Dometic Inflatable Awning Canopy

Dometic describes four ways. Guy lines (Dometic's recommended method): throw the guy lines on the tunnel's top corners over the vehicle and peg them down on the far side, or tie them to the wheels - then just unpeg to drive off. This tensions the tunnel well so rain runs off, gives a higher fixing point so the door clears more easily, and is the quickest to reconnect when you get back.

Keder beading (an optional accessory is recommended): the rear tunnel of a Dometic drive-away awning has a 6mm keder bead sewn along it, which slides into an awning rail or a cassette awning's channel; vehicles without a rail can use a Kampa Limpet Drive-Away Kit or a magnetic drive-away kit - with a kit, slide the figure-of-8 strip out to drive away.

Velcro loops (for vehicles with roof rails): wrap the Velcro straps along the tunnel's top edge around the roof rail, and undo them to drive off. Pole and clamp (optional accessory needed; the vehicle needs a gutter running the length of the tunnel): slide the pole through the sleeve on the tunnel edge, sit it in the gutter and clamp it, then remove the clamps and pole to drive away.

Every awning gets internal condensation in some conditions. It forms when warm, moist air meets a cold surface, and it can be heavy enough to be mistaken for a leak - especially when it trickles down the roof lining and drips off ties, tapes and fittings. It's worst out of season: early spring, autumn and winter. The main sources are damp ground, humid air, the weather, anyone sleeping in the awning (one adult can breathe out around 1 litre of water in 12 hours), heaters, cooking, vehicle vents exhausting into the awning, and wet things such as coats, towels or a wet dog.

To reduce it: avoid pitching on wet ground, keep the awning well ventilated, switch off heaters in the awning, and don't keep wet items inside it. Roof linings, available for many Dometic awnings, help by evening out the temperature inside, catching drips from the roof and letting the moisture evaporate once conditions improve.

Awnings made from Dometic's breathable Weathershield All-Season fabric, designed for out-of-season touring, suffer less condensation.

The springs linking the poles are a wear item that's easy to replace if one breaks - usually from the poles being dropped or dragged, or just general wear. You can get replacement springs from your awning retailer or an authorised Dometic repair centre.

Handle zips gently: use both hands to open and close them, never stand on them, and never force one. Always peg the awning out with the zips done up, so they close properly afterwards without strain - cross-pegging the panels also takes stress off the zips. If a zip is stiff or sticking, a silicone spray will help it run freely.

Dometic uses a premium, high-clarity window material. If the awning was packed away slightly damp, cloudy marks can appear; these usually clear once the awning is pitched and tensioned and the sun warms it. Deeper marks such as zip or fold lines can be eased by warming the window directly with a hairdryer. Some impressions in the window, especially after storage and folding, are a characteristic of the material, not a fault.

The windows are tested down to -20°C, but in cold weather - and certainly below freezing - they must be warmed before unfolding: take the packed awning inside a warm vehicle for a while first, or warm the windows with a hairdryer or similar.

Have any repairs to the flysheet carried out by your awning retailer or an authorised Dometic repair centre - repairs or alterations by anyone else may void the guarantee. Dometic recommends treating the flysheet fabric once a year with its Super Hydrophobic Spray, which keeps it waterproof and adds extra UV protection, helping the awning last longer.

If any of the seam tape is damaged or lifting, repair it with Seam Sealant, which is easy to apply and leaves a clear, flexible finish.

Dometic caravan awnings fit by sliding the keder into the caravan's awning rail. Take three measurements before visiting a Dometic awning stockist. A - the height from the ground to the awning rail: Dometic caravan awnings suit attachment heights of 235-250cm; if yours is over 250cm, look at Dometic's static motorhome awnings, which go up to 310cm.

B - how much straight awning rail there is: this decides which size you can buy, as the awnings can't go on curved or bent rail (an Ace AIR Pro 400, for example, needs at least 400cm of straight rail). C - the space from the door edge to where the straight rail ends: there needs to be room for the awning's rear sealing pad, and Dometic recommends at least 25cm.

It's fine for the awning to cross a window - it may block the window's use, but won't damage it or affect the awning.

Every Dometic awning - for caravans, motorhomes, campervans and SUVs - carries a guarantee covering manufacturing faults, materials and parts, and all warranty claims and enquiries go through the retailer you bought from. Unless stated otherwise, the cover lasts 2 years on parts for an inflatable (air) frame, 1 year on parts for a steel or aluminium poled frame, and 1 year each for the fabric, other components and accessories.

It doesn't cover normal wear, sun (UV) damage, misuse, accidents, storms or condensation, nor awnings used on a permanent, semi-permanent, seasonal or commercial basis - except All-Season models, which are made for seasonal pitches. Repairs should only be done by a company Dometic or your retailer recommends - unauthorised repairs or alterations may void the warranty.

Use plain water and a soft-bristled brush - don't scrub, and never use detergent. If that doesn't shift the dirt, use an awning cleaner from your retailer or an authorised repair centre, testing it first on a hidden part of the awning in case it reacts badly. Get bird droppings and tree sap off as soon as you can, before they permanently mark the fabric.

Over time, the joints where the connecting hoses push onto the isolation valves can loosen - every awning is inflated and tested at the factory, but repeated folding, transporting and pitching can tug on them. It's routine maintenance rather than a fault, and if the awning seems to be losing air, one or more of these joints is the likely cause.

To fix it: inflate the awning fully; inside, close every isolation valve; wait a while, then squeeze each AirPole to check its pressure - one that's gone soft points to a loose hose-to-valve seal. For that AirPole, find the isolation valve(s) next to it, leave that valve shut, and undo its collar completely on the soft AirPole's side - this exposes the valve's push-fit section and its cone-shaped washer.

Push the connecting hose fully onto the valve, slide the washer up towards the valve's thread (narrow side facing the collar), and screw the collar back on - hand-tight, then a further half-turn with the spanner provided; tightening more won't seal better and can make it worse. Do the same for any other valves on that AirPole, then open all the isolation valves so the AirPole refills, and pump the awning up to the correct pressure.

A Dometic air awning's frame is a network of linked AirPoles, each of which can be isolated and taken out for testing or replacement. Each AirPole has three layers: an outer sleeve stitched permanently into the awning, a removable sleeve inside it, and the inflatable bladder in the middle. To replace the removable sleeve or bladder, you'll need the part number, printed on the white label sewn onto the Velcro protective wrap at the AirPole's end (for example, D400-1 from 2019).

Quote that number when ordering from a Dometic retailer or Dometic Customer Services, stating whether you want a new bladder, a new removable sleeve, or both.

Static awnings fit by sliding their keder into the motorhome's fixed rail or cassette awning, and have to come down before you drive anywhere. For these, measure: A - the height from the ground to the awning rail, on level ground without levelling chocks; Dometic offers five heights: S 235-250cm, L 250-265cm, XL 265-280cm, XXL 280-295cm and XXXL 295-310cm.

B - the length of awning rail, which needs to be long enough for the awning size you want. C - the gap between the top of the door and the awning rail: Dometic's awnings need 15cm so an AirPole can sit against the vehicle without fouling the door. D - the space between the door edge and where the rail ends, to leave room for the rear sealing pad (at least 25cm recommended).

Drive-away awnings can be left pitched to hold your spot while you go out exploring. If you'll attach one with guy lines thrown over the vehicle, measure: A - the height from the ground to the roof (Dometic's drive-away awnings suit vehicles from 180cm to 310cm); and B - the roof length, checking the tunnel will clear the door, wheel arches and any cassette awning (crossing windows is fine; on a panel van, the sliding door's measurement can help find the best tunnel fit).

If you'll attach it with a drive-away kit to a fixed rail or cassette awning, measure instead: C - the height from the ground to the awning rail (the same 180-310cm range); and D - the length of awning rail, which must suit the awning size. A drive-away kit holds the awning securely but lets you leave easily: feed one side of the figure-of-8 strip onto the vehicle's keder and the awning's beading into the other side, and slide the figure-of-8 strip out when you want to drive away. Dometic awnings need a 6mm-6mm drive-away kit.

This applies to awnings made from Weathershield 63D, 68D, 150D, Pro, All-Season and PVC fabrics. Every seam is sealed at the factory with PVC tape bonded on at high temperature so it stays put. If you think water is getting in (rather than condensation forming), look closely at the tape around the wet area - it's clear, so it can be hard to see.

Repair any damaged or lifting tape with Seam Sealant, which is easy to apply and leaves a clear, flexible finish. If the tape looks intact but water still seems to be getting in, Dometic suggests treating that area with its Super Hydrophobic Spray, which restores waterproofing and adds UV protection.

Dometic AirPoles need no maintenance, but protect them from damage in storage. Damage from misuse, wind or neglect isn't covered by the warranty - get any damage repaired by a Dometic authorised repair centre as soon as you can. AirPoles can twist slightly over time, mainly from running the awning under-inflated, though it can also happen while pitching or packing away; small adjustments to the tubes will put it right. The isolation valves on the frame may also need re-seating now and then.