Ease of Setup: One of the most significant advantages of air tents is the quick and easy setup. Instead of dealing with traditional tent poles, you use an air pump to inflate the tent's beams. This can significantly reduce the time and effort required for setup, making it more convenient, especially for solo or inexperienced campers.

Stability: In many cases, air tents can be quite stable and withstand windy conditions. The inflatable beams distribute stress more evenly than rigid poles, and some models come with multiple inflation points for added stability.

Mildew is a real problem and prevention is the only real way to deal with it. A tent must be packed away bone dry with any potential sources of damp removed. This could even be from insects that have been packed away with the tent! Or from the core of guylines that were not dried unravelled to ensure deep moisture was removed by air flow.

Once mildew has set in you have to stop it spreading. Kill off the spores with a very mild solution of one part Milton or white vinegar to ten parts water − rinsing off well.

Besides the cleaners from the likes of Storm you can get canvas cleaners from the caravan market and mildew cleaners for sails from the yachting market but we have not tried any of these. The Camping and Caravanning Club used to have a data sheet on tent maintenance - worth looking on their website.

Remember to reproof the tent after cleaning.

Most tents are designed to be water-resistant or waterproof to some extent, but the level of waterproofing can vary based on the type and quality of the tent. Here are some key points to consider:

Water-Resistant vs. Waterproof:

Water-Resistant: Many tents are treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating to make the fabric resist water to some degree. However, they may not be completely waterproof and can allow water to penetrate during heavy or prolonged rain.

Waterproof: Some tents, especially those designed for more extreme weather conditions, are explicitly labeled as waterproof. They often feature a higher level of water-resistant coatings, fully taped seams, and a more robust design to keep the interior dry even in challenging weather.

Seams & Zippers:

Waterproof tents usually have sealed seams to prevent water from seeping through the stitched areas. Additionally, high-quality waterproof tents often feature waterproof zippers or storm flaps to enhance protection against rain.

Hydrostatic Head Rating:

The waterproofness of a tent is often measured by its hydrostatic head rating, which indicates the water pressure the fabric can withstand before water penetrates. A higher hydrostatic head rating generally signifies better waterproof performance.

The fabric used for your winter tent should be composed of high-denier ripstop nylon or polyester. Denier serves as a gauge for the thickness of individual threads within the fabric. A higher denier rating indicates increased abrasion resistance in the material.

Yes, tents can be recycled, but the ability to recycle them may depend on the materials used in the tent's construction. Many modern tents are made from a combination of materials, including fabrics, poles, zippers, and other components.

1. Prepare the Area

Select a Level Ground: Choose a flat and clear area for setting up your awning.

Unpack and Organize: Unpack the awning components and lay them out neatly. Familiarize yourself with the different parts.

2. Attach the Awning to Your Caravan or Motorhome

Slide the Awning into the Rail: Find the awning rail on your caravan or motorhome and slide the awning canvas into the rail. Make sure it's centered and correctly positioned.

3. Assemble the Frame

Identify the Poles: Lay out the poles and identify which ones go where. Isabella awnings usually have color-coded or numbered poles.

Connect the Main Poles: Start by assembling the main horizontal and vertical poles that form the basic structure of the awning.

Extend and Lock: Extend the poles to their correct lengths and lock them in place.

4. Erect the Frame

Attach the Roof Poles: Insert the roof poles into the sleeves of the awning fabric and connect them to the main frame.

Adjust the Tension: Use the tension adjusters on the poles to make sure the awning fabric is taut and wrinkle-free.

5. Secure the Awning

Peg Down the Corners: Starting from one corner, peg down the awning securely using the supplied pegs. Make sure to pull the fabric taut before pegging each corner.

Add Additional Pegs: Secure the rest of the awning by adding pegs at regular intervals around the perimeter.

6. Attach the Side Panels

Zip on the Panels: If your awning comes with side panels, zip them onto the main awning fabric.

Secure the Panels: Use additional poles and pegs to secure the side panels, ensuring they are tight and stable.

7. Final Adjustments

Check Stability: Walk around the awning and check for any loose areas. Tighten poles and pegs as necessary.

Add Guy Ropes: For extra stability, attach and secure guy ropes to the awning and peg them into the ground.Unpack and Organize: Unpack the awning components and lay them out neatly. Familiarise yourself with the different parts.

1. Prepare the Curtains

Unpack and Identify: Unpack the curtains and identify which ones go on the front and which ones on the side panels. Isabella curtains are usually labeled or have different patterns for easy identification.

Attach Hooks: Attach the curtain hooks to the top of each curtain. These hooks will be used to hang the curtains on the rail.

2. Install Curtain Rails (if not already installed)

Check Rails: Ensure that the curtain rails are already installed in your awning. If not, refer to your awning's manual for instructions on how to install the curtain rails.

Attach Runners: Insert the curtain rail clips or runners into the rail if they are not already in place.

3. Hang the Curtains

Start at One End: Starting at one end of the rail, attach the first curtain hook to the first clip or runner.

Continue Along the Rail: Continue attaching each hook to a clip or runner along the rail. Make sure the curtains slide easily along the rail.

Evenly Spaced: Ensure the hooks are evenly spaced for a neat appearance. Isabella curtains often come with pre-spaced hooks, but adjust if necessary.

4. Adjust the Curtains

Check for Smooth Movement: Once all the curtains are hung, slide them back and forth to ensure they move smoothly along the rail.

Adjust Length: Adjust the bottom of the curtains to ensure they hang evenly. Some models may allow you to adjust the height of the rail slightly if needed.

5. Secure the Bottom of the Curtains (if applicable)

Tiebacks: Use the provided tiebacks to secure the curtains when they are open. Tiebacks usually attach to hooks or loops on the awning sides.

Weights or Clips: Some curtains come with weights or clips at the bottom to prevent them from flapping in the wind. Attach these as needed.

Isabella provides a size chart that correlates A-measurements to awning sizes. Here’s a general guide:

A-Measurement (cm) Isabella Awning Size

800 - 825 850

826 - 850 875

851 - 875 900

876 - 900 925

901 - 925 950

926 - 950 975

951 - 975 1000

976 - 1000 1025

1001 - 1025 1050

1026 - 1050 1075

1051 - 1075 1100

1076 - 1100 1125

1101 - 1125 1150

1126 - 1150 1175

1151 - 1175 1200