Hi everyone, I have been wanting to ask but never got round to it...........why dont the caravan channel not show people how to put up an awning. Yes we all do it but there are lots of people out there who dont like to do it because of the arguments it causes. I always have trouble at the front side where it comes down the awning rail and there is this triangle bit of plastic/rubber and I never know where to put it. The instructions are not that good. All the magazines I read never show that point, infact they really only show the veiw from the side and thats it. So if the caravan channel is looking for something to do there is a good one for them. Cheers.
Erecting an awning
- Thread starter raccoon
- Start date
This website has awning instructions, they may be of use to you.
Full awning
http://www.practicalcaravan.com/advice/how-put-full-awning
Porch awning
http://www.practicalcaravan.com/advice/how-put-porch-awning
Full awning
http://www.practicalcaravan.com/advice/how-put-full-awning
Porch awning
http://www.practicalcaravan.com/advice/how-put-porch-awning
The "arguments it causes" is easily avoided by doing it yourself; in our case with my good lady ably attending to her own tasks.
However I accept this only works where the wind is no big issue, then I need help initially.
IMO the technique adopted plays a vital role, stages 7 & 8 in the above "full awning" link being the secret so many obviously fail to hoist into their procedure.
However I accept this only works where the wind is no big issue, then I need help initially.
IMO the technique adopted plays a vital role, stages 7 & 8 in the above "full awning" link being the secret so many obviously fail to hoist into their procedure.
I fear the PCV clip is grossly over simplified, particularly for porch awnings. These seem to have many more parts to the framework than full awnings and with handed joints, so it matters completely what goes where.
The best advice I can offer is to choose a calm day, when everyone is in a calm frame of mind, and start calmly by reading whatever instructions are provided.
Then, when you are sure you have got it right and before relaxing wiht large G&T have to hand at least three different colours of insulation tape and colour code each side of each joint in unique bands of coloured tape. Then, still beforethe G&T, draw a reasonable sketch of the framework and write down the colour coding you have just applied. Make sure you know whether B means black or brown or blue.
Next time out, remove all front and side panels from the roof and main canvas. Fit this into the awning rail and position approximately. Then assemble frame as far as possible in front of the hanging awning. Then walk it under the roof panels and tie in the side poles nearest to the caravan with the tapes, velco etc. provided.
Get the frame more or less into shape and put down a coupe of guy lines at thefront to keep it from collapsing against the caravan.
Add side and front panels doing the upwind end / side first.
Tension frame again, then peg down pars nearest to caravan and work outwards.
Retension and repeg as necessary. Understand why porch awnings are also know as 'divorce in a bag'
The best advice I can offer is to choose a calm day, when everyone is in a calm frame of mind, and start calmly by reading whatever instructions are provided.
Then, when you are sure you have got it right and before relaxing wiht large G&T have to hand at least three different colours of insulation tape and colour code each side of each joint in unique bands of coloured tape. Then, still beforethe G&T, draw a reasonable sketch of the framework and write down the colour coding you have just applied. Make sure you know whether B means black or brown or blue.
Next time out, remove all front and side panels from the roof and main canvas. Fit this into the awning rail and position approximately. Then assemble frame as far as possible in front of the hanging awning. Then walk it under the roof panels and tie in the side poles nearest to the caravan with the tapes, velco etc. provided.
Get the frame more or less into shape and put down a coupe of guy lines at thefront to keep it from collapsing against the caravan.
Add side and front panels doing the upwind end / side first.
Tension frame again, then peg down pars nearest to caravan and work outwards.
Retension and repeg as necessary. Understand why porch awnings are also know as 'divorce in a bag'
Hi everyone, I have looked at the photos and they are informative. I would like to see them do it on video though. I have seen someone put one up on youtube, this was a Isabella and the chap took about 15 minutes on his own.
We had dorema porch awning and imo it was harder to put up than our Isabella combi that is really stable and loads of room.It is a bit heavier to be fair but not that much considering the extra room
Hi Racoon
JTQ is spot on re points 7&8.
Years ago I had a complicated Dorema Toronto. That was a nightmare to erect but once marked out and its indiosincracies understood not too hard.
our Isabellas full and porch are virtually a one man job bar holding the centre front pole and with the full awning pulling it through the awning rail.
I always clean the rail first and then spray with silicon. It lubricates the channel.
take it easy. If it gets hard take a breather , have a cuppa and return.
also on most sites there is always some fellow tugger who will help.
Don't have a domestic!
JTQ is spot on re points 7&8.
Years ago I had a complicated Dorema Toronto. That was a nightmare to erect but once marked out and its indiosincracies understood not too hard.
our Isabellas full and porch are virtually a one man job bar holding the centre front pole and with the full awning pulling it through the awning rail.
I always clean the rail first and then spray with silicon. It lubricates the channel.
take it easy. If it gets hard take a breather , have a cuppa and return.
also on most sites there is always some fellow tugger who will help.
Don't have a domestic!
Treat yourself to a Bradcot awning with easy alloy poles - easy peasy to erect. We've had 2 full size and 2 porch ones over the years (due to a change of caravan size) all had easy alloy poles. Really well made awnings with strong zips and would certainly buy Bradcot again if we had to.
I went to Kimberley caravans yesterday just for a drive out, fatal !!! there it was ! a Compactalite pro integra 375 hex, couldn't resist it. When i got home i looked at the instructions, OMG going to take the first week of the holiday to put it up, but the second week should be better , i hope.
Hi Graham,,,,,,, Hope you get it up ok with all of those poles to put together ...... am so glad we opted for the new Kampa Air awning (we bought the new pro model with the thicker material) .....Graham Derby said:
I found videos online for both full and porch awnings by Isabella but I would imagine the principals will be the same for other manufacturers.
When it's considered a divorce in a bag perhaps the problem is the other half and NOT the awning's fault, consider keeping the awning and changing the wife. I have never had a problem with any awnings except those light weight fiddly things. Current awning an issy Magnum is the easiest though and it'll be a long time before I consider changing it.
Mel
Moderator
Martin24 said:
Air being sucked through teeth icon thingy. Just bear in mind that wife may be having the same thought about husband.
mel
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