Water puddles on awning roof

[Kate3]

We have just bought and used an outdoor revolution porch awning and braved the elements. The awning kept the rain out but large puddles of water accumulated on the roof and we had to disperse them by pushing upwards. I presume we hadn't put the awning up correctly but we did follow the instructions. Any ideas please?

 

[Hamer_5041128]

Kate,

Just had a look at one on the internet.It is a very basic porch awning, erected as they say useing only one pole. There is no cross pole in the roof to support the central part of the roof as more expensive porch awnings.As a result you will get water holding on the roof.If you are thinking of caravanning during the winter i would consider a more sustantial porch awning.

Hamer

 

[foshy]

Hi, Was the pitch a sloping pitch? If so I often have problems like you have described. They become worst particulary on a steep hill. However if you were on the flat, was the awning pegged down tightly to keep the roof tight? If it was, perhaps next time try using the guy ropes to tension the awning. Was the side of the porch awning close to the caravan? I normally peg the sides close to the van and then tension away from the caravan and all is OK. I hope this helps!

 

[JTS]

Hi Kate.

This type of awning are natorious for collecting water. We had an awning of this type and only used it twice because of the same problem. We tried all sorts of adjustments but every time it rained, same problem. Had to get up in the middle of the night once, lucky I did, a few minutes later and I think it would have collapsed. Getting rid of it,cheaply and warning the buyers that they may have a problem, was justified as we have seen others having to use their broom to dislodge puddles. We now use a Starcamp Quattro, perfect.

Good luck.

JTS.

 

[AlexC]

Hello Kate,

We have a Panorama XL lightweight porch and sometimes have the same problem, but once the puddle gets too big or to a certain size, it dumps it's water down the side. So not really a huge problem. I only found this out, when I went to bed whilst it was raining and couldn't clear the water myself. Any chance the same would happen with yours ? ie, clear itself when it gets too big.

Also, without wishing to hijack your thread, JTS, how's the Starcamp Quattro ? Bought one last week, as our lightweight one is leaking after 3 years. Will be using it next week. I reckon it'll take a fair bit longer to put up than our lightweight igloo style one, what do you reckon ? Any tips, or comments, good or bad ?

Cheers,

Alex.

 

[JTS]

Hi Alex - Starcamp Quattro,

One thing I have dicovered over the years is that erecting a tent or awning is to take your time and get it right first time, you will have a job to adjust once it is up and pegged down. Make sure your van is level front to rear and then you can hold your spirit level against the (horizontal) FRONT RIDGE STRUT, having adjusted your CORNER UPRIGHTS. Ensure that the REAR UPRIGHTS are in the right position and close to the caravan taking into consideration, door, fridge vents, window you may want to open etc. Do NOT tighten the frame until you have the canvas on and square. Peg from the inside, start with the four erect ones doing the back ones first and then the two front ones. Peg the front then the sides starting in the middle of the panels. Peg the skirt outdide.

We have had our Quatro for three years, we gave up having a full awning years ago, and we are well pleased with it. This summer to France/Spain it was up and down six times, no bother. From tipping it out of its bag to finnish pegging it usualy takes 45 minutes to an hour, depends how many stop to say hello. I forgot to say, make sure your two front uprights are on level ground, no point having one in a hole. Remember get it right first time.Hope this helps.

Good luck.

JTS.

 

[Kate3]

Kate,

Just had a look at one on the internet.It is a very basic porch awning, erected as they say useing only one pole. There is no cross pole in the roof to support the central part of the roof as more expensive porch awnings.As a result you will get water holding on the roof.If you are thinking of caravanning during the winter i would consider a more sustantial porch awning.

Hamer

It is the compactalite plus so does have a steel pole across the top as well as 3 'tent style' poles. The puddles accumulated between those 3 poles instead of draining as expected.

 

[Kate3]

Hi, Was the pitch a sloping pitch? If so I often have problems like you have described. They become worst particulary on a steep hill. However if you were on the flat, was the awning pegged down tightly to keep the roof tight? If it was, perhaps next time try using the guy ropes to tension the awning. Was the side of the porch awning close to the caravan? I normally peg the sides close to the van and then tension away from the caravan and all is OK. I hope this helps!

We thought it was tight at the time of pitching, but as the days went on it seemed to become looser at the awning rail as if the puddles were drawing the top inwards - if that makes sense! Yes we were flat but whether we had the guy ropes in the right position I don't know. Thanks for your help.

 

[Kate3]

Hello Kate,

We have a Panorama XL lightweight porch and sometimes have the same problem, but once the puddle gets too big or to a certain size, it dumps it's water down the side. So not really a huge problem. I only found this out, when I went to bed whilst it was raining and couldn't clear the water myself. Any chance the same would happen with yours ? ie, clear itself when it gets too big.

Also, without wishing to hijack your thread, JTS, how's the Starcamp Quattro ? Bought one last week, as our lightweight one is leaking after 3 years. Will be using it next week. I reckon it'll take a fair bit longer to put up than our lightweight igloo style one, what do you reckon ? Any tips, or comments, good or bad ?

Cheers,

Alex.

My husband said it would only get to a certain size before it went over the side - but being a typical wife I wasn't sure if it really would!!!!

 

[trevor123]

Hi JTS Many Thanks for the tip as we are buying one of those porch awning order the red one not due till Jan, so we order the green one instead, Thank you, Trevor

 

[PaulHull]

Our awning used to develop puddles when used on our old caravan but used on our new one there is nothing. The new caravan is about a foot taller than the old one so the increased gradient of the roof stops the (what were sometimes huge!) puddles forming.