Driveaway awnings

greylag
greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
Name Dropper
edited May 2019 in Parts & Accessories #1

Looking to buy a driveaway awning and am a bit confused about how they connect to the van.  Each advert talks about beads and channels....how does this make them driveaway?

I saw somewhere that some people throw lines across the motorhome and peg down the other side.

If someone can bring clarity to me, I may well go out and buy one.

Comments

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #2

    I'm a caravanner not a motorhomer but, from what I've seen, a motorhome has a channel on the nearside of the vehicle (same as caravan awning channel) and you thread the large fabric 'flap/cover' of the awning through that and attach it to the awning structure and peg down as with any other awning.  The fabric flap 'cover'  then drops down to 'close and/or secure' the awning whilst the vehicle is away from the pitch. 

    Perhaps not the best explanation so hope you can visualize the idea.  One of our motorhomer members will probably be able to give you a clearer picture. smile

    I think the idea of 'throwing lines across' would be as a storm precaution, similar to storm lashing any caravan awning.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #3

    If you have a sun canopy this will have a channel along it to take the driveway awning. You may need a fitting kit as well.

  • KeefySher
    KeefySher Forum Participant Posts: 1,128
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #4

    The 'kit' is a Kador / Safari that comprises a double edge beaded webbing strip available in 6mm / 8mm equal sides, or one side 6 the other 8 to fit in the awning rail / channel of the MH or a fitted sun canopy on one side. You fit that first. Once you erect the drive away awning before finally pegging it down you bring the beaded edge of the connecting tunnel to the Kador / Safari strip and use a plastic 'rod' called a figure of 8, it basically has 2 open sides that you then slide over the 2 beads 1 of the Kador / Safari and tunnel bead to form a connection. Move the awning till the tunnel is taught, then peg down.

    When you want to 'drive away', you remove the figure of 8, collapsing the 'tunnel' and stowing it to prevent being blown away. If you use 2 pegs with bright coloured heads you bash them in the ground at the centre of each wheel nearest the awning so you can drive back to the same position to re-connect the tunnel.

    Sounds more complicated than it actually is.

    Lots of videos on you tube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=connecting+a+drive+away+awning

    We used a Khyam Motorhome Sleeper for 9 years on our MH using the Kador / Safari strip fitted into the front face channel in the Fiamma roll out awning mounted on the MH.

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited May 2019 #5

    Wow!  Many thanks....will buy the awning today...KS...the explanation is excellent .

    At the moment, hail stones are keeping me in. 

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited May 2019 #6

    Well, we bought an awning and followed the advice given here and in the dry run it all became clear.  Also a demo from the salesman, who had a small mock up behind the counter helped.

     

    Many thanks.

Categories