Kampa Limpets

[RayS]

Very interesting to read the review in the current issue. I use a porch awning for long stay in Spain and have had troubles with the pads between frame and caravan moving slightly in strong winds. In a dusty environment some dust inevitably collects on the pads and the movement then damages the paint finish. Particularly noticeable if there is a section of bodywork with small corrugations rather than being flat. I imagine a similar thing will occur if the pad crosses a window - although I avoid doing this I see many illustrations of it in awning advertisements and on site.
On my last caravan I got some of the white vinyl material used to make signs for trademens vans and the like and applied a vertical strip about 100mm wide in the appropriate place. I was assured the vinyl would be easy to remove and would not leave a mark even after a number of years. After the first year the vinyl itself was marked although not badly enough to renew it and that the caravan bodywork would probably have been damaged without it. I was not able to test how cleanly it could be removed as that particular caravan was written off.
The limpets get a very mixed set of reviews on other forums and Amazon reviews. While I can see that they might stop movement in one sideways direction Idon't see how they can stop it in the other - i.e. from outside inwards - and this slack may then be taken up in the opposite direction on the next gust producing the unwanted movement between awning and caravan side.
Any experiences either way or ideas to solve the problem ?

 

[NigelHutson]

Hello RayS,

Whilst we haven’t had a long time to evaluate the Limpets, first impressions are very good (as described in the article). You will have read of the winds that we encountered speed wise, and in fact the direction was exactly as you describe, i.e. blowing directly from the rear of the caravan and thus onto the side of the porch awning. That side was blown inwards a bit, and the opposite side (towards the front of the caravan) did billow out a little. But, there were no issues in the area of the Limpets, which held firm, and bear in mind that there was no skirt/wheel cover to reduce drafts that way. I was not only very pleased, but also quite surprised how rigid the thing stayed, given that others didn’t fare too well.

We shall be going away for a week at the beginning of December, and giving a new Rally Air Pro 200 porch awning its maiden voyage - together with Limpets and other accessories (all bought with my own hard-earned I hasten to add, so no plug for any manufacture from me unless the products are good in my opinion!).

I hope that helps?

Nigel.

 

[RayS]

Thanks Nigel for the extra details. I looked up limpets soon after reading your article being prepared to buy a set immediately for use next month but was surprised to see the considerable amount of criticism on the web. To be fair there was also considerable praise.

The problem id that if I fit some and find the reports of paint damage are accurate I shall have damaged a new and expensive caravan which I am obviously not anxious to do. I have obviously not read the instructions about fitting and use, but some others refer to the need not to over tighten, which I quite understand. I wonder if this is quantified in any way e.g. 'No more that two turns after resistance is first felt'
Perhaps you will see if there is any marking on yourcaravan after the next use and perhaps share your findings.

 

[Hutch]

A good wax polish on the area where the awning pads fit works well . So that the paint is not chaffed away. .

 

[Dodger524]

People have reported problems and I believe Kampa now advise that their limpets are not used over decals.

Our caravan is a Lunar Clubman which has a thin painted aluminium skin which is unaffected by the use of Limpets, there are no decals in the area to which I use the Limpets.

I find that I have to make sure that both surfaces are clean otherwise they won't stick, I also moisten the sucker surface before application and then tighten them very firmly.

Anything that avoids or reduces reliance on awning poles is very welcome to me.

 

[NigelHutson]

I certainly will report back after our next outing, but as I said in the piece, I made sure that the caravan was clean where the Limpets would fit. Ours too is a Lunar Clubman. When I took them off, I examined the caravan very carefully as I too didn’t want any marks/damage from the Limpets. My first impressions are that if they’re carefully attached (and not over tightened) they should be fine. Bearing in mind the battering that we took from the wind, I was very positive about them.

Perhaps I have OCD when it comes to looking after things (as many others, as what we have is bought using our own hard earned), but..........

Watch this space.

 

[NigelHutson]

As promised, here's an update re the Limpets! Kay and I have just had a week in York and put up our new Kampa porch awning, using four Limpets on each side, plus an extra two for the wheel cover/awning skirt. After removing the frozen awning (yes, there can't be many others as bonkers as us putting an awning up in sub-zero temperatures!!) from the caravan, I could see faint rings where the Limpets had been (no paint damage or delamination that some have suggested).

I have just been out to the caravan, wiped off the water from the side, and very quickly and gently applied a good quality car polish, and am very pleased to report that the rings have completely vanished.

I would suggest that damage could be caused by trying to tighten the limpets too tight against the caravan wall, or that perhaps that the wall wasn't clean? I turned them just sufficient to ensure that they were stuck onto the wall, and no more. Not one dropped off during the week. Granted, the weather was very still, with only the merest hint of wind.

So far, so good!

 

[Kevin2306]

Thanks Nigel

Hoping to get out and try mine over the Christmas break.
interesting to see you tow with an old car, I have a 1965 Singer so would be interested to see some images of your outfit, is there a way of exchanging email addresses via this forum?

Regards

 

[otherclive]

Thanks Nigel

Hoping to get out and try mine over the Christmas break.
interesting to see you tow with an old car, I have a 1965 Singer so would be interested to see some images of your outfit, is there a way of exchanging email addresses via this forum?

Regards

Surely Nigel’s outfit details are a bit Tongue in Cheek!

 

[Kevin2306]

Thanks Nigel

Hoping to get out and try mine over the Christmas break.
interesting to see you tow with an old car, I have a 1965 Singer so would be interested to see some images of your outfit, is there a way of exchanging email addresses via this forum?

Regards

Surely Nigel’s outfit details are a bit Tongue in Cheek!

Wouldn't have a clue to be honest.
Kev

 

[NigelHutson]

Indeed, it is very much tongue in cheek. I wouldn't want to to anything with the old Moggie to be honest.