Welcome to Motorhomefacts, we are a thriving motorhome community (Largest in Europe). Why Not JOIN NOW and get instant access to more of the website. It costs nothing to join and only takes a few minutes. We have 200,000 different people visiting our site monthly and this amount of motorhomers in one place guarantees a fast response to any questions you may have. We also have unique facilities not found elsewhere such as our Online Logbook, stopover tracker, Motorhome directory with Ebay type feedback and the largest repository of motorhome campsites reviews found anywhere
Just bought a pair of these straps that fasten to the top of the legs at the recent CC national rally-I paid 18 quid for them, but they do the job well. They pass through the top of the leg and hook over the back, so cant go anywhere
I use a couple of the short, thick bungy cords & find them fine for normal use. One hook fits through the slot at the top of the leg & the other I peg to the ground. No problems so far. They are available at the shows for a quid each.
Andy
So do I Andy, but having watched as a savage gust of wind draped a German's awning over the top of his van I'm not too confident about them. He was using them, and they just snapped . . . though I couldn't see how thick and strong they were!!
I think shock cord would be better because it would still have the elasticity to absorb the smaller gusts, but would (hopefully) check a bigger gust better than simple bungy cord.
Of course, if a big one hits there's no chance, whatever tie-down system you use.
Agree, but the advantage of the side straps (and the conventional tie down kits for that matter) over the Heath Robinson approach is they incorporate large springs to dampen down gusts. Not totally safe, but should cover off the sudden-gust-snapping-strap scenario.
I've not seen an Omnistor/Fiamma go (I have seen a Caravanstor go), but looking at our's I've always thought the main failure modes would either be a sudden downward gust that bent the legs sufficiently that the tie down went loose so could unhook from the pegs, gust that bent the front panel with same effect, gust that somehow pulled the tie down pegs out (shouldn't really happen as they're at 45 degrees to vertical) or gust that outright snapped the knuckles on the wind-out arms. Anyone know if that's typically the case?
I dont have the little drop down eyelet for the hook to attach to ?Dave
Dave, the little eylet thing comes with the kit - it slots into the already-existing slot at the top of the leg.
Click on the picture in the link that @rosbotham posted (above), and it'll take you to a hi-res photo where you can see the extra widget sticking out of the slot at the top of the leg.
We have been in the unfortunate position of 'losing' the windout awning.
It was a very calm day and being new to the M/H we had not pegged the awning down. A sudden gust of wind caught the awning and sent it spinning over the roof. It struck the cab door on its journey. The whole roller and sheet pulled loose from the casing which was also distorted. No damage to the M/H as it had been correctly installed.
In those days we were able to obtain spare parts from fiamma.
With the help of a very tall neighbour we managed to slide the casing from the brackets - it was glued in - security?. The casing was persuaded back into shape by the local car repair yard.
We carried out repairs on the front lawn. We replaced the damaged roller gearing and end capping. It was quite tricky but achievable. Whilst the sheeting was rolled out I also took the opportunity to give it a good clean.
Now we anchor our awning down with strong Australian guylines with springs, attaching the guys by a strong screw link around the arms. Putting a strap over the canopy just stretches the sheet. We do leave it out in heavy rain - with a strong tilt, but if it is windy and flapping noisily then we wind it in to safety.
Last year we bought an Easi Porch which is the correct width for our awning (2.3m) which is useful in inclement weather if we are staying at least 4 days in the same spot. The weather was very windy when we used it and it made opening the M/H door much safer. However it gets pools of water on top and I am thinking of a way to prevent that. We avoided any awning with poles touching the van !
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
All times are GMT + 1 Hour Page 2 of 2Goto page Previous1, 2
Germany
He was using them, and they just snapped . . . though I couldn't see how thick and strong they were!!
