New to porch awnings

[andy72]

Still being new to the whole caravan thing, after using our full awning for a week away a little while ago, i quickly realised that a full awning is a bit of a bind for a 2 night weekend stay (kids at school etc). So, in my haste on friday afternoon gone, i purchased a suncamp swift porch awning. Amazed at the size of the bag, yet suprised at the size of the awning i was sure this was the problem solved.

We still need a place to store chairs/table/pushchair/dirty shoes as our van is a cosy 5 berth housing 4 of us, tow of which are a 5 yr old and an 8 week old and all the masses of kit/toys they bring with them.

On erecting the awning, in a little over 15 minutes (typical male and refused to read the instructions until beaten) all looked great. I noticed the side of the awning that abuts the van doesnt actually fix to anything. Not a huge problem, it is just to keep things out of the rain. However, after a heavy rain shower overnight we awoke to find water pooling on the steps, and the first 2 foot from the sides of the awning wet. obvioulsy the wind/rain blows in.

Is there any cure for this? do other users have a trick to secure the sides?

 

[raccoon]

Hi andy, we bought a suncamp porch awning a few months ago, it is the type where it has only the fibreglass rods across the front edge and two poles from them to the floor. I have looked around for some poles to fasten inside next to the caravan but nothing I see would do the job because there is nothing for a pole to fasten to inside.
I am now thinking of just using some tape where the fringe of the awning pulls up against the caravan. Sorry I cannot be any more help.

 

[rhunt0]

I have just bought the same awning (on saturday) tried it quickly on Sunday and took 15 min to put up. Only problem I found was where do the steel poles go when they reach the floor? do they fit into the strap across the awning if so how?

As for keeping the rain out apparently pipe lagging helps, it also matches the colour of the awning.

 

[Ricey]

Hi,

not sure how the Suncamp edges finish where it meets the van. However, our Kampa porch awning has thick bumper pads which seem to do a good job. We purchased additional bumper pad poles which are adjustable full height poles which fit into a pouch in the inside top of the awning and dig into the ground at the bottom. The bumper pads are then tied to the poles which gives a fairly weather tight seal although not entirely.

 

[andy72]

Thanks for the replies

The edges are just tent material, no thick strips etc so nothing tofor the insulation tubes to actually clamp around. Its literally just like a tent chopped in half and stuck to the side of the van!!

Rhunt0... on the edges of the floor strap there is a big O ring with a bit that sticks up the ends of the poles. Dead easy really. (you should give in and read the instructions

)

 

[forestgump]

be carefull any thing against the sides can rub the van sides in the wind.