Erecting a New Isabella Magnum how not to do this

supplyman69
supplyman69 Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited April 2013 in Your stories #1

We arrived at Yellowcraig campsite  on Easter Sunday, with our  two young grandaughters  from Dublin. After setting up the van with electric water toilet etc. I thought I will follow the advice of the Isabella expert on You Tube who demonstrates  how  erect an New Isabella Magnum in approx 17 mins.

Well, I I hate to admit , but after more than thirty years of caravaning and x hours later I was still struggling, I did manage to get the awning erected but it looked nothing like a taught Isabella,  like the one a few pitches away.

In  my defence the awning was very cold and so was I. It was so bad that I even forgot what to do with the four extra plastic pieces!!!! I eventually discovered that I had to insert them into the padded tubes next to the van wall and then attach them to the upright poles. I am sure you will all be having a laugh by now but the moral of the story is don't get smart just because you have been doing this for years, read the instruction manual and save youself a lot of trouble.

How long did I take to erect this porch awning well I must confess hours is the answer but to save embarrassment I won't say how many.

 

Anyway, that  incident apart, the girls had a great time at the Seabird Centre and the Museum of Flight as well as fun in the play parks on site and just outside as well as hunting for shells on the cold, windswept beach.. Looking forward to next Easter ? only if I can tame Isabella

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  • KENNYG
    KENNYG Forum Participant Posts: 215
    100 Comments
    edited April 2013 #2

    Do not worry i do it all of the time.

  • NIMROD
    NIMROD Forum Participant Posts: 103
    edited April 2013 #3

    My daughter has just bought one of these & about to use it for first time this week end. I have seen the video looks straight forward but it was a level pitch a sunny dry & fairly windless day.  Looking forward to hearing how they get  on having read your
    post!

  • nick2611
    nick2611 Forum Participant Posts: 71
    edited April 2013 #4

    We have a Ventura (Isabella by any other measure) full awning and put it up for the first time during our Easter break... suffice to say it also looked nothing like it should have, but I just nailed (I mean pegged) it to the floor and walked away... Such
    was the experience that I am currently looking at one of inflatable variety of porch awnings for the future... So much easier... Awning rail, pump and peg and your done...

  • NIMROD
    NIMROD Forum Participant Posts: 103
    edited April 2013 #5

    Just heard Magnum took 2 hours to put up ( 1st time) with input from 2 adults, a 5 year old & a nice wee Scottie dog! result is its awning ok but the pegging out looks messy. Apparently the fault of the ground levels!

  • Maggie
    Maggie Forum Participant Posts: 37
    First Comment
    edited April 2013 #6

    We bought an Isabella Magnum last year. We watched the video  before attempting to put it up. On the first occasion it took a little longer than expected but we got better with practice. By the end of the year we had cracked it. Now for 2013 first outing
    with the Magnum will be in a couple of weeks. I expect we will be back to square one! So if you see us struggling don't laugh too loud!! Foot in Mouth

  • supplyman69
    supplyman69 Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited May 2013 #7

    Thanks folks for reading my post. It warms the heart to know there are people out there who empithise with other caravanners.

    In spite of my feeling bad, It was better than last year at Yellowcraig when our awning went over the van in a 48mph wind and caused nearly £2000 worth of damage.

    C'est La Vie I just love caravanning

     

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