures no draughts come into your awning and removes the need for any poles in your awning, which may have potentially damaged your caravan. We currently have a poled system which is designed to keep out cold draughts, but it has never worked perfectly. After a few days, even in good weather we find there are gaps between the caravan and awning and adjustments are needed. Also, our two children like to be involved in pitching our caravan and I constantly need to keep them away from these poles, as I can easily see them scratching the paintwork or getting hurt themselves. I had a few goes at fitting the Draught Seal System and I was very impressed with how tightly it fitted to the side of the van. I can see that no draughts would get through at all. This was also of great interest to me because we have an escapologist dog who loves our adventures away and this system would definitely stop him escaping the awning via this route!!! It was also very easy and simple to do. Firstly, the sewn in tension strap is attached at the top of your Vango AirAwning.
1. Then the foam pads need to be secured against your caravan and awning.
2. Next unclip the bottom section of the webbing strap and feed onto the lower kador rail of your caravan.
3. Then feed through the awning slit onto the inside and buckle to the top half of the Draught Seal strap.
4. Next you need to adjust the tension of the strap and roughly place your tension triangles.
5. After this, tighten the Draught Seal strap.
6. Lastly fold round and secure the Draught Seal cover with the hook and loop pads. Simple as that!
It is a clever system, because even if your awning is over a window or some other object on your caravan, the tension triangles enable you to squish the foam pads around structures, so that there is not even a tiny gap. There isn’t a single pole on the Tuscany, not even to keep the draught out! This makes the pack weight lighter than previous models of Inflatable awnings, making it much easier to lug about!
What is the Vango Tuscany Caravan Awning made of?
After being impressed by the Vango Tuscany’s appearance, you will also be pleased to be captivated by the materials it is made from. Firstly, the PVC mud strip, which is positioned at the base of the awning, is very easy to clean, It is much easier in rainy weather to just have a wipe down mud strip, like the Vango AirAway Caravan awnings do!
The awning is made from Vango’s exclusive Elements Pro Shield fabric, which not only gives it a superior look, but also a luxurious feel. This fabric has been developed and tested over a number of years; is fully wind and waterproof due to the construction of each yarn and the process by which the fabric is woven. It also features the Vango special double weave ripstop and is dyed using Vango’s new ColourLok technology that gives it the fab UV resistance, making it look super for longer. It really takes awning fabric to a whole new level, with it’s truly premium impressive feel, making sure you have the confidence to venture out whatever the weather.
Other Tuscany features that make it stand out for me!
The Tuscany has Diamond Pro Windows, that are 67% thicker than Vango’s Diamond clear windows, which gives excellent additional insulation and even clearer views. The Vista Front Windows lets light flood into the main living area and the multi privacy zip curtains are simple and easy to use, creating soft lines, with various oprtions of opening. All the doors are easy access, which means they have a flat entry, which creates easy access for wheelchairs, prams and people with reduced mobility. An optional extra is the
Vango Tall Annex Elements Proshield, which can be fitted on either side (or both!!) of the awning so that you can sleep guests outside of the caravan or the inner can be removed to add additional storage space. Due to the additional side doors on the main Tuscany structure, you can still exit or enter the awning from the side, giving you optimum pitching choices. It really is very versatile and it simply zips in place instead of the larger windowed panel door. It only needs one AirBeam inflated, meaning no significant extra pitching time. I think this annex also has the ability to be used as an entrance porch, because there is a zipped back door to the outside on it. If you don't feel you need the extra sleeping space, you might like the idea of this being the shoes, coat, outdoor games, swimming equipment storage, escapologist dog drying area and the main door entrance in wet, muddy weather. No shoes, wet coats or muddy hounds beyond the annex……if you are obsessed with keeping your caravan and awning clean this will work perfectly for you!!
Another point worthy of note about the Vango Tuscany Caravan Awning, is that all of the main side and front panels can be removed to reduce the weight, which will help to make it easier when feeding the awning into the rail, especially on a hot day and the cold drinks are waiting! It also comes in two carry bags, making storage and transport easier.
What comes with the Vango Tuscany Caravan Awning?
You will also be very pleasantly surprised to find out the array of Vango valuable essentials that comes with the Tuscany Caravan Awning. There are Rock Pegs, a Mallet, a double action Pump, Draught Skirt, Wheel Arch Covers, Bracer Beams, an Easy Pack Carry Bag of two, a Pair of Storm Straps and the new Draught Seal System (DSS). Often you need to purchase some of these items, if not all, when buying a new awning. Another valuable addition that comes with the Tuscany that you don’t get coming with most awnings, is the SkyLiners. The SkyLiners are simply installed onto the SkyTrack II System (which I will tell you about in a minute!) and provides a thermal barrier to help reduce the effects of condensation, helps to keep living conditions cool in the summer and much warmer in the colder months, by creating a non-moving layer of air that acts as a barrier. The SkyLiners also enable you to filter out the light from the SkyLight Windows in the Vango Tuscany, on days that are too hot, or just when you want to chill out in the shade on a sunny afternoon. They are supplied with pre-attached SkyHooks and they are super simple and quick to fit, as they slide easily onto and off the SkyTrack fitted in your awning. Once your Vango Sky Liners are up, you will definitely notice the difference as they also create a much cosier feeling in your home away from home.
The Tuscany comes with skyliners that are made specifically for this caravan awning. They are very simple to install.What optional extras might I be tempted to buy with my Vango Tuscany Caravan Awning?
I have already mentioned the Tuscany Annex. I will definitely want to get the
Vango Tuscany Breathable Fitted Carpet, to ensure warmth and comfort underfoot. You may find that with a layer of foam tiles underneath the carpet, children are much happier to sit out in the awning and play, instead of cluttering up the caravan! You may also be interested in the
Vango Tuscany 400 Front Mesh Door Set. These allow you to create a natural flow of air throughout your awning with an attachable front mesh door. You can zip off the awning door, zip in the mesh panels and allow fresh air to flow without the bugs!
You may also be interested in Vango’s new inventive system called Vango SkyTrack system, which is one of features in the Tuscany.
Vango’s SkyTrack system is an innovation unique to Vango that without doubt makes life on the campsite better……tidier, comfier, cosier and brighter! It is a flexible accessory strip, that looks very simple and it blends into the awning, so that it is barely noticeable at a quick glance. However, it can be used for multiple purposes including storage, lighting and attaching Vango SkyLiners (discussed above).
So, staying tidy and organised on the campsite is one of my sanity maintaining essentials and I am sure it is the same for many other campers. Vango’s Sky Storage is an optional extra and is designed to integrate seamlessly into the awning (or many Vango tents), using this unique SkyTrack system. The Sky Storage are very handy organisers, which provide much needed additional storage, giving you the ability to keep your family more ordered and your awning tidy. As the SkyStorage is available in five different size options, it can be used to suit all your needs. Brilliantly, they do not take up much space as they hang vertically and depending on the awning you choose, they can be hung in all different places, giving you maximum organisation. They can be used for clothes or shoes, books, toys, food like fruit or tins. The SkyStorage system will enable you to have an uncluttered space and make your awning ship-shape, giving you much more time for relaxing and fun. However, in the case of my family, I think the SkyStorage will surmount in much more organised chaos…..at least it’s a step in the right direction! An example of the products in the Sky Storage system is the
Sunbeam Flexi Light 4M, 2 and 6M.
The SunBeam Flexi Light can be attached to Vango's SkyTrack System and creates a fabulous glow to create a cosy glow in your awning. So, after investigating all the amazing features of the Vango Tuscany Air Caravan Awnings, you surely have no doubts this could be an outstanding addition to your beloved home away from home. It really has so much flexibility and style. It will suit any caravan and family perfectly, leaving enough space for family and friends to visit you. In fact, the versatility, style and modern look means that it can accompany any style of caravan beautifully. Let a Vango Tuscany Air Caravan Awning make your holiday perfectly less cramped, more organised and allow you endless fun times in the sun this season!
