The things you don't think of!

greylag

Having just bought a drive away awning, I did a quick set up on my drive and all looked fine.

First pitch up on site and a small set back....when the door is opened, it rubs against the connecting 'tunnel' roof.  My Autotrail has quite a high door and I think any constant rubbing will quickly ruin the material.

The only thing I can think of is to fix a small square(24"x 24") of material hanging down from the connecting strip, so that when the door is opened, this will take the strain away from the awning roof.  The door would lift the square up and out of the way.

Of course the easiest thing to do is not connect awning to van, which is what we did for the last 2 weeks, but connected is better in bad weather.

Taking it back is not really on as the skirt around the bottom is mud stained and there is nothing wrong with the awning.

Well that's got that off my chest...wife said 'ask on the club site...someone might have a suggestion that you haven't thought of'.

Takethedogalong

Could you perhaps neatly put some of that heavy duty silver gaffer tape on the inside of the awning, just where the door rubs? This wouldn’t pierce the material at all, which would maybe cause drips. Easily replaced once it starts to wear and look a bit untidy, but robust enough to cope with a lot of rubbing?

mickysf

I found a couple of strategically placed water pipe foam insulation tubes did the trick. These held the fabric clear of the door and aided rainwater run off.

greylag

Mmm!

Thanks for the replies..........gonna have to sit down and think about it.

 

ABM

Perhaps a couple of lightweight poles, one per side, with a semicircular interconnecting hoop thingy might turn the trick, Greylag ??

Of course you could even hang / drape your flowers there for their scent

Navigateur

You are not alone. 

I noticed a motor caravan that was parked directly opposite us had a traditional caravan step outside, but off to one side of the habitation door.  Thought nothing of it until I saw one of the occupants open the door to come out and struggle to get their foot across to drag the step in front of the door.  You've probably guess by now that the step was higher than the bottom edge of the door! 

cyberyacht

The clearance between my canopy and the top of the door is minimal, necessitating extending the legs to raise the canopy to a near horizontal angle to clear the canopy arms when opening the door. If only manufacturers thought about these issues at the outset.

trellis

CY , now you are being silly..fancy putting the words manufacturers and thought in the same sentence .😀.

greylag

I am not alone..........................?

I will spend tomorrow experimenting....many thanks for the replies.

lindseymc

Hi

just wondered if you ever managed a solution to this question. We are facing the same problem with our Burstner Brevio. We haven’t purchased an awning yet but could do with the extra room for wet coats shoes etc (obviously our van is used in Scotland mainly 😂🌧). We may have to go with an awning fixed on completely missing hab door. We contacted Attwells and asked for their advice but they suggested not using the drive away strip but the straps that throw over the van making the tunnel section slightly higher. Never noticed this would be a problem until after the “very excited” purchase of Bertie 🤪. Thanks 

ABM

I used MickySF 's system --  small bore foam pipe insulation  --  nary a problem !