Awnings and windy weather.

[bertieboy1]

Here’s the dilemma. To leave alone or take down when the weather is very very bad?
My take is leave it alone. A decent awning is designed to withstand winds. Our Isabella has never failed. 15 years ago FIL at 5.00 am de iced to take his awning down in the high winds. A disaster. As he removed the securing pegs and guys the canvas blew over the top of the caravan causing £ 2500 damage plus a written off awning. One of the poles at speed hit him in the face knocking him out.
I say don’t put your life at risk, leave the awning and hope for the best!

Hi,
I remember years ago,our neighbour's awning was threatening to blow down during a violent wind and rain storm.Everyone nearby went to the rescue and managed to take the awning down (I don't think it was put up securely in the first place)
It took about 6 or 7 people to do this.So I guess it depends on the situation- if the awning is secure then leave it alone otherwise get help to take it down.

 

[Mel]

I bought a new Kampa air awning yesterday, I looked at one erected on display and it seems to be really substantial so I’m hoping for the best when we go away next Thursday, looking at the latest forecasts it does look as though it’s going to gradually improve over the next few days so fingers crossed, I had a Vango awning on order for around 3 months and still no sign so I cancelled and bought the Kampa, with a Kampa you can see and feel the quality and I’ve got extra storm straps if needed so I can but hope, staying safe is first thing to consider.

BP

We had a Kampa Rally Air. The model before the Pro. It was great. Had it8 years and in the last few years left it up, a few weeks at a time on a seasonal pitch. It eventually went pop. But that was because the stitching failed along a pole, allowing the inner tube to explode. It didn’t owe us anything. Survived really really strong winds in North Wales one time; took it down because we had rubbish pegs as already mentioned.
Mel

 

[Beachball]

I bought a new Kampa air awning yesterday, I looked at one erected on display and it seems to be really substantial so I’m hoping for the best when we go away next Thursday, looking at the latest forecasts it does look as though it’s going to gradually improve over the next few days so fingers crossed, I had a Vango awning on order for around 3 months and still no sign so I cancelled and bought the Kampa, with a Kampa you can see and feel the quality and I’ve got extra storm straps if needed so I can but hope, staying safe is first thing to consider.

BP

Hi Beehpee I also got a Vango on order since January it should have come on 17th May but yet again delayed now there a new date next week if it does not arrive i will cancelled because I saw something on display as well .so i hope you like your new Kampa air awning

 

[Dustydog]

BP
Buy the optional inner ceiling lining. If you don’t everything will get wet! Condensation🤬🤬

 

[Beehpee]

Hi thingy that’s what I bought, the Kampa rally air pro 330s, got it at Jackson’s of old arley, it was nice to see one actually erected and as soon as I saw it in the flesh I didn’t hesitate, I had paid in full for the Vango and after being given at least 5 different dates they would arrive I asked for my money back, I’ll let you know when I’ve erected it how I get on with the awning puller thingy, I’m looking forward to trying it out and I’ll have a nice cold bottle of Peroni as I think you said you used one hand to pull it along and the other to hold a beer, I shan’t hold it against you thingy if I don’t get on with it, we all have our own opinions, the camp we are going to is called waleswood, near Sheffield quite a new site so be good to have a look.


BP

 

[Beehpee]

HI DD I’m just about to go online and see if I can get one quick enough, need it by Thursday first thing.

BP

 

[Thingy]

Bp, im sure you will get on fine with it. Im fully confident recommending the puller. I always fit the buckle to the rail before I leave home, saves time on site.

 

[Gagakev]

A good quality awning correctly erected and with storm straps will survive most storms but it is a matter of judgement and not easy to give an answer for all situations. What is difficult is taking it down if you leave it too late.

I agree with Raywood here, "It is a matter of Judgement"
As some of you know just this week I took mine down in Cornwall at 5.45 am in the morning. The wind was picking up and we made the call before the main 60mph plus winds forecast arrived. the 12 inch pegs started to lift and the awning was travelling along the rail, starting to bend a couple of poles. I have 18 inch construction site pegs for the tie straps.
Just to add I have the Kampa pro pole version so a light weight awning.
Within a couple of hours others on site with full and porch awnings varying in makes to dorema isabella etc had taken theres down
By the way a couple of years ago it stayed up in Storm Katy but this situation was much worse. Glad I took mine down and would do the same again.

 

[JezzerB]

We always take ours down in winds forecast to be over 30mph, a figure
given to us on a site in Anglesy whose owner had this rule. We learnt the hard way in North Berwick when the wind got up over night and we took the awning down At 3am before it self destructed. We then stayed at Eye Kettleby in gales and a group of us took 8 awnings down of owners out for the day. Two were shredded the others survived our quick take down, the shower block became an awning superstore! Lots of grateful owners and two sad ones. The site owners were great, even phoning one vanner.

 

[Beachball]

Bp, im sure you will get on fine with it. Im fully confident recommending the puller. I always fit the buckle to the rail before I leave home, saves time on site.

Hi Thingy i am hoping to try mine out if the awning comes

 

[JTQ]

Both our awnings are Isabellas, a Magnum and Ambassador full, both suitably guyed and on good peg holding ground can take almost anything, but hail. Hail and its associated rain and melt can cause a catenary pool to form in the roof, something often too challenging for the awning to cope with.
I witnessed the moment a seasonal van's Isabella ripped in front of me, just from rain pooling and the progressive pulling of its pegs, presumably as no one sorted it for days.

Whilst very confident in our awnings, if I know a really vicious storm is coming I take them down, not least to avoid grossly over straining the awning rail, it retention, and knowing the van will be knocked all over the place if left.
Been up in the night, and out there in the day time, with a broom shedding hail catenaries.

Our canopy, a Shadow, has far less storm withstanding ability, so either a pole is dropped to aid shedding water, or if it is going to be a silly wind I simply run the sheet out, leaving poles, guys and pegs out there to re-erect it in a few minutes, later when safe to do so.

 

[Beehpee]

In answer to DD and the awning roof lining, I’ve arranged to collect one at Towsure in Sheffield on Friday, we get there Thursday so just the one night without it fitted, towsure was really helpful, normally they keep click and collect for 2 days, I asked if they would keep it till Friday if I paid for it upfront, the reply was “no need to pay until you get here, and it’ll be here waiting” can’t fault the service, I’ll have to wear handcuffs or I’ll end up spending more money, the shop looks massive.

BP

 

[Beachball]

I think you will spend more money at Towsure when you get there

 

[Tuningdrew]

I bought a new Kampa air awning yesterday, I looked at one erected on display and it seems to be really substantial so I’m hoping for the best when we go away next Thursday, looking at the latest forecasts it does look as though it’s going to gradually improve over the next few days so fingers crossed, I had a Vango awning on order for around 3 months and still no sign so I cancelled and bought the Kampa, with a Kampa you can see and feel the quality and I’ve got extra storm straps if needed so I can but hope, staying safe is first thing to consider.

BP

With experience of a dreadful Kampa Air Pro we found that if you get a good hard blow the air beams will collapse, pops back straight away but in our case it knocked over all the furniture inside. Coolbox broken and a scrape down the side of the van as it fell. The roof liner is a must as otherwise everything just ends up sopping wet from condensation if not rainwater leaking through.

 

[Buckman]

With experience of a dreadful Kampa Air Pro we found that if you get a good hard blow the air beams will collapse, pops back straight away but in our case it knocked over all the furniture inside. Coolbox broken and a scrape down the side of the van as it fell. The roof liner is a must as otherwise everything just ends up sopping wet from condensation if not rainwater leaking through.

Same here with our Air Ace. Condensation was terrible.

 

[JTQ]

With experience of a dreadful Kampa Air Pro we found that if you get a good hard blow the air beams will collapse, pops back straight away but in our case it knocked over all the furniture inside. Coolbox broken and a scrape down the side of the van as it fell. The roof liner is a must as otherwise everything just ends up sopping wet from condensation if not rainwater leaking through.

Not a glowing endorsement !

 

[Thingy]

Hmmm, we had two Kampas, not impressed with design of the first one, but the second one was a big improvement, until the air beam exploded. Also had major condensation issues with both. The second one we bought the roof liner for which did help somewhat, but try getting it to fit, there is little tolerance in the fittings and as well know, awnings never go up exactly the same which in this case made for some hard pulling and adjustment. Couple that to the uneven ground problems, and we too went back to a poled Magnum.

 

[JezzerB]

Poled awnings can cause awful damage if the wind gets it-probably potentially worse than any air awning. Walking round sites it's always the KAmpa air awnings I am drawn to-look well set and solid but may of course be wrong there-we like our Outdoor Rev and little Suncamp! But we never put any awning up if the winds are forecast over 30mph having seen a field of destruction in the past!

 

[Thingy]

The Izzy Magnum has stood some incredible winds with no bother. Its all in the art of putting one up properly.

I have seen the damage poles cause, as with anything else, you need to judge the conditions.

 

[JezzerB]

We holidayed in Anglesey andthe site owner wouldn't let anyone put an awning up if winds were forecast over 35mph from memory-so we now use that as our absolute max-guide-having been to Eye Kettleby and had to help take 8 awnings down we saw what they did-admittedly none were Isabella all seasons-these are a different kettle of fish and very secure if strapped properly-but it was a mare-one had self destructed-air fortunately but brand new-so we took others down whose owners were out for the day. Very entertaining-and some very grateful people when they got back-and one needing a good sewing repair specialist!

 

[Beehpee]

I’ve just bought a Kampa rally air pro 330s, I’m not trying to sell the merits or otherwise of Kampa but just for info, ours is the 2021 model and there are improvements that I’ve yet to test, firstly I’ve always had a roof lining in my awnings and from what I’ve read lots of makes get condensation, as far as it being a faff fitting the liner, I fitted it last week when we used the awning for the first time, when we packed up the liner stayed hooked into the roof, no more faffing, next point the awning has got extra ventilation points at the highest point of the roof where it meets the caravan and the vent is at both left and right where it meets the caravan, next there is a a door panel on left and right side of the awning and you can unzip just the door or the complete panel, the difference though is that above the doors is another zip that you can open as much as you choose or not at all, this gives the whole side panel an extra pleat that opens and relaxes any tension due to uneven ground, there is also a similar zip that can be opened if any slack is needed where if you use them the rear poles are located, as I say I’ve no reason to mention any of this, I’ve always had kampa awnings both poled and air and I’ve only used this one for it’s inaugural setting for its first week but so far I can’t fault it, I doubt it would please everyone but as with anything we buy we all have our favourites.

BP

 

[Beehpee]

I was there at kettleby when jezzerB was there helping take down various awning, we were battling a small camper van with an old awning, we gave up trying to save it when it ripped in lots of places, by the time the owner returned there was nothing of the awning worth saving.

BP

 

[JezzerB]

Yes was going to mention I thought you were there. And the campervan. Bit wild that one!!

 

[Beehpee]

Hi Jezzer I think it was probably the windiest we’d ever been away in, we hadn’t got our awning as we only bought the van a few days prior to that trip, I did have one slight incident though, I stepped out of the caravan and hadn’t noticed the step had blown away, I sort of fell and stumbled out the door and broke the plastic bin that was fixed to the door, first day out and had to buy a new bin.

BP

 

[JezzerB]

Good grief-could have been a lot worse though-ours went up and came down the day before-they were good at Eye K, trying to ring the owner of the torn awing.