Elldis Awning Rail Size

gatewaya89
gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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Hi All

This is really getting silly now! spoke to Elldis direct who at the time had no stock of my van which is by the way a Elldis 554 Avante 2018 model! I asked them as I'm no where near my van and wont be until January 2018 when its produced! what is the awning straight measurement only (not including corners) believe it or not they came back today and said after looking at the drawings only as they don't have a van to measure they said its 3 meters long!

Surely this can't be right! but they said it is!

So does anyone out there own a 554 Avante and do they know what the measurement is exactly?

Thanks to anyone who comments need size for air awning fit?

Comments

  • Eileen Patricia
    Eileen Patricia Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited November 2017 #2

    Hi Ainsley and Jane guess who!cool

    The Awning size for an Elddis 554 Avante is according to the brochure  10.25m with a tolerance of 10cm plus or minus.

    Hope this helps.

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #3

    Ah Eileen

    Right again..But..............I need the size of the straight bit not the whole awning from ground to ground..:)

    But thank you

  • Milothedog
    Milothedog Forum Participant Posts: 1,433
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    edited November 2017 #4

    Didn't you say you had already bought a 4m awning in your previous post  ?

    Are you having second thoughts about it fitting ?

    I have just had a look at some pictures of your model and like mine you will have to have the front part of the awning in the narrow strip between the door and front window. Then hope you have at least 4m of rail before it curves down at the rear panel joint.. One problem you may also encounter is if your awning has return on it to cover the end of the lower skirt it may cut across the bottom corner of the door. Mine just misses by mm'sfrown

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #5

    Hi

    As far as I am aware the awning is 400 but have been told by Vango today don't worry about the wings at the ends as these can fit all the way around the bend as they are elasticated! only the awning straight part needs to be in top track (if that makes any sense?)

    And yes am a little concerned until we fit it for the first time! sure it will be OK though! Also spoke to Elldis what a waste of time they told me my van straight bit is only 3 meters long! can't see how that one works as the internal length reads out at 6 meters something?

  • Milothedog
    Milothedog Forum Participant Posts: 1,433
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    edited November 2017 #6

    I'm not sure you understood what I tried to explain, so just in case.

    The bit I said about cutting across the door is the triangular bits some awnings have on the inside. Once you fit the lower skirt to the bottom of the caravan you peg them over the ends of it to form a seal . But on mine it only just misses the habitation door. 

    Back to your  question, my caravan is an Avante 540 and my 2.6m Bradcot falls about 2/3rds across the rear window, I cant be sure but I think I may just about get away with a 4m awning but it would be tight.

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #7

    Hi Milothedog

    No understand fully what your saying but sometimes we don't bother puttin the bottom skirt on just depends how we feel, So if your van can about take a 400mm awning then mine should fit comfortably?

    Here's hoping otherwise back to the drawing board!

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited November 2017 #8

    can you not find a van the same but 2017 model as there will be no difference between the two. any difference will be cosmetic only as to change the bodywork from year to year will be to costly and never make a profit. or wait till you actually have the van in your hands then measure for whatever you want then buy it. i do not wish to be mean but you seem more concerned about accessories, awnings/tow covers/winter full covers/nose weight scales etc etc than the caravan itself. get the van then go away in it and see exactly what you need and what size. most of the stuff you will buy will be in storage as you will come to realise you didn't need it in the first place. unfortunately i am speaking from experience. sorry.

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #9

    Hi Lornalou1

    Totally understand your point of view however we have taken a lot of time to source our new van so we have no problems with that and we are sure it will be great every time we take it out as its the one van we really wanted anyway and there was no second choice with us.

    That being said as we sold the 15 year old Avondale as you know the awning rail is only 213cm high on them old vans so an awning is the ideal way of expand size and room outside van and not being able to buy one for the Avondale before meant we have saved our pennies and now wanted to buy a brand new Air Awning so keeping with the times as they say lol,

    Again loads of research and forum talk has lead us to "Vango" as our preferred supplier and we have been very very lucky to pick one up nearly brand new so a bargain there then however the problem is the length its 400cm! which we are pretty sure will fit our van as the dealer wanted us to buy a 390cm but being careful and as you say "more concerned" we both know exactly in this household what we need to bring to our van and if that cost a few more pennies then so be it, we have just spent thousands of pounds in cash on our van so my question to you would be why wouldn't we want every extra to go with it including the Solar Panel, Paintseal treatment from new, Front Towing Cover & and lets not forget the duvelay for the island bed as well, And on top of all of this we may even for xmas I'm told buy a brand new Volvo XC90 if Santa thinks we have been good this year!

    Anyway whats for sure you can't take any of this with you so whats the point of it sitting in a bank or building society we have worked hard all our lives like you I'm sure and now its time to splash the cash and enjoy life in our brand new van and car and awning and island bed!

    But we don't think you are mean at all! just well meaning! but in our case we thank you for your advice but as I said you can't take it with you so why not enjoy it as much as you can with as much as you can? why should the family get it all..lol..lol

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited November 2017 #10

    quite agree with everything you said, I'm just thinking you are spending on things that you may not use/require ie- duvalay mattress. I have an island bed in my 2016 lunar delta and I am being honest here that I get a better sleep on that than the bed at home. the one in your new caravan may be perfect for you without the added extra and the money saved would pay towards the new Volvo or a week on a site somewhere. mind you I'm from up north and a bit of a miser as we never have the wages like the southerners. good luck with your new van and I hope you asked for a weight plate upgrade before delivery to carry everything. laughing

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #11

    Hi Lornalou1

    In answer to your last question Yes we have asked for the free upgraded plate from 1473 to 1500kg although there's very little chance of even getting near the first weight as heavy items like the Cadac and Awning will all be in the boot of the Volvo and that has a great weight carrying of 2260 kgs so all is good there.

    As for the Duvalay mattress its the topper we meant and as at home we sleep on one we feel when we had one in the Avondale that gave us a greats nights sleep,so sleeping on an island bed mattress with a topper must be the ultimate comfort and we are all for comfort down here in the south..lol

    We do thank you for your comments and I'm sure you are not really a miser! as I have often worked up in north on many occasions and only ever found the people to be more than generous with their time and efforts to make you feel at home.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited November 2017 #12

    cheers gatewaya89. if your up north you can pop in for a brew and biscuit. about the weight limit-you will be surprised how easy it is to go over the lower figure. leisure battery 23/25kg your solar panel 5kg. gas bottles 10kg each awning 20/25kg. bedding/food/cloths/utensils all weigh something. 2 tins baked beans 1kg. I'm going to the extreme now when I say this but when you pick up van unless they can give you an accurate weight your van is with all bits added to it ie solar panel, take it to a weigh bridge on way home and get a actual weight and then weigh everything you put in van before your first holiday and I mean everything and you will be surprised when added together just how close you are to the limits. and please don't forget you can actually overload a car as well. even toilet rolls weight something.   

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited November 2017 #13

    forgot to add. are you having a motor mover fitted as these weight about 30kg

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #14

    Hi Lornalou1

    Yep SE Motor Mover fitted as well even we forgot that one! Now its funny you should mention weights because I'm guessing now but like us you probably had your license pre-97 and therefore can tow up 8,250kg MAM? rather than be limited to 3500 kg?

    I tried to get to grips with all this weight stuff but using the CC matching service and others they all say Volvo & trailer no problem for Kerb weight etc etc!

    Now the question I would ask if I can tow up to a combined weight of 8250Kg's(MAM ie fully loaded both vehicles) need I worry about weight? because if and when you are stopped first thing they want to see is license and that will them show them in my case however all the cat's I can drive and I am only missing PSV or HGV apart from that got just about every other one filled in including C1, C1E, BE, D1,B,B1,D1E,A! so therefore max weight and what I should be able to tow should not be a problem with this van and car combination?

    Now our understanding if you passed your test after this date and you have not applied to upgrade your license then you are on a max MAM of 3500 kg, So just to make sure I contacted DVLA & Local police service to check all this out and Yep they confirmed on my license I am able to drive and tow up to 8250 Kgs combined weights, now my sums aren't that bad (That's me talking as an ex accountant by the way..lol) but the Caravan is plated at 1500kgs & the car plated at 4260Kgs now the 2 together weigh 5760 kg's and if my license allows a combined weights of 8250 Kg's I have Kg's to spare in my case 2490 kg's? And don't forget that the car plate allows for passengers as well and as there is only the 2 of us then we are already down even more..lol

    So that's what they say what do reckon? I think we have this nailed with room to spare! And as for invite we may just take you up on that providing you get the eccles cakes in..lol

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited November 2017 #15

    You say the car is plated at 4260. I would imagine that includes the towable weight as well. ie. 2260 for the car and 2000  towed trailer, so your calculations may well be out.

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #16

    Hi Cyberyacht

    Understand what you say is part correct and have checked with Volvo Dealership who supplied car and Yes you are right total weight for towing including the Caravan has to be no more or under 4260 Kg's but even saying that speaking to both DVLA & local traffic police officer they both confirm my license covers me to a maximum of 8250 Kgs which would be trailer and car together so as far as I can work out even if I take the 4260 and minus 1500Kg Caravan laden weight or 1430 unladen weight that takes it down to 2760 Kgs now given the plate says a total train of 4260 or a single car being 2260 then also bearing in mind the Volvo manual owners book these are "Max" loads which include 5 passengers plus luggage etc then as there is only 2 of us we would still be well under the 2260 Gross vehicle weight?Also book states tow bar Max load is 90Kg's? So my question to you is? were am I out in the calculations because if I'm wrong then the Police & the DVLA and Volvo are all wrong as well are they not? and don't forget my license allows me and I quote the DVLA here! A maximum of 8250 Kg's when coupled to a caravan now that's what they worked out from the vehicle V5 and the wights given to them both laden ed and unladen! So forgive us if we are stupid where are we going wrong?P.s Volvo book states Max weight braked trailer is 2000 for my vehicle?

    Any thoughts on the above and the quotes from those in the know because even if I take 2260 kgs towing weight + 1500 kgs van we still only get to a combined weight of 3760 Kgs and that would be fully loaded on both which it will not be as there is only 2 of us in the car not 5 persons + luggage? and we can tow a combined weight of 8250 Kgs so can't see the problem? are we missing something here?

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited November 2017 #17

    i would not worry to much about combined weight. you can be prosecuted if the plated weight of the caravan is exceeded. this is why i suggested that you weigh the van straight from the dealer and you have not added anything. this can be noted down to be kept with van for future reference. once you have the weight (empty) then take that weight and subtract it from the plated weight and you then have your payload weight, the weight that you can add to the van. weighing everything you put in and once/if you get it over that total payload weight you will have to remove something to make it a legal weight. hope thats clear. x

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited November 2017 #18

    put all the deatils in here. http://towcar.info// i find this more accurate than any of the clubs matching services.

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #19

    Hi lornalou1

    Yep understood but have already been told UN-ladened weight for van will be 1342kg and the laden ed weight will be 1432 Kg but dealership are up-rating plate to 1500kg because caravan chassis can take that and as its FREE to upgrade which we have gone for! So thinking in your terms that means 1500 - 1342 will then become payload which if the old math's are right will be 158 Kg's But here's another funny the weight of van includes 2 x 6 Kg gas bottles which we are only having 1 in front locker not 2! So that means another 10 Kg saved so payload could even get up to 168ish give or take a kilo, now even if we carry the Cadac & awning in car then there is very little weight going in van (If that makes any sense)But do intend to pack up van and then drive down to get it weighed that way we will know for sure what weight we have so thank you for explanation will update everyone when weighed..lol

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #20

    Hi Lornalou1

    Checked that site out already rated it as "The Volvo S80 II - 2.5T aut. and the Elddis Avante 554 with a laden weight of 1413 kg is a perfect match.and thats without the Avante being up rated to 1500?

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited November 2017 #21

    this is what my handbook says for my lunar delta twin axle

    MIRO-this is the weight as it leaves the factory(inclusive of the electric hook up cable at 6kg and the winding handle at 1kg plus the following

    8kg gas bottle allowance

    9kg of water in the water heater

    2kg of water in the flush holding tank as this is the max that thetford allow

    the weight of the spare wheel at 17.5kg

    as it says this is leaving the factory so everything else the dealer throws at it solar panel/motor movers etc etc comes of your payload. you are doing the right thing weighing the van from dealer and i am guessing you will be supprised as to what you have left to play with.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited November 2017 #22

    just put your details in and it comes up with

    The Volvo S80 II - 2.5T aut. and the Elddis Affinity 554 with a laden weight of 1524 kg is a moderate match, only for experienced (caravan) drivers.

    this is with the weight plate upgrade but 24kg over as can only be adjusted in 50kg weights.

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #23

    Hi Lornalou1

    The problem is my Volvo S80 is what they refer to as a 3 crowns model/executive and because of that has been up-plated to 2260 kgs and a combined towing weight of 4250 kgs, the rear struts have also been upgraded by Volvo for towing and the nose weight is 90Kgs so its not a standard Volvo Sorry :( but when I put that in it still comes up with a prefect match so happy days :)

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited November 2017 #24

    you probably already know this and not trying to teach you how to suck eggs as the saying goes but weight just the caravan at the weigh bridge. haha.

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
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    edited November 2017 #25

    Hi lornalou1

    We will..lol get it weighed "Promise" think it cost down here a £10 squid which is Ok so when van is built and collected and when we are on way back we will divert to weigh station and get it all weighed us, the van , the car, Mind you the last time I stood on a weighing scale it shouted out "One at a time please"..lol..lol