The things you don't think of!

greylag
greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
edited June 2019 in Motorhomes #1

Having just bought a drive away awning, I did a quick set up on my drive and all looked fine.

First pitch up on site and a small set back....when the door is opened, it rubs against the connecting 'tunnel' roof.  My Autotrail has quite a high door and I think any constant rubbing will quickly ruin the material.

The only thing I can think of is to fix a small square(24"x 24") of material hanging down from the connecting strip, so that when the door is opened, this will take the strain away from the awning roof.  The door would lift the square up and out of the way.

Of course the easiest thing to do is not connect awning to van, which is what we did for the last 2 weeks, but connected is better in bad weather.

Taking it back is not really on as the skirt around the bottom is mud stained and there is nothing wrong with the awning.

Well that's got that off my chest...wife said 'ask on the club site...someone might have a suggestion that you haven't thought of'.

Comments

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,040 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #2

    Could you perhaps neatly put some of that heavy duty silver gaffer tape on the inside of the awning, just where the door rubs? This wouldn’t pierce the material at all, which would maybe cause drips. Easily replaced once it starts to wear and look a bit untidy, but robust enough to cope with a lot of rubbing?

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #3

    I found a couple of strategically placed water pipe foam insulation tubes did the trick. These held the fabric clear of the door and aided rainwater run off.

  • greylag
    greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
    edited June 2019 #4

    Mmm!

    Thanks for the replies..........gonna have to sit down and think about it.

     

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #5

    Perhaps a couple of lightweight poles, one per side, with a semicircular interconnecting hoop thingy might turn the trick, Greylag undecided??

    Of course you could even hang / drape your flowers there for their scent innocent

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #6

    You are not alone. 

    I noticed a motor caravan that was parked directly opposite us had a traditional caravan step outside, but off to one side of the habitation door.  Thought nothing of it until I saw one of the occupants open the door to come out and struggle to get their foot across to drag the step in front of the door.  You've probably guess by now that the step was higher than the bottom edge of the door! 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #7

    The clearance between my canopy and the top of the door is minimal, necessitating extending the legs to raise the canopy to a near horizontal angle to clear the canopy arms when opening the door. If only manufacturers thought about these issues at the outset.

  • trellis
    trellis Forum Participant Posts: 1,102
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #8

    CY , now you are being silly..fancy putting the words manufacturers and thought in the same sentence .😀.

  • greylag
    greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
    edited June 2019 #9

    I am not alone..........................?

    I will spend tomorrow experimenting....many thanks for the replies.

  • lindseymc
    lindseymc Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited November 2021 #10

    Hi

    just wondered if you ever managed a solution to this question. We are facing the same problem with our Burstner Brevio. We haven’t purchased an awning yet but could do with the extra room for wet coats shoes etc (obviously our van is used in Scotland mainly 😂🌧). We may have to go with an awning fixed on completely missing hab door. We contacted Attwells and asked for their advice but they suggested not using the drive away strip but the straps that throw over the van making the tunnel section slightly higher. Never noticed this would be a problem until after the “very excited” purchase of Bertie 🤪. Thanks 

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2021 #11

    I used MickySF 's system --  small bore foam pipe insulation  --  nary a problem !

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