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Is it me, or do manufacturers expect us to be mind readers?
I've just invested a not inconsiderable sum in an Omnistor tension rafter for my canopy...on my previous van I had a Fiamma canopy with curved rafter, and I've always considered the straight tubing supplied as standard by Omnistor to be inadequate in comparison.
So I open up the box, finding the rafter in three parts, and a plastic bag with a random assortment of pieces of plastic (approx ten in all), a few bits of cast metal, nuts, bolts and screws. Together with the "instructions" as scanned/enclosed.
Believe me, the scan is perfect representation of what you get - 2 sides A4, covering 2x rafter types, 4x canopy types and 4x languages. Nothing that highlights what's already part of the canopy versus what's amongst the bits in the bag. No real explanation of which bits of plastic/metal are supposed to live permanently on the rafter versus permanently on the canopy (and it's not obvious...in the end I've concluded that one piece which is mounted to the canopy in the Fiamma equivalent belongs on the rafter in the Omnistor one). How the dickens do they expect their customers to make head or tail of this?
Eventually, after a certain amount of experimentation I've concluded that I just need to change the mount at the extending end of the canopy to pair with the rafter. The plastic mount that's (supposed to be) used at the housing end of the canopy...which is afixed permanently to the rafter rather than to the housing...won't actually fit my van because Autotrail recess the canopy housing, so it won't clip on as intended.
But why make things so complicated and why not - given the things cost the best part of fifty quid - go to the huge expense of having a separate sheet of paper for each product??
Having spent yesterday setting up a new cordless phone you can guess my answer...not only do they expect us to be mind readers they expect us to be able to decipher dodgy translations
Re the Omnistror blind:- I have always had vans fitted with an Omnistor blind and I have noticed that the Omnistor blind does not need a rafter so much as a Fiamma blind. The tension in the cover is , in my opinion when wound out, much better on an Omnistor blind and the material does seem stiffer than with the Fiamma which can be a bit "flappy" and really benefits from having a rafter fitted.
I think that Omnistor only recommend fitting a rafter if it is raining or if there is a safari room fitted as it helps the rain run off. Do you have a safari room? and is that why you need a rafter? I just drop one corner of mine when it rains and the water runs off a treat.
I sure that the rafter you have bought will improve the blinds tension but I have posted really to allay any fears that newbies may have about Omnistor blinds in that they need a rafter.
Mike
______________________________________________________________ When confronted by a problem, you can solve it easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger have handled this?"
I've also had both and agree with him. The only niggle with the Omnistor is that you can't leave the winder hanging from its connection. (Must get around to making a knuckle for it - one day!!)
As Mike says, just drop the corner. Probably the one away from the door in case there's not much clearance, as the top of the door might foul on the awning frame or canvas.
That's one advantage of the tension rafter...it's not spring loaded but solid. That said there's still plenty of scope to scrape the van.
Dave, Mike, I found the standard rafter...although good enough to do the job to add some rigidity...still allowed the canopy fabric to flap both against itself and the suspension arms in reasonably gentle winds. The tension one holds the fabric tight so hopefully should prevent that. I noticed the advice in the instructions not to use when it's too sunny or it'll stretch the fabric - doesn't give much confidence in the quality of the fabric, but being based in the north of England, I don't think that's something that will bother me .
Irriatating thing is given the bag of plastic adaptors, I could have used my Fiamma tension pro to do the job. Anyone want to buy a Fiamma one?
I use two spring loaded rafters on my Omnistor. Makes everthing nice and stable and adds a bit of weight to help prevent aerobatics!
I also use a third rafter to replace the clothes pole supplied with the sunblocker.
The rafters use a square (ish) block at the van's end and this fits the contour of the awning box. At the outside end you need to use the black plastic fitting that has a small nipple (000h matron) extrusion on it. It just clips into the metal cross beam, but you may have to soak it in boiling water to make it pliable.
______________________________________________________________ "On all the oceans white caps flow,
You see no crosses row on row
But those who sleep beneath the sea,
Rest in peace for your country is free".
Sorry to be a grump but note that I've got an Omnistor Omni Rafter. This is the curved one and is a totally different set of fixings to the standard straight rafter you describe Spacerunner - I've just removed the straight fittings (at least at the extension end) to fit the ones for the Omni.
Good idea to use the now spare straight rafter for one of my sunblockers though...one of my clothes props is stuck in the extended position (matron) so it means I can chuck that one. Will just need to lash something up for the top end of the sunblocker to hook onto.
this is really interesting..........I used big bulldog clips to clip my old white cotton kitchen curtains to the front of my omnistor awning for extra shade.....well it worked but I really want to know what people use clothes props for. Is to put sides on the awning? to tension it? We go to Greece and sometimes need side shade. I've used all sorts to do this from the above mentioned curtains to very light weight plastic tarps looped over the arms with bungees so they were flexible so I'd be interested to find out how people use clothes props..........
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