Message Forums

Well, the weather was such today that we thought we'd have a trial run with the crusader on the drive...lol...I was expecting it to be a nightmare, but we had it up in no time (the hardest thing was folding and rolling the cover!), have given it a nice clean, put all our new bits and bobs in it...sat in it to have our lunch (yep we're saddos) and then put it back down again with no fuss at all.

Shame we couldnt get the awning up too, because I have a feeling that will be the difficult part...I am all ready with lots of different coloured tape...

we also had our sterling up on the drive today, replaced the bungee cord on the transit cover and fixed the switch on the water tap,then we had lunch and a couple of cold beers in the camper.totaly relaxing.

I really don't understand why some find putting the awning up so traumatic.  If you've put up a frame tent before you'll find it a piece of cake in comparison. 

Zip it on the main unit.

Throw the awning back over the top of the unit (admittingly this bit can be tricky if you're vertically challenged!)

Put the poles together and fit to unit.

Pull awning over poles. 

Peg out / guide ropes. 

Job done.  Took us about 15 mins the first time as none of the poles were labelled.  Much quicker with practice. 

They do go up and down very quickly don't they! Sligtly trickier in windy conditions and haven't had to do it wet yet

As njones says don't fret the awning its not as bad as some of the horror stories you read. Just take it slow and methodical. Much easier if two of you aswell

Enjoy!

Hi, We have a crusader and find the best way to put the awning up is to lay out the poles on the ground in front of the camper,you will find that the bunch of polls that are joined together are the front of the awning the other poles are of two different lengths one set has a hock type end these fit onto the camper sides the other poles are the outside ones to hold the frame up. When you try to hock the camper poles into the camper, release the centre pole inside the camper to release the tension on the canvas,  hock in the poles re tension the camper and slowley fit the rest together. Once you have done it the first time it is quite simple. I should have said the very first thing you must do is two open two cans of beer as stand by in case of ########.

               best of luck. bry

well...we've had it out on the drive again this weekend...and managed to get the awning up without too much bother - had a couple of extra poles (lol), but rang the sister in law and she helped with those...so..next weekend is our first trip out in it...I am praying for fine weather...not bothered about sunny or hot, just fine will do.  We've managed it okay on the drive in fair weather (all down and packed away, including the awning in just under half an hour this afternoon), but think it may be a different kettle of fish in a windy field...looking forward to it though.

Will make sure the beer is packed,