Newbies: advice on best awning erection method
After 3hrs of effort, we finally got it up. It’s our first time out with our new (to us) caravan and wanted to try everything out. Does anyone have tips for the erecting of the awning on our 20yo Elddis (which we love now it’s set up) Thank you in anticipation Carl and Maxine
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Tips - I wish!
As if putting the awning up wasn’t bad enough, taking it down and folding it up resulted in both of us visiting an osteopath. We sold the awning.
Good luck.
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Oh No -- No chance of a mere bachelor making suggestions about Awnings M & C
. They are not referred to as " Divorces in a Bag" for no reason 
!!Sincerely Hope it does not put you off this glorious pastime tho'. So many wonderful places to visit both here and 'Over There' !!
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!st job, get the Wine (other drinks can be used) and glasses. Next get the instructions, place them somewhere safe, ensure they don't get blown away. Have a sip of wine, Lay out the poles as instructions, if the numbers markings are still visible, you are ok, if not try some more wine., Then unroll the awning on the ground, then finding an end thread through the rail, making sure it's the right way round, by now you will need another sip of wine, or other alcohol., attach the plastic pole attachment thingy to the awning, then we start at the middle, if you tilt the upright pole outwards it should stand on it's own, while you help with the right or left pole, once say the left is done, connect to middle pole, they are now secure. Time for more wine, do the same for the other side, you are now nearly done. Hopefully by now you should both be still talking to each other. You now have to decide whether to finish the wine, or finish pegging down.
I found that by each of you knowing what you're jobs are it makes it easier, and each time you put it up will get easier. I find it's better not to put it up after a long journey as tiredness cause irritability.
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It's the huge gulf between caravanners and motorhomers - the first group feels they absulutely MUST have an awning, but the second group realises they can live perfectly well without them.
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Um.....many, many caravanners feel fine without using an awning and conversely, many, many Motorhomes make use of drive away awnings or canopies with walls. It's all down to personal choice, et.
Nice try but this isn'the the place to start yet another van v MH dispute!
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Be happy Moulesy.
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Yes have to agree, there was a thread like this when we away over Easter so on a trip to the 'facilities' I had a quick count. There were caravans with and with out awnings, and MH with and without. About 60% on caravans and 50% MH. Just a snap shot,
Back to the OP, for full weeks away we would put up the full awning and porch awning for weekends. Now there are just two of us, its usually just the porch awning (shoes and coats).
As M said, air awnings are certainly far far better and I don't think i could face a frame awning again after using one.
As others have said, practice and more practice does make it quicker. Also if you colour code the poles?
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We too like to keep it simple.
If it's fine we sit out.
If it's not, we sit in.
Can't be bothered with an awning......
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As interesting as the replies are I think Mrs U was after a simple method for putting up an awning! So here goes (leave the wine until you have finishes as a reward):
1 Lay out poles as they will fit the awning - if they are not colour coded wait until end then put coloured tape to match the joins.
2 Remove front an side panels from awning (if possible) and pull awning through rail starting usually at the front.
3. Insert centre poles - top and then legs but do not tension too much.
4. With assistant holding centre upright pole insert a side pole and upright and cross pole from side to centre pole. Again do not tinsion the poles
5. Repeat 4 with other pole
6. Losely tensioon all poles Inserting any small ones for front overhang.
7. Insert side and front panels then tension all poles.
8. Peg out stating with the 4 corners then readjust pole tension as necessary.
9. Lay ground sheet and have that deserved glass of wine. Then put coloured tape to poles to make next time easier!
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Inflatables do look very heavy. I do not have one so can't comment further. It doesn't take very long to take down my Kampa 390 (non inflatable) and pack it away - I am no sumo wrestler and my OH is very petite
.(Sorry about the typos in my post above - takes ages to type anything on this forum)
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In answer to the question, I would suggest taking a look on YouTube for your particular awning and see if some kind sole has put up a video.
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well we have found they are. There are no poles to lie out in the correct order, then put togther in some correct order with someone holding one in place while someone else gets the next pole, then when all done adjust the height and then the you have to tension them.
With an air awning once you have threaded it into the awning rail (same time as frame) then litterally ten to 15 pumps and it is up and tensioned. Some even have electric pumps as well. Pegs still take the same time but no lifting of poles as said.
One thing certainly quicker is taking it down, un peg, pull the plug and it down in seconds, pull out of the rail, roll it up and done. No poles to pack away.
The canvas is heavier but the same as canvas and poles.
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I agree totally with comeyras. The only difference in our procedure is that we find it better to leave the side panels in place to give a bit more 'structure' while erecting. (It is however a relatively small full awning at 850cm). I can even do it single-handed if necessary with a couple of guy-lines to the centre support.
(Why does a simple request for advice have to elicit so much sarcasm?)
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Given that threading it on the awning rail and pegging out are common to all types of awning, since it takes just three minutes (I have timed it) to fully erect our Kampa Air Pro 390 with an electric pump, it has to be quicker - and certainly a lot less hassle.
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+1 for the inflatable being quicker. With a small pump plugged into the Car Cigar lighter the ‘erector’ can wander around checking all is well. I’d venture not only quicker but less labour intensive, a 1 person job too👍🏻😊
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Well ..... I have found they're not. My manual pump must be goosed then ..... 10 to 15 pumps? Not a chance on our Kampa 400 (?) Isn't an electric pump just something else to cart around? What/where do you power it from? There's a cigarette lighter type power supply on the side of my van, but needless to say its on the opposite side. 😊
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I have a pump called a BP12 but it draws too much power to run from a lighter socket and has crocodile clips on the leads. I used to attach it direct to the battery terminals on the car but now have a small 40aH battery (which lives in its own zip up bag). Pump comes in its own zip-up bag and both battery and pump live in the car. All neat and tidy and much better than messing about with the manual pump which always used to give me terrible backache.
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ever though of passing a wire through a window into you van? Or even through the open door? 12V adaptor?
Don't get your comment about something else to carry around at all? How big do you think these things are?
Suggest you read the post by Richardandros above?
Always happy to help
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local dealer has now Kampa branded electric pumps, quite small
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