Ventura Pacific 250

VENTURA IS TO Isabella what Bentley used to be to Rolls Royce. To paraphrase one of Bentley’s most famous ads, "A Ventura awning is for the caravanner who wants something slightly less ostentatious than an Isabella."

In other words, when you buy a Ventura awning you are getting an awning whose quality is only slightly less than that of an Isabella awning but whose price isn’t much different to some lesser awnings.

The Pacific, which we’re reviewing here, is one of Ventura’s most popular full awnings. It’s available in two depths, 250cm and 300cm, the former being the more usual choice. Both depths are available to fit caravans with ground-to-ground dimensions from 800cm to 1075cm in increments of 25cm.

Frames available are either Prenox steel or an IXL fibreglass, both with the company’s screwless FixOn bracket pads. However, FixOn II bracket pads, which are easier to fit and remove because they clip onto the beading rather than having to be slid on and off it, are available as an optional extra.

Importantly too, spikes on the ends of the vertical poles go into the ground through regulator tabs. The regulator tabs are the main reason why Ventura – and Isabella – awnings always look good when erected.

The Pacific 250 is a five-piece awning – roof, two side panels and two front panels. The side panels are interchangeable, but the front ones are not since they are profiled to follow the pitch of the roof.

One side panel has two windows, one of which has a ventilation/insect screen behind a roll-up zipped clear window, whilst the other side panel and the front panels have one large window each. Only one colour scheme is available: steel blue/Vanilla.

Erecting the Pacific is not difficult but like many other full awnings would be easier if hooks were fitted to the roof panel so that the sides and front panels could be hung from it before being zipped in. Trying to lift a panel whilst zipping it is not the easiest of operations. But that said, the Pacific is an awning which is built to last and which any owner can be proud of.