Method to clear LED channel for Caravanstore
l have found away to stop the caravanstore from resting on the Led Channel above the door.l bought a pack of Kampa awning pads stuck two pads together using double sided tape, the type that holds number plates to your caravan, l then used Velcro the sticky type, stuck one on the pads and the other on the caravan side of the caravanstore two at each end and one in the middle. it now clears the awning channel. before erecting the canopy remove the pads off the velcro so the the pads on the canopy sit flush on the caravan side. When traveling replace the pads. l will be traveling to troutbeck in 3 weeks time will see if they work can't see why not. This way the caravanstore is supported in 3 places not just on the channel. Hope this is help to some of you that have the problem
Comments
-
No need for all that faff.....just transport your caravanstore on the wrong side. Loads of people do. Your caravanstore will exhibit far less load on the awning channel than the 3 pressure points you have now introduced on the very easily dented caravan wall.
Tj
0 -
What are you talking about, l explained that the pads are foam my VIP sides are solid sides, the caravan store should sit on the pads already attached to the bag, without the pads it sits on the LED channel . l have placed the pads just in front of the pads on the bag and attached them to the bag with velcro cost under 10 quid. Now it doesn't ride on the Channel but on the foam pads, how on earth you come up with it putting more pressure on the awning rail is beyond me, without you first examining what l have done. But if you want to have the caravan store on the opposite site then ok your prerogative, l myself want it on the side where the door is where it was designed to go
1 -
I have used Caravanstores for more than 10 years. Your explanation of how yours fouls your awning light fitting was poorly described. My only point to be made is simply the Caravan stores weight is designed to be carried along its length not in 3 concentrated pressure points as you have know done. Foam pads will simply not keep it clear of the awning light on the move. At no point did I say there would be more load on the awning channel. If you had checked before you fitted your caravanstore you would have seen it was going to foul your awning light. Now when you are moving air could easily get underneath the bag and produce lift. A very common problem in windy conditions especially cross winds.
People carry them on the wrong side for a reason. Your solution sounds like a bodge job.
Tj
0 -
I think I would like to see a picture of this before I meet it bouncing down the motorway.
1 -
Me too Nav..........a 3.1 metre Caravanstore weighs over 10kgs ...to have that sort of mass bouncing around on 3 elevated sponge pads is not to be recommended. The reasons Caravanstores generally stay immobile on the move is that they lay pretty well flat against the vans side walls. Lifting the bag away from the sides allows a significant airflow underneath the bag. They can easily blow the whole bag up and on to the roof of the van at anytime. On its way back down it would have no problem in damaging a flimsy modern led drip strip light. Obviously just my opinion .
0 -
At the moment on this forum their are countless units with their caravan store resting on the LED lighting channel above the door, according to those who have posted they have been travelling considerable miles with no ill effect. All l have done is to add foam pads at the 3 points of contact that are already on the back of the bag, which just leaves it clear of the channel. By just resting it on the channel their is more of a chance that wind would get behind it. No one on this forum or caravan chat have said they have found this to be the case. l have travelled up to now with it on the van with pads fitted some fifty mile at an average speed of 50 MPH, on the motorway l set the cruise control at 58 MPH. If l knew how to post photos on to here l would let you look to give you your opinions of what l have done. If anyone could help me with this l would be grateful, as the last post on here has give me great concern about towing on the motorway, even though l can find no evidence that the caravan store is more unstable on the pads than resting it on the LED lighting channel.
0 -
At the moment here in Cheshire the wind speed is 30 MPH gusting to 45MPH, l have just been out the caravan on our drive that's in an exposed position to check on the caravanstore as that two persons on this forum reckon l have compromised the fixings l have done. l have stood their for a good half an hour and caravanstore has not moved a centimeter. The wind is forecast to pick up to 45 to 50 MPH through the cheshire gap, l will keep a check most of the day to satisfy myself that what l have done is not causing a problem the way l have secured the pads. If l see any movement what so ever l will remove them and do what the rest of them do and let it ride on the LED channel. If in time that causes a problem to the Channel then l will have to transport it on the off side and when on site put in on the near side which in my view defeats the object of having one. In these sort of conditions l would not be towing the van anyway.
0 -
Now't wrong with what you have done 'Heethers', yes you will have a gap between the bag and the body but it matters not one iota.
I am one that has a 3.6m, travelled here, there and everywhere with it resting on the LED light. It probably creates a bigger gap at the front than your spacers but given me no problems. Mile after mile on the motorways in Europe, rain wind and thunder but its still there.
After nearly 4 years resting on my LED light of this van I'll not bother now, but If it works for you then its all good
I certainly don't put someone down for an attempt to get around a problem and wanting to share it 
0 -
Heethers I hear what you are saying about how your bag is affected or not by the wind albeit in a simple static test. Add movement of the van at 50+mph and significant cross winds and the effect will be different. My only concern about your solution to protect your led awning light strip may ultimately damage it when it's entirely preventable by carrying it on the wrong side. As DaveFL2 points out he has had no problems when moving so don't lose any sleep over it. But be assured when exposed to strong winds a caravanstore can easily blow up and on to your roof you will know when it happens. Admittedly we were at Dunnet Head when our 4.1 went over the top in its bag with a hell of a bang. On its way back down the awning pole support sockets pads inside the bag dented the van walls. I was only trying to prevent unnecessary damage. Ultimately it's your call.
Tj
0 -
Thanks tim Jim l feel better now that l know someone has travelled considerable miles with it on the awning channel. l would never travel pulling the van in winds we had yesterday, as l have already said. l always carry gaffer tape with me and would use it if we had really strong winds on site to secure to the van sides but l am a little worried that it might remove the paint when removing it as l believe the paint is rather thin on caravans, probably best to remove the caravanstore and place in the car until any high winds have abeited. Luckily we have the Santa Fe and the caravan store just fits inside.
Thank you all for your input, as you said l should have checked before l bought that it fitted van correctly never thought it would fowl the led channel
0 -
Said l would report back on the caravanstore when l had been to Troutbeck. We set off last Sunday in the latter stages of Bryon storm with 24 mile an hour Wind gusts the caravanstore was stable on Route to the first stop at motorway pulled off just after the Blackpool turn off. Checked the caravanstore no sign of damage, continued the journey as we ascended Shap and reached the top l could feel the wind buffeting the van on the near side, asked the wife to wind the window down and check if their were any signs of the caravan store lifting (she was not amused) she did what l asked and she could see the caravanstore quiet plainly and reported no movement what so ever to satisfy my self l automatically maneuvered the mirrors at angle so that l could see the caravanstore down the side of the van for a few minutes, no sign of movement, the wind l estimated was blowing in gusts of 30 mpg and above. Returned the mirror to its setting automatically carried on our way to Troutbeck once their checked the side of the van for damage none what so ever. My conclusion is by lifting the caravanstore off the channel and onto the pads has caused no problems transporting it this way, l feel relieved that the caravanstore will not be bouncing down the motorway as someone suggested than if it was transported on the opposite side. l am trying to down load pictures of the pads on the post but having difficulty doing it it, will get the wife to investigate for those interested l bought a pack of Kampa pads fixed them together using Velcro placed them in three positions behind each of the pads that are moulded to the bag , this allows you to remove them when erecting the caravanstore.
0 -
We have the shorter version of the Caravanstore. Although we deploy it over the door and LED light, I slide it just clear for transport.
Ours stays on the van from April to November, when we remove it and store it at home. If I had to keep taking it off and transporting it on the offside, I don't think I would bother with it. For me the appeal is its convenience.
As to banging about in high winds. This is our second Caravanstore. The first one did not have any pads, and the curve of it rested directly on the van. This was always banging about every time there was a gale, although caused no damage. The current model has pads that hold it slightly clear of the van sides. In the 3 years we have used it and several gales, not a bang has been heard.
0 -
Dave l think you need to to allow the poles to sit on the pads that are moulded to the bag so yes l will remove them, only takes a few seconds to pull off the velcro, Steve l can't do what you do has l have a Coachman Vip 460 2 berth, l would have to have gone for the 1.9 metre, the wife didn't like that one she wanted it almost to the end of the caravan. l am now happy that it sits just clear of the Led channel and travels well and just for a few pounds
0
