Awnings in the wind

[starlightdj]

With all this great weather we are having, just got me thinking, what make of awning do you have and how does it stand up to the wind?

I once owned a tunnel tent which was flattened by wind and always thought it would be good to have a wind strength guide to assist you when you buy.

I have an Isabella ambassador on a t/a with tie downs it rattles a bit but seems to cope well with strong winds.

Cheers
John

 

[X5Neil]

Hi John.
We have the same awning on a t/a and use storm strap tie downs. But also tension with a hurcules twin and it hardly moves.
Neil.

 

[Gagakev]

Hi John, when in my early days I had a full Dorema awning which didnt like the wind and decided at 5.00am one morning to take off, though at the time I didnt have storm straps

We had a few empty beer cans on the table which went rolling down the road making a right racket and the choice was to either secure/take the awning down or chase the cans so awning first and beer cans second, neighbours comment in morning was did you here that racket last night, I had to own up as my face was bright red

Currently have the Kampa 390 and have had no problems with it, last August it was really windy and I was worried about it but too windy to take down so parked car in front of it to deflect the wind and put extra pegs inside, still there in the morning. Last weekend on site windy again but no problems, but the neighbours windbreak decided it wanted to be a kite and took off, they were out so I rescued it and folded it up for them, when they returned they didnt believe it had been that windy

 

[otherclive]

We have an Isabella and in most weathers it's fine just with its normal pegging. However it does have extra strong points along the front and sides which are used for adverse weather by just pegging in extra guy line in a V and inverted V configuration. I also carry two ratchet straps and 12 inch steel pegs which can be used to lash the two inner front corners of the frame. This is as per Isabella's own storm straps but much cheaper. But never had to resort to these yet, I think the van would blow over first!

 

[soldlisa04]

Hi there, we have a large NR Awning which came with our caravan as a start up pack. Used it for the first time during half term week in gale force winds and driving rain (same old story with us since we started using our van in March!) and it was fine, bit of flapping but nothing major and OH used our storm straps. It did leak along the zip but it said it may as it needed to weather!

 

[Tukums]

I have a German made awning, DWT Zelt, with storm straps and extra guying points stands up to strong winds very well.

 

[otherclive]

Tukums
the extra guying straps are the same as fitted to Isabellas and really do work well. Bit fiddly to put on though and make removing the panels for those nice sunny days a bit more time consuming

 

[Tukums]

Tukums
the extra guying straps are the same as fitted to Isabellas and really do work well. Bit fiddly to put on though and make removing the panels for those nice sunny days a bit more time consuming

They are Isabella, in fact a few of Isabella assesories fit this make of awning.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Like Kev I also have a Kampa Rally. We've been out with it in two nasty gales, last September and this April, with no adverse affects. Thankfully I bought the storm straps and used them as well as parking my car to help deflect the wind. In both instances I only had one peg come loose.

 

[Smith21]

I have a German made awning, DWT Zelt, with storm straps and extra guying points stands up to strong winds very well.

Could I just ask a quick question in the image of Tukums the gray plastic flaps at the bottom of the awning can these be folded in over as I was told to have these folded in side the awning or can you have it both ways.

 

[X5Neil]

I also thought they were to be folded in under the awning flooring. Will be good to know.

 

[Sproket]

It all depends on where that the manufacturer has sewn the pegging down points into the awning, some are on the inside & some are on the outside, mine are on the outside so I put the flaps inside & cover them with the ground sheet, from the look of Tukums photo the pegging points will be on the inside.
Have a look at some of these awnings & you will see what I mean

 

[plotter]

The advantage of the flaps being on the outside is any wind has the effect of pressing them down onto the ground 'sealing' the awning whereas those inside allow wind to enter under the flaps and groundsheet and inflate the awning.In the past we have added extra flaps so that they were both inside and outside so had best of both worlds.

 

[Surfer]

The advantage of the flaps being on the outside is any wind has the effect of pressing them down onto the ground 'sealing' the awning whereas those inside allow wind to enter under the flaps and groundsheet and inflate the awning.In the past we have added extra flaps so that they were both inside and outside so had best of both worlds.

I thought it was the opposite. We fold them inwards and when the groundsheet is on top, no wind.

 

[Tukums]

The awning has double mud flaps! The one you see on the outside which I then peg down using those small plastic round headed pegs and then the same again on the inside, which the ground sheet then goes over. Best of both worlds as they say.
From the brochure.
/sites/practicalcaravan.com/files/images/medium_korada_007_UK_01.jpg
The double mud flap conceals the awning pegs and keeps the interior clean: water runs off on the outside, the awning is sealed off from the ground on the inside.

 

[graham_somersham]

I've got awnings with inward and outward mud skirts and the most resistant to high winds are the ones with the outward skirts. As above a double skirt give the best option. My winter awnings have outward skirts and when it snows heavily the weight of the snow holds them down....