Can anyone offer any advice, I have just purchased a new Challenger 540 and an Ultima 390 weekend awning. Included with the awning is a draught skirt. Having tried the skirt on for the first time last week it was sagging across the wheel arch which defeated the object and purpose of the skirt. Obviously there is some way or some fixture that can be purchased to support the skirt, can anyone offer any help or advice that may solve this problem.
Draught skirt ( Bridging the Wheel Arch )
- Thread starter Professor
- Start date
Damian
Moderator
Suction cups with hooks on the van, if it has smooth sides, and eyelets put into the awning skirt.
If it has aluminium textured finish, Duck Tape is good!!
If it has aluminium textured finish, Duck Tape is good!!
Use a piece of thin light board and cut it to fit up into the wheel arch. In line with the skirt rail fix on a length of awning track; plastic is best if your tyre is slightly proud because it bends a bit. The light hollow plastic board used for some estate agents signs is ideal, as is one itself if given a lick of paint!
With this in place thread the skirt through the extended rail, this then holds up the draught excluder in position and gives the stiffness required to the skirt. You then don't need the fabric wheel cover piece.
With this in place thread the skirt through the extended rail, this then holds up the draught excluder in position and gives the stiffness required to the skirt. You then don't need the fabric wheel cover piece.
First of all you should have been given the right length of wheel arch cover and th channel pieces with the awning skirt, if not I do not think they are that expensive.
I would steer clear of the adhesive velcro we were advised to fix it with, it does not hold it and the glue melts smearing the side of the van, it took me approx 2 hours to remove the glue last weekend.
We are now using the suction hook method with a slight mofification.
We bought a packet of 12 or 20 suction hooks and an eyelet pliers set from the local pound shop for
I would steer clear of the adhesive velcro we were advised to fix it with, it does not hold it and the glue melts smearing the side of the van, it took me approx 2 hours to remove the glue last weekend.
We are now using the suction hook method with a slight mofification.
We bought a packet of 12 or 20 suction hooks and an eyelet pliers set from the local pound shop for
I used a piece of exterior ply, cut to the shape of the wheelarch, hinged across the center, to make it easier to fit and smaller when packing away and the piece of awning rail screwed at the right height to run the draft slip in.
Tankie
Hi Colin,
I to bought the suction cups and eyelets for the wheel arch cover and they work a treat on a flat sided van.
Garry an easy way to get the adhesive off from the Velcro is to use WD40 it melts the glue then just finish off with a bit of polish and the jobs a good un.
Martin "E"
I to bought the suction cups and eyelets for the wheel arch cover and they work a treat on a flat sided van.
Garry an easy way to get the adhesive off from the Velcro is to use WD40 it melts the glue then just finish off with a bit of polish and the jobs a good un.
Martin "E"
Martin
That is what I did, the trouble as the glue had become hardened and baked on after little more than a year and still took a lot of effort to get off.
I also used the velcro hooks part as an abrasive as I did not want to use wire wool or similar and that worked a treat leaving no abrasion marks.
That is what I did, the trouble as the glue had become hardened and baked on after little more than a year and still took a lot of effort to get off.
I also used the velcro hooks part as an abrasive as I did not want to use wire wool or similar and that worked a treat leaving no abrasion marks.
Colin....I did somthing similar to what JTQ suggests....but instead of using board I went to my local Mr Plastic and bought an off cut of very thin white plastic sheet for a fiver. I cut this to shape to fit inside the wheel arch and then the skirt runs in front. It is very flexable, light weight and when travelling it takes up little room stored against the side of the the shower cubicle.
Ideally what you should have is a length of plastic douyble awning rail on side has the beading from the skirt fed in as it passes the wheel arch and then continues into the skirt rail on the other side.The piece of material (usually pvc) that goes over the wheel should also have a beading which fits in the other half of the plastic strip the top of the pvc is then fastened with press studs or better still the sunction cup idea.The plastic strip should be available from good caravan dealers.
hi we go with plotters of suction cup hooks sky blue leisure on e bay sell this under awning figure of 8 awning channel 2 length sizes friendly seller quick delivery
Thanks everyone for those great suggestions and I shall have a go with the plastic board and the suction cups.
With regards to the Pvc Awning strip, when we bought our full Awning the dealer had put a lenght of this in the Awning bag. Unfortunately it was too short, as this size was meant for a S/A when we explained this to them, they said pop in and we will replace it with a lenght suitable for a T/A FOC
We still need to use the plastic suction cups, which we managed to get from Wilkinsons,
best regards, Martin
We still need to use the plastic suction cups, which we managed to get from Wilkinsons,
best regards, Martin
Garry.
19 Jul 2007 08:36 AM Martin
That is what I did, the trouble as the glue had become hardened and baked on after little more than a year and still took a lot of effort to get off.
I also used the velcro hooks part as an abrasive as I did not want to use wire wool or similar and that worked a treat leaving no abrasion marks.
Sorry Garry Just spotted the reply, I would guess the Velcro pads that were on my van had been on for about three years and the WD40 and polish worked a treat don't get me wrong it was not a one squirt and the glue had gone I would guess for the three pads were about a 10+ minutes job.
I found suction hooks brilliant I do use the plastic rod as supplied with the awning as well.
Martin "E"
19 Jul 2007 08:36 AM Martin
That is what I did, the trouble as the glue had become hardened and baked on after little more than a year and still took a lot of effort to get off.
I also used the velcro hooks part as an abrasive as I did not want to use wire wool or similar and that worked a treat leaving no abrasion marks.
Sorry Garry Just spotted the reply, I would guess the Velcro pads that were on my van had been on for about three years and the WD40 and polish worked a treat don't get me wrong it was not a one squirt and the glue had gone I would guess for the three pads were about a 10+ minutes job.
I found suction hooks brilliant I do use the plastic rod as supplied with the awning as well.
Martin "E"
Martin E
When the 3 supplied small pads started slipping I used some longer strips of velcro to hold it, so I was probably cleaning glue from 10+ times the area - that is why it took so much longer.
I think we would both recommend using a different method of fixing after cleaning the glue off!
When the 3 supplied small pads started slipping I used some longer strips of velcro to hold it, so I was probably cleaning glue from 10+ times the area - that is why it took so much longer.
I think we would both recommend using a different method of fixing after cleaning the glue off!
Hi,
we put a strip of white sticky backed velcro on the wheel arch and the other side on the draught excluder, works a treat.
Chris
we put a strip of white sticky backed velcro on the wheel arch and the other side on the draught excluder, works a treat.
Chris
Chris
That is what we had
In hot weather you will find the glue will melt on the piece on the skirt and slip, after a while you end up with a sticky mess which is difficult to clean off.
The stuck on velcro also spoils the looks of the van when the skirt is not used which is why we removed it and went for suckers.
One plus of self adhesive velcro, if you do put it completely around the wheel arch cover, is that it would be very difficult to get the same draught proof seal with any other method.
That is what we had
In hot weather you will find the glue will melt on the piece on the skirt and slip, after a while you end up with a sticky mess which is difficult to clean off.
The stuck on velcro also spoils the looks of the van when the skirt is not used which is why we removed it and went for suckers.
One plus of self adhesive velcro, if you do put it completely around the wheel arch cover, is that it would be very difficult to get the same draught proof seal with any other method.
This issue is a big bug bear to me, for the amount of money we pay for new vans surely the manufacturers could supply a sheet of plastic manufactured to fit the wheel arches, possibly with their logo on (free advertising for them). I'd even consider paying a couple of quid for one if they were that penny pinching and offered it as an optional extra!! Can practical caravan pass this idea on to them?
sian
sian
I have the same problem with the draughtskirt!!! but the way the awning fits to the side of the van is worse, id never buy another one like this, i,ll go back to the traditional type of awning.
The Way I have sorted the sagging across the wheel arch is to put an eyelet in each end of the skirt at the top with about 18 inches of bungee cord with a loop at the end. Just position the skirt, and peg it into the ground. The tension keeps it taught but you can pull it away from the wheel to get to the cool beer/milk and it just snaps back. Easy and no glue.
Paul
Paul
Another thought
If you are somewhere hot and want the ventilation without the bugs you could use those fold up car sunscreens (designed to keep the sun off kids, not the windscreen ones) between the wheel and arch. they come with suckers as well, if you can find somewhere to stick them.
Not tried it but can not see why it would not work.
If you are somewhere hot and want the ventilation without the bugs you could use those fold up car sunscreens (designed to keep the sun off kids, not the windscreen ones) between the wheel and arch. they come with suckers as well, if you can find somewhere to stick them.
Not tried it but can not see why it would not work.
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