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Ah! right that's a zip used on the Porch Awning not the figure of 8.

Reread your post and realised after you mentioned it.  

 might be asking you more questions at a later date to clarify it all again when were ready to buy.

Thanks Lobey.

The Zip on a porch awning is the other half of the zip that goes roight over the main cabin. IE, the same length.

The Porch part is sewn onto the middle of this zip and so when you first look at the porch awning, there is about 4 foot of zip ends hanging off each side and doing nothing. However you need these bits to marry the whole zip to the one on the cabin.

Like I said earlier, once you zip the porch awning onto the main part, it can stay there all summer and by simply removing the poles from the awning, you can then throw the awning up onto the roof and fold up the camper as normal.

Even with the steel "U" shped pole, my whole porch awning weighs onlt 10kg so without that pole it cannot weigh more than a couple of kilos.

Wonderful Lobey,

Think it has finally entered my brain cells now that you,ve explained the long zip ends.

Keeping it there might be a problem though.

We had a challenge last week putting up our FC Awning, fighting against the high winds, but had help from our brilliant new Camping Neighbours who stepped forward to help.

Hi Greasy,sorry to barge in on your topic but I have a question for "Lobey"

I thought your photo of your porch awning was great (techlite pro) thinking of getting the same for our Countyman ! is there any checks I should do re size (3 mtrs wide) as the countryman is smaller than your F.C understand the bit about the zip ok ! do they have to remove the beading when the new zip is fitted? also do you have a contact number for TVS

thanks for you help guys...............Baz 

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 12/8/2012

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This is a proper "driveaway awning that we had for our folding caravan. It is a Khyam Sunhouse and was attached to the van with 2" wide velcro.

However, now that we have a FC, we prefer a Porch Awning and that is attached by a zip at the top and a combination of velcro and magnets.

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Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 15/8/2012

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The Zip on a porch awning is the other half of the zip that goes roight over the main cabin. IE, the same length.

The Porch part is sewn onto the middle of this zip and so when you first look at the porch awning, there is about 4 foot of zip ends hanging off each side and doing nothing. However you need these bits to marry the whole zip to the one on the cabin.

Like I said earlier, once you zip the porch awning onto the main part, it can stay there all summer and by simply removing the poles from the awning, you can then throw the awning up onto the roof and fold up the camper as normal.

Even with the steel "U" shped pole, my whole porch awning weighs onlt 10kg so without that pole it cannot weigh more than a couple of kilos.

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Hi Lobey,not sure if I am doing this right,posted a question for you on Greasy's topic about your techlite pro porch awning. Did'nt realize I should have done it thi

Hi Baza 526, Which topic was that?

Point me in the direction and I will do my best to answer your question.

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 15/8/2012

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Hi Baza 526, Which topic was that?

Point me in the direction and I will do my best to answer your question.

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As you must have noticed Lobey still getting my head round using this forum! just a thick electrician topic was= drive away porch awnings. my question(s) was, as we have a countryman, which I think is smaller than your f.c looking at your photo, is there any checks we have to do to insure it will fit(like the look of your techlite pro)dont think I have a problem with the height but maybe the width(3mtrs) ? I understand the bit about the zip & getting the right length,do they remove the beading to sew the zip in place.Have you a contact number for TVS you could let me have.

looking at lots of your posts&replys, maybe in your spare time you could write a short book "UK Campsites for Dummies" for the likes of me..........thanks, Baza

<<<looking at lots of your posts&replys, maybe in your spare time you could write a short book "UK Campsites for Dummies" for the likes of me.......... >>>

In that case it would be an autobiography!!!! (and the wife says she would be pleased to write the foreword )

Seriously though, no they do not remove the beading.

A cheaper option is not to put a zip on but to use figure of 8 strips. I think they come in one meter lengths and I am sure you can get them a lot cheaper than this elsewhere. By dipping each length in hot water, it is possible to close up the gap a bit more along one side so that it will grip the zip on the cabin side.

If you were using these strips instead of a zip, it would mean that you would have to remove the awning before you folded the camper though.

I think you main problem with any awning for the countryman is going to be the bit below the beds. The FC is wide enough at 420cm, but unless you have bed skirts, you will have a gap on each side under the bed areas.

In which case, the only type of awning that would be suitable would be a true "driveaway" awning where there is a proper wall with door in it between the FC and the awning.

The Caranex might do, or one of the driveaway awnings from Khyam. We had one for our folding caravan.

We could have put 3 caravans inside this awning.

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 17/8/2012

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<<<looking at lots of your posts&replys, maybe in your spare time you could write a short book "UK Campsites for Dummies" for the likes of me.......... >>>

In that case it would be an autobiography!!!! (and the wife says she would be pleased to write the foreword )

Seriously though, no they do not remove the beading.

A cheaper option is not to put a zip on but to use figure of 8 strips. I think they come in one meter lengths and I am sure you can get them a lot cheaper than this elsewhere. By dipping each length in hot water, it is possible to close up the gap a bit more along one side so that it will grip the zip on the cabin side.

If you were using these strips instead of a zip, it would mean that you would have to remove the awning before you folded the camper though.

I think you main problem with any awning for the countryman is going to be the bit below the beds. The FC is wide enough at 420cm, but unless you have bed skirts, you will have a gap on each side under the bed areas.

In which case, the only type of awning that would be suitable would be a true "driveaway" awning where there is a proper wall with door in it between the FC and the awning.

The Caranex might do, or one of the driveaway awnings from Khyam. We had one for our folding caravan.

We could have put 3 caravans inside this awning.

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Quote: Originally posted by swaggy on 19/8/2012

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Question for Lobey:

Looking at the picture of your blue porch awning for the FC, I was wondering what was the make / type of awning. It looks like a O/Rev Porchlite 280 but can't be sure. It looks to be just the size I am looking for and seems nice and lightweight. Thanks

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Yup. That is exactly what it is. They say it weighs 10kg but I reckon the "U" shaped steel pole must weigh about 6 ot 7kg on its own.

By the by, it is not blue but silver and black. It is 3m X 3m.