Attaching an awning

The Moules
The Moules Forum Participant Posts: 7
edited July 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1

Can anyone advise if there is a 'knack' to attaching awnings to caravans?

We have a Kampa Air Pro 400 and i'm worried when pulling it through the rail that I could tear it with the amount of force it requires to pull it through.  Also the twisting and turning to pull it along, whilst trying to balance on a set of steps, isnt doing
my back any good.

I've read somewhere that you should spray inside the holding rail with a silicon furniture polish every so often as this will help it along.  Can anyone vouch for this or offer an alternative recommendation?

Comments

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
    100 Comments
    edited July 2016 #2

    I would suggest buying an awning brush, running that through and then spraying some Pledge or something similar. Then run the brush through again. I also start at the rear of the 'van, this works well for me. Don't worry about the material getting damaged,
    it will take quite a bit of pulling. But, what I would say is, try and pull it through fairly close to the awning rail.

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #3

    When we had a caravan I just sprayed a cheap polish straight in to the rail and then pull the awning through, I would pull the awning while my wife would feed it in to the rail ....

  • brightstar2
    brightstar2 Forum Participant Posts: 128
    100 Comments
    edited July 2016 #4

    This subject has cropped up before on another thread .

    I have a Kampa Air and I resolved problem by not only "lubricating " awning rail but also tie on a piece of guy cord to one end of the awning through eyelet - then my other half feeds awning in and I pull on cord making the whole function so much easier.

  • neveramsure
    neveramsure Forum Participant Posts: 712
    500 Comments
    edited July 2016 #5

    When we had a caravan I just sprayed a cheap polish straight in to the rail and then pull the awning through, I would pull the awning while my wife would feed it in to the rail ....

    +1, the feeding part is quite important, otherwise it can jam in the rail groove making the job a lot harder.

  • MJ730
    MJ730 Forum Participant Posts: 184
    edited July 2016 #6

    I use a silicone spray on a piece of cloth and pull it through the rail works a treat and the awning just glides through.

  • The Moules
    The Moules Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited July 2016 #7

    Thank you all for your responses

  • ChemicalJasper
    ChemicalJasper Forum Participant Posts: 437
    edited July 2016 #8

    I have the Kampa Air Ace 400 and use this:

    http://www.screwfix.com/p/floplast-silicone-spray-40ml/3290F?kpid=3290F&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&gclid=CLi3lKWygM4CFUwq0wodCAgBlA

    I spray down the first 2 or 3 foot of the channel and can almost push the awning in all the way.

     

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #9

    Yes to cleaning rail.  But, don't most of start from the front thus having less of an angle through which to pull the awning!  We also lay the awing out on the groundsheet before feeding it into the rail to try to stop it twisting.

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #10

    I basically "push" the bead into the rail as opposed to being a dragger of the awning round the rail. In my case that squareness of entry to avoid a sort of "jamming cleat" effect is vital; allow that to happen and the awning bead is going nowhere.

    The bulk of the awning is initially resting on me and my head so the weight of the awning is not adding to the frictional drag. Every so often stopping and moving the drooping awning further along the van.

    Sounds and possibly looks comical but it works well for me; I usually want and do it all single handedly.

  • AutoAddict
    AutoAddict Forum Participant Posts: 114
    edited July 2016 #11

    I basically "push" the bead into the rail as opposed to being a dragger of the awning round the rail. In my case that squareness of entry to avoid a sort of "jamming cleat" effect is vital; allow that to happen and the awning bead is going nowhere.

    The bulk of the awning is initially resting on me and my head so the weight of the awning is not adding to the frictional drag. Every so often stopping and moving the drooping awning further along the van.

    Sounds and possibly looks comical but it works well for me; I usually want and do it all single handedly.

    I think there is a video of you on YouTube......

  • golfneil
    golfneil Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited July 2016 #12

    Wife pushes while I pull. Seems to work for us. Ohhhh and some polish to lube the rail ohhhh matron. 

     

  • gygafo
    gygafo Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited July 2016 #13

    Silicone lubricant spray is cheap and makes the job so much easier. You don't need much in the track, just two or three squirts. Buy it from a plumbers or builders DIY shop though and not from a caravan accessories store and save a few quid.

  • golfneil
    golfneil Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited July 2016 #14

    We also have a awning tape in the awning rail when vans not in use. This helps with black streaks and also keeps the awning channel clear or debris. 

  • Mr H
    Mr H Forum Participant Posts: 356
    100 Comments
    edited July 2016 #15

    We have the air awning and have found using an aluminium collapsible decorator's stand, rather than the standard caravan step is much easier. Being slightly higher makes it much easier to pull when the awning rail is nearer. We also use the stand as a low
    table when needed e.g. when barbequeing.

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