Caravanstore Canopy Compatibility
I recently bought a second hand Caravanstore Fiamma 360 canopy to use with my Bailey Unicorn Valencia S3 caravan. This is the type of canopy that rolls into a bag which remains attached to the awning rail.
Having installed the bag on the awning rail we started to open it out, following the instructions as we did so. However, no matter how we tried we could not get the side support arm to locate in the housing on the side of the caravan and the locking button would not reach the first of the four holes in the arm. It seemed that either the support arm was too long or the canopy too short.
I telephoned a Fiamma dealer who was very helpful and on learning what make of caravan we had, said that it was one of the few models that the canopy was incompatible with due to the setting of the awning rail; the effect being that the support arm is about 1.5 inches to long or the canopy the same amount too short. The only remedial option he could offer was to drill further holes in the support arm that the locking button could reach but I am reluctant to do this as it might affect the resale value if it doesn't work.
Just wondered if anyone else had any experience of this.
Comments
-
Point taken but the dealer I spoke to said that they can cause problems with the awning rail on this model of caravan. I don't think I want to risk one problem leading to another. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced the issue.
0 -
He said they are compatible with the wind out, fixed type as used on motorhomes. The problem here is that the position of the awning rail is such that the side support rail, when inserted into its socket, will not extend sufficiently to allow the "pin" to lock. The side support rail will lock as it should when not constricted in its socket.
There is another problem in that the canopy bag "sits" on the awning light above the caravan door as there is insufficient space between the awning rail and the light.
0 -
We used one on our Bailey Cadiz. We had the problem you describe a few times. We just put it down to the fabric tightening up when it had been kept rolled for an extended time. Once it had warmed up in the sun we always managed to get it to engage, although it was sometimes a struggle. How the ground slopes away from the side of the caravan also had an effect. If it was rising much it tended to cause problems. I suppose the alutech rail is flush with the side of the caravan, where as the conventional rail on our old Abbey was proud, so would have given a few more millimetres of extension on the side arms. As far as the light, ours was only a short one and we were able to slide it clear for traveling.
It does make you wonder why there are so many holes.🤔 We never got past the second even on our Abbey.
0 -
We used one on our Bailey Orion that we had used on other makes of caravan it was not full length of the van, without problems , when travelling with it rolled into its bag i just pulled it clear of the light
,We now have a Bailey Pegasus ,on which we have a Thule (omnistore)wind out canopy,that is fitted on the roof without any holes for the fixing brackets as they are glued on,
It leaves the awning rail clear that we sometimes (winter normally) fit our lightweight Isabella porch awning to with the canopy (if not windy)over the top
The old Fiama canopy is now fitted over our kitchen window at home
0 -
Personally I think the problem is being cause by them trying to save money and not appreciating the consequences. Clearly if you can shave a few MM of the length of the canopy, there are cost savings when you make thousands. We have had two of them. The first we used for 6 years on our Abbey and two years on the Bailey. It was only when we replaced it with a new supposedly identical one, that we started having the occasional issues. If the canopy length was just a centimetre longer, there would not be a problem.
1 -
The dealer was in fact a UK Fiamma Agent so given that his knowledge is greater than mine I will accept what he has told me. After all, what's the point of asking for advice if you're not prepared to take it!
I do have options: eg: drill some more holes or sell it on. I have decided on the latter. Back to the awning I'm afraid.
0
