Wind out awning

huskydog
huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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edited June 2016 in Motorhomes #1

Have not used it yet ,but when i do ,do you leave it wound out all night or ( subject to the wind strength) or wind it in every night ??.... i do have a storm strap with it

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  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #2

    We use storm straps and leave it out if the weather is ok, we'd never leave it out in high winds. We can hear it flapping a bit at night if it's breezy so if you want quiet, roll it in.Smile

  • Biggarmac
    Biggarmac Forum Participant Posts: 364
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    edited June 2016 #3

    Good luck with your windout awning Huskydog. Ii tried using mine for the first time last week at Pembrey site.  I made sure that one end was lower than the other in case of rain.  In the night I heard an alarming noise, looked out and one end had colapsed. The unright was on the ground and the arm had broken at the joint tearing the material as it did so.  My friends managed to get it to go back in and have fastened it for travel.  Not sure whither to renew or remove.  If its renew I doubt I will leave it up overnight again.

  • milliehull
    milliehull Forum Participant Posts: 4,762 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #4

    When we had a motorhome we always used our wind out awning - loved it.  We used to leave it out overnight if there was no wind.  If wind or heavy rain was forecast we wound it in.  We always used storm straps.  We never had any trouble with any of ours (3
    motorhomes over many years).

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2016 #5

    When we tried the "dark side"  we also left our wind out extended over night with a storm strap "weather permitting"and to reduce the infernal "canopy flap"we used  lengths of pipe insulation round the roof arms  which "dulled" the noise

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited June 2016 #6

    I'm  with  MillieH  &  JVB  on  this,  Huskypup.

    When  I  use  the  Wind-out,  which  I  admit  is  not  that  often,  I  use  the  storm  straps,  well  pegged  { with  a  white  bin - liner  as  a  marker } and  with  a  slope  toward  the  lowest  point  of  the  pitch.    It  can  flap  a  bit  but 
    the  plumbers  insulation  can  quieten  it.  After  the  first  hour  it's  like  road  noise  --  your  brain  starts  to  ignore  it.  Should  you  get  the  mesh  sides  and  front  which  cut  the  wind  down  by  about  95%  you  will  not  want  to  wind 
    it  in  anyway  unless  its  really  bad  weather.

      Brian

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #7

    HD, Fiammas have things called rafter poles (straight or curved) which slot into the centre of the awning and keep the material taught to reduce flapping....

    i had two for our previous van, youve missed out as i sold them on ebay.

    the new van has a similar 'tube/rafter' as part of the Thule Omnistore awning, not as sophisticated as the Fiamma but (just about) does the job....

    IF you are temped to leave the awning wound out when not around (day or night) ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS use a storm strap or similar tie downs...its just like a sailboat spinnaker.....almost lifting the van off the ground....

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,063 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #8

    We use ours all the time HD, but good advice from all above. We have only left it out once, and yes, wind picked up and I got worried, so out was nudged my OH to wind it in! Only takes a minute to wind in or out, so not a problem. Biggest issue we find is
    our two dozy Labs when tied up, upright legs are like a magnet for tangling leads around! They are normally tied up out of reach, but I am sure you know what I mean! At some point we shall invest in a wind break side, but haven't really needed one so far,
    and it is easier kept simple. Hope you are enjoying your new MH, it is a bit different isn't it?Happy

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #9

    thanks for all the replys , i think i will probably wind it in every night ,unless it is very good weather

    the previous owners left a rafter pole also the front and sides, which we probably won't use as we will not stay too long in anyone place  , "touring" and all thatHappy

    Thanks for the tip about having one end lower ,so the water doesn't lay in itSmile

                    

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #10

    Husky we wind ours in at night or going out if there is the least chance of wind or heavy rain. We do have the windblocker sides and front but we tend to use the front the most, when abroad it takes but 2 mins to attach and remove. Instead of always pegging
    it down I sewn some tape to the sides at intervals, which we tie to the legs, the bottom has elastic for pegging down we just slip this under the foot of the legs. If using the sides the pole they hang on can quickly be taken down and dropped on the ground
    to enable the canopy to taken in quickly. Hope this helps.

  • milliehull
    milliehull Forum Participant Posts: 4,762 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #11

    HD, Fiammas have things called rafter poles (straight or curved) which slot into the centre of the awning and keep the material taught to reduce flapping....

    i had two for our previous van, youve missed out as i sold them on ebay.

    the new van has a similar 'tube/rafter' as part of the Thule Omnistore awning, not as sophisticated as the Fiamma but (just about) does the job....

    IF you are temped to leave the awning wound out when not around (day or night) ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS use a storm strap or similar tie downs...its just like a sailboat spinnaker.....almost lifting the van off the ground....

    Write your comments here...Yes we always had Fiamma awnings - I had forgotten about the rafter poles.  Yes they always kept the awning rigid and stopped it flapping.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2016 #12

    One thing we find is that unless the "extra" awning poles are kept really tight and an eye kept on them they, we find,are prone to falling down as they are only as good as you can twist them tight,with the "ding" in an aluminium panelUndecided

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #13

    We have the centre Fiamma rafter pole, it does keep the canopy more ridged, that along with the 2 rafters for hanging the end walls helps too, a tip is to attach a small elasticated toggle around the end roof pole and secure it to the knuckle of the upright
    pole this stops the wind loosening it and it falling out (the centre one clips in). However when the wind gets up like it does at San Pere and Cambrills unless you have a tie down strap over the top of your canvass it will flap and slap against the arms, I
    for one could not sleep/rest with that going on, no matter how sturdy the OH says it isFrown

  • Quasar524
    Quasar524 Forum Participant Posts: 148
    edited June 2016 #14

    Not much to add to the sound advice above, other than to say that we only wind our awning fully out for sun shade purposes.  For rain protection we only wind it out part way, enough to provide a bit of shelter for taking wet coats and boots off, and towelling the dog down, before going inside.

    And we always use storm straps, proper ones with wide woven tape and big pegs, not thin guy rope and little pegs.  For hard standings you need proper long rock pegs, which are not easy to find - we found some in the shop at Damage Barton.

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #15

    Thanks all Happy

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #16

    husky, what areas are on your list to explore.....we (CTers) might be looking out for you in your new van....Happy

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #17

    In August we are in Dorset , not sure i want CTers loking out for me SurprisedEmbarassed

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #18

    In August we are in Dorset , not sure i want CTers loking out for me SurprisedEmbarassed

    .....only so we dont disturb you....Wink

  • kenexton
    kenexton Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited June 2016 #19

    Husky,may I suggest that you invest in a Fiamma S kit tie down  strap.We have such a kit and it is a real boon.The S pieces slide into the channel which runs along the underneath of the inner side of the awning fascia .There is no consequent abrasion of
    the fabric and the kit just clips back on next morning,if you need to wind in the awning overnight.Although it is a Fiamma product the kit also fits perfectly on our Omnistor.Like Brue I tend to wind in the awning if the night looks likely to be a windy one
    -because the canvas flaps and the arms can "groan" as they move slightly  to and fro  in the gusts.Ten minutes in the morning to wind out and re-tension the straps is better than a broken night's sleep.

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #20

    Thanks K, i am going to have a "play" with the awning tomorrow ,rather than make a fool of myself on siteEmbarassed, just looked on
    E-Bay for the kit ,will have to get one of thoseHappy

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #21

    We have a pull out canopy and would go with the advice 'put it away if it's windy'. We've got up in the night to do it more than once! At least it's quick to do - takes us about 6 minutes from removing pegs to zipping the case. Did it once in France just
    before a 'hurricane' which blew tents away and ripped up trees on the lakeside

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited June 2016 #22

    Six  Days  before  the  August  B/Holiday  the  Dorset  Steam  Fair  starts  near  Blandford  --  'ware  slow  moving  traffic  Huskypup 
    Wink  __  when  the  show  is  in  full  swing  it  is  reputed  to  be  the  fourth  largest  "town"  in  Dorset ==  You  have  been  warned  !!

    B

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #23

    Oh, we will be home by thenSad,went there years ago ,great show, if only i could afford one of those showmans enginesCool,toot,tootCool

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited June 2016 #24

    Huskers,  Just  seen  D S B's  piccy  of  his  new  caravan  Phew  just  look  at  the  awning  on  that Surprised !!  Room  for  a 
    Showmans  under  there  when  it's  fully  deployed  I  reckonWink !!

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited June 2016 #25

    I have seen a storm in France destroy a large portion of caravan and motorhome awnings and canopies so I always put the storm straps on if leaving the motorhome canopy extended and unattended. You can get sudden storms that no canopy will survive, straps
    of not, so be vigilant and keep an eye on the forecast. Our dealer told us never to leave the canopy out as the damage it can do to the bodywork can be extensive so be warned!

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