Low Awning Rail
Hi All
It's the newbies again! and this time what a hum dinger of a problem! OK so we fell in love with our 15 year old caravan which is an Avondale Avocet and believe me when I say it's like new! pristine condition inside & out However now comes the problem!
We would like to get a secondhand awning and there is loads about the trouble is our awning rail is only 216cm high from the ground and has an A to B ground measurement of 852cm, So whats the problem I hear you say! Well the more manufacturers I speak to the more worried I become as each in turn is saying that because your awning rail is so low water ("When it rains in UK"..lol) will just run back towards the van and because of the way awnings have been made since 2006/7 there would be to much material in the roof space which would then cause gullies etc for water to pool in? I suggested then putting extra poles into the roof space to take up the slack but was told this would "Grid" water pools then!
Spoke to Isabella and Colin there told me that an 850 full awning would do the trick but when I spoke to Camping and General they say even a full awning will still run backwards as you still have to lift the front of the awning up on your poles/frame which would still cause water to run back!although my thinking is if its running back or forward is there a problem if it still runs of the roof space providing that the awning can be taught enough?
Isabella did say however for some £450 they could re-cut the roof space and remove extra materiel so its fits snug over roof and down door sides which would solve the problem as they still have Avondale templates they can use!
Surely others out there have had this same problem with older vans and height differences and I would love to know how we can get over it?Camping & General did mention cured rear bars or something which take up the slack in the roof space so it then doesn't allow water to pool?but this idea seems like a lot of hard work and given my heart problems I've no chance of doing that on sites.
I have even spoke to Kampa regarding "Air Awnings" there's one she told me that motor homes use which is like a self contained tent but which has like a tunnel which connects to the van Not sure about look but its an awning?
Would love any advice or even any advice on which way to go at present we have a 360 Isabella Sun canopy which is brilliant so we are thinking of adding a windbreak to it so at least we get a little privacy next to the van
look forward to loads of help and thank you to anyone that has managed to read all of this and still give us an answer!
All the best guys
Ansley & Jane
Comments
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I've never heard of this problem before. We owned an Avondale in 2002 and have never seen any Avondales having problems with awnings and many of your type having them.
I'm still a ittle confused. Are you saying that as you say your awning rail is low the front of the awning will be higher than the parts of the awning attached to the caravan? If the awnings fits at the back height wise it should fit at the front by adjusting the poles at the front? Am I missing something?
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Hi Cornersteady
I can only repeat what others are telling me however it still seems odd! they are saying that even if I buy an Isabella 850 you would still have excess roof materiel where on a normal van this would reach to the top of each corner and be used up on our Avondale Avocet because the awning rail is only 216cm from the ground instead of 230/50cm height there will be excess roof lining material?
My theory is surly if it fits in the awning channel and can be pegged out taught as you say we can adjust roof poles at front to match awning height anyway! and perhaps water would pool but if it runs back towards van then surely that would just run of the sides like any other awning?
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The trouble with adjusting the front poles as much as you'd need to is that you'll end up with excess fabric at the front.
I had a Google and others have had the problem. Some have mentioned NR awnings being ok but they are no longer in business.
I'd have a look on eBay to see if anyone is selling a van like yours with an awning and try to work out what awning it is
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There is an ad currently on gumtree showing a dorema awning and includes photo of it attached to the avocet
Link here
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Ok, yes I wasn't doubting your words at all. Hopefully you'll find a s solution. Would a porch awning still have the same problems?
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Hi
Thanks for that link have tried to talk on phone with him but still awaiting call back? also spoke to another Avondale owner with awning turns out he had a Trio Isabella's competitor awning fitted when he brought the van back in 2003 seems the awnings all changed around 2006/7 and more material had to be placed in roof to accommodate higher awning rails 230/250 on newer vans?
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Yes porch awning require a minimum of 230cm height and up to 250cm? so problem still there for us as we only have an awning rail height of 216cm?
This is depressing seems like unless I can find an awning from way back then! nothing else in today's market is going to fit unless I can find a seamstress that will alter then I'm wasting my time even looking!
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such a shame as you oblivious have (and love) your fantastic van
You could try a roll out canopy with full sidewalls as you sort of suggested?
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Looked at drive away not really what we want?
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I would look for a good second hand older awning - there are some really good ones around. We bought a Bradcot from a caravanning forum website, for just £50 and it looks brand-new. Unfortunately it woould be too high for your caravan, but during our search we were offered an almost new Trio from 2005 - which they said had only been used twice, but it was too low for our van!
Failing that you could buy the correct size and get a company like Triopair or similar to alter it for you.
Have a look in your local supermarket for people selling older smaller vans, complete with all the kit. Our first caravan came with a perfectly good NR awning.......... which would have been just what you wanted.
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Thanks ValDa am looking everyday
in the hope something pop's up0 -
Trouble with the ramp idea different sites different levels? too much faffing
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Raising the wheels with drive-on blocks does seem a simple solution, but that would make the bottom rail too high for the skirt to reach the ground.
You will need a "run" from the awning rail to the front of the awning to get run off for rain, so have you considered whether you would be able to use an awning with a front height of under 2 meters? Even ones with an apparent good "run" can collect water and snow. While leakage is a possible problem the poles can buckle under the weight.
A modern awning could be modified to make the sides and front all a bit shorter but the cost would be considerable and make the resale value of the awning nil on the general market. If you do want to go that way there are adverts in the club magazine (and others probably) for companies that specialise in doing this.
The Club rules did formerly allow free standing tents as toilet and catering accomodation, so you could consider pitching one right against the side of your 'van to get an awning effect. Just need to arrange the tent door to line up with the 'van door.
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If you need an awning altering, try Trio Pair http://triopair.com. Bradcott gave me their details and they did an amazing alteration for me when I bought a larger van. I think there is a standard charge of £180
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Hi All
Still getting so many different views.Have even run and spoke to some other Avondale owners who of course had their awnings supplied with van! so that didn't help as Trio aren't made anymore! So either we take a chance and but a 850 in the hope it fits ground to ground and have done with it? or get one altered at a cost? or just use our sun canopy and a windbreak its a little antisocial but hey ho!
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Hope its works out, maybe buy a good cheap second hand one and if its doesn't work then you haven't lost much and could always resell it?
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Trigano do a 'low height' awning, with a rear frame which solves the problem of pooling against the van - details here:
https://www.caravanstuff4u.co.uk/full-awnings/3362-trigano-honfleur-low-height-awning-380-size-2.html I imagine they have other sizes too.
I also saw an Avondale of a similar age to yours offered on ebay, with two awnings. You could contact the seller and ask about the awnings as a separate purchase. There is another today, for £400 complete with full-size awning. I think ebay might be your best best for finding exactly the size and height you need if you're prepared to look at second-hand.
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If you do get one second hand (eBay and others?) and it does not fit or you get a better one, you can always sell it on.
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Hi All
Secondhand great idea but still have to get a 850 size which is proving near on impossible but will keep checking Gumtree and Preloved
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Well, there are 18 used 850 ones on eBay but some of the prices are rather high. As is carrage, but you could find out where the sellers are located and collect.
There are of course other caravan forums you might try.
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