Fiamma caravanstore zip

[trucker]

Got one for the first time this week, put it up today in the garden to check everything is ok before we go away next weekend and it is fantastic, much beter quality than any awning I have had before and once on so easy to erect.

Just hope it can cope with the English weather in the winter

Anyone with any tips on the erection or use would be greatfuly received

Kevin H

 

[WatsonJohnG]

The method I use as I do it without help!!

Unroll the fabric

Pull out the left leg and rafter.

Extend the leg and place the rafter extended to the first hole into the wall socket

Place the leg at 45 degrees and repeat on the right side.

Move the left leg to the vertical(I use a spirit level to save standing back)having first tensioned the rafter to the 3rd hole.

Repeat for the right leg

Immediately peg down the leg and guy it .

I find the best way for me to erect the sides is to thread the the rafter through the sleeve and tie the side to the upright before taking it to the van.

Remember to slide the front panel in before fixing the side panel front velcro loops.

The hard part is rolling the canopy up on your own.It was much easier with the original as that rolled up overhand from the otside whereas you now have to stand with back the caravan to roll overhand !!

I find it easiest to get the fabric central to the van door and sit on the caravan step between the fabric and the van side(back to open doorway.

I then roll as far as I can reach before sitting on the caravan door cill.

I stand up and continue rolling before finally standing in the doorway to roll the last bit and fix the central velcro loop.

I have threaded sticky back velcro through the existing short sewn on velcro to give a longer piece to get hold of .The sticky will fold over sticky to sticky to make a firm piece to get hold of.

The plastic fabric is very hard wearing and keeps the sun off much better than normal awning fabric.

hope that helps

 

[trucker]

Thanks for that JohnG, well done for doing the job yourself, it seams qwuite awkward with 2 people, but I guess it is because we havnt got a methord yet. Why have you got to roll up underhand as we rolled up overhand yesterday and all seamed well, Zipped up and job done!!

if there is a reason please let me know cus I will undo today and roll up underhand

Kevin H

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Kevin

On the original Caravanstore which we have had for 6 years it had two tapes at each of the 3 points where you tie it up.

The canopy was rolled up with hands pronate as they say on countdown(palms down)facing the van but that meant that the open side of the rolled up canopy was then uppermost.

Fiamma changed it so that facing the van you have to have palms facing upwards (underhand)

That is why I now stand with back to caravan so that it can be done the easier overhand way.

They also replaced the 2 tapes with one tape and a short strip machined to the canopy.This means that if the fabric "bags" at all its impossible (on your own) to make the join--hence the added tapes above in last posting.

If you have rolled it up and made contact with the velcro sewn on bits then I would leave it.

My canopy is over a year old now so they may have altered it again.

Our friends got one in the summer and couldn't manage it (they are 74 tears old).They asked me to sell it on Ebay (I declined!) after two trips when I put it up both times.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Kevin

On the original Caravanstore which we have had for 6 years it had two tapes at each of the 3 points where you tie it up.

The canopy was rolled up with hands pronate as they say on countdown(palms down)facing the van but that meant that the open side of the rolled up canopy was then uppermost.

Fiamma changed it so that facing the van you have to have palms facing upwards (underhand)

That is why I now stand with back to caravan so that it can be done the easier overhand way.

They also replaced the 2 tapes with one tape and a short strip machined to the canopy.This means that if the fabric "bags" at all its impossible (on your own) to make the join--hence the added tapes above in last posting.

If you have rolled it up and made contact with the velcro sewn on bits then I would leave it.

My canopy is over a year old now so they may have altered it again.

Our friends got one in the summer and couldn't manage it (they are 74 tears old).They asked me to sell it on Ebay (I declined!) after two trips when I put it up both times.

Years not tears although there were a few

 

[trucker]

Thanks for your reply JohnG, what we did to keep the material fairy taught was pull the legs out of the side 6 inches or so and holding these with one hand and the material with the other rolled quite sucesfully.

Once again thanks for you comments.

Kevin H

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Kevin

That's how they do it on the stand at the NEC

My arms are not long enough for that method

 

[STEPHEN_374226156]

We are looking to purchase the fiamia caravanstore and wonder if anyone knows who stocks them in the surrey area i would like to see one on show to ensure that is what we want

 

[trucker]

Stephen, I couldnt find a stockist in devon at all so I looked out for one on a site and being cheeky went and spoke to him about it. I then did a search on google and found a caravanstore zip 3.6 mtr at

 

[Val & Frank]

We are waiting until we go to the Scottish Caravan show in February to see what's best for us. This Fimma caravanstore zip does seem to be ideal. Just have to wait a couple of months longer

Val & Frank

 

[trucker]

Used the caravanstore zip for the first time over xmas and I must say it was so easy to erect and take down. its a good size at 3.6m

I cant believe how good and easy they are

Kevin H

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Glad that you are happy with it.

Putting up and taking down are a doddle

Its rolling up that has defeated our friends but at 70+ and below average height it is a problem.

They just take me with them every time !!!

 

[Janet_5090515]

Hi Kevin - glad to hear it is so easy to use. We are going to buy one when we order our new caravan but have never had any experience with these in the past.

We had large awning which was a nightmare to erect and take down, but carrying the poles was the biggest nightmare - talk about a lot of weight and space taken to transport around! We only ever used it for 1 week - 2 week holidays.

Anyhow, looking forward to using Fiamma especially after your positive comments. Are the front and sides easy to carry around and are there any heavy poles with it? Have only seen pictures in the brochure and am not too sure if it is worth buying the sides or not.

Thanks

Janet

 

[trucker]

Hi Janet, poles are all very light weight, and the sides and front fold up. It all comes with a bag to carry the sides front and poles, it is however about 5' long but it looks like a long version of a holdall bag.

We got a 3.6m which has a centre pole included but the place we bought it from didnt tell us that and I bought a centre rafter which is now surplus to requirments!!

Its also got all the pegs included

so for

 

[trucker]

Glad that you are happy with it.

Putting up and taking down are a doddle

Its rolling up that has defeated our friends but at 70+ and below average height it is a problem.

They just take me with them every time !!!

Hi john, still cant believe how easy it is, im waiting for the catch, well there must be oneit cant be that simple and good can it??

Kevin H

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Just to say that we are on the "Zip" after using the older Caravanstore for 5+ years

It is great but not perfect---is anything

In cold weather there is a LOT of condensation as the plastic does not breath like awning material I would not sleep in it .

It is excellent for repelling the sun

The two side rafters now have a plastic molding to rest on which protects the caravan side from denting but the centre one will dent the van side.

I have a plastic electrical 13 amp single surface socket box that I velcro to the plastic before fixing the centre rafter.

The strange thing is that the big bag is still not long enough for the poles.I have a ski bag for them

 

[trucker]

John, our bag fits all the poles, the end poles that fits into the spring part comes out and fits in seperate.

Good idea about the middle pole, i did think it could dent the van. I was going to buy the old fashioned sucker to go on the end and lift the bag up in the middle, do you think it would work??

had some condensation but not too bad

Kevin H

 

[Janet_5090515]

Hi Kevin - it all sounds just what we are after and everything in the bag is great.

We would just use the sun shade canopy most of the time anyway and would not sleep in the awning.

Will certainly have a look at Riversway leisure to compare with dealer price.

Thanks for your comments.

Janet

 

[WatsonJohnG]

John, our bag fits all the poles, the end poles that fits into the spring part comes out and fits in seperate.

Good idea about the middle pole, i did think it could dent the van. I was going to buy the old fashioned sucker to go on the end and lift the bag up in the middle, do you think it would work??

had some condensation but not too bad

Kevin H

Your bag must be bigger than ours Kevin.

The rubber sucker would work if it would stick to the plasic

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Kevin - it all sounds just what we are after and everything in the bag is great.

We would just use the sun shade canopy most of the time anyway and would not sleep in the awning.

Will certainly have a look at Riversway leisure to compare with dealer price.

Thanks for your comments.

Janet

We had ours from Riversway janet and so did our friends

 

[missdiamonique]

We are looking to purchase the fiamia caravanstore and wonder if anyone knows who stocks them in the surrey area i would like to see one on show to ensure that is what we want

Hi - we were quoted about

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Janet our friends live in the Preston area and were going to sell their 2.8m Caravanstore as they could not manage it.

They have only used it for about 4 weeks and it is as new

If you are interested I could ask them if they still want to sell and how much.

We paid

 

[Janet_5090515]

Hi John - thanks for the info but we live quite a bit away in

N Ireland. Also we do not yet know what size to go for as we will be ordering new Bailey Oklahoma or Indiana caravan in the next week or 2.

Most probably will be Oklahoma (but we have still not viewed as dealer awaiting delivery any time now) and we were going to try to measure up size to avoid going past the toilet access door which would be on the awning side in this van.

Thanks again

Janet

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Janet we have the Oklahoma and its a long way from our 2.8m canopy to the toilet door.

I would think that the 4 meter one would easily fit.

I could measure for you when it stops raining if needed!!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Janet its 3.7m from the front side window to the toilet window/door but the Fiamma measurement is for the bag I believe