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Topic: Awning questions

ANGEDAWS

17/8/2014 at 7:17pm
Location: Northern England
Outfit: Coleman Mosedale 5

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Hi all

We have just used the awning on our 2001 Pennine Sterling for the first time. We got the poles up fine but getting it all tight and pegging it out took ages. It didnt help that it was windy and we were on a slope.

Even when it was all as tight as we could get it the whole canvas seemed quite loose and flapped in the wind a fair bit. It was windy the whole time we were away and looking at other awnings on site they seemed to be flapping too.

We didnt sit in the awning much, it was cold and draughty in there on an evening. It also didnt help that the groundsheet we got with the awning wasnt big enough to cover the whole thing and the ground was quite damp.

One day we had very heavy rain and when we returned there was a huge pool of water in one corner of the awning and it was just starting to drip through the seam.

So I suppose what I want to know is - is there any way to make the awning less draughty, or is that just how they are? Any recommendations for groundsheets would be welcome too. I think probably over the years the canvas on our awning has got a bit stretched but I would like to try and make it a bit more cosy.

On the upside we had 46mph gusts one night and with the storm strap over the awning was fine, which actually quite surprised me!

greasychipbutty

17/8/2014 at 7:42pm
Location: Sheffield
Outfit: lunar ultima 525

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Hi ,Using an awning tensioner may help to get it tighter

Kelper

17/8/2014 at 8:11pm
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480

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It'll take a little practice to get your awning pitch tight .... but persevere!
I'm sure the windy conditions didn't help.
Zip the awning on first, then throw it back over the canvas 'top' ...
Then build the frame ... roughly.
Pull the awning back over it and roughly adjust the frame ... but not tight.
Then zip in all sections
Then adjust the frame to create a tight, but not strained, awning.
Then peg it out .... ensuring tight and smooth.
Then unzip wherever you want an entrance.
Pooling may occur from time to time, though correct tensioning should avoid that ... as gcb says, a tensioner may help.
Sounds as if you need a new 'floor' cover large enough to do the job.
Good luck!

ANGEDAWS

17/8/2014 at 8:25pm
Location: Northern England
Outfit: Coleman Mosedale 5

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Thank you, an awning tensioner is on the shopping list for next time. We were unlucky to have windy weather for pretty much the whole week and hopefully next time we will get a flatter pitch which would have helped.

Heather.8000

18/8/2014 at 12:46pm
Location: Bath
Outfit: 2011 Conway Crusader Platinum

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I follow this method for putting the awning up, works for me and husband.

Heather

Blue Sky Pennine

18/8/2014 at 1:48pm
Location: Redditch
Outfit: Changes almost daily!!

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I have a Sterling too, and, as Kelper says, it all takes practice. The awning poles adjust 3 dimensionally. You can adjust the height, depth and width of the frame, and getting the balance right does take a bit of time. My awning was quite loose the first couple of times I used it, but solid as a rock now.

The lousy conditions wouldn't have helped either. Hardly condusive to spending some time fine tuning the setup. The ground sheet is definitely worth replacing (though you could always use the old one as an under mat for the new one). The awning has flaps at the bottom, which I tend to pull inside, then peg my breathable ground sheet so that it is on top of them. It gives it a good seal at ground level and keeps out the draughts.

ANGEDAWS

18/8/2014 at 9:50pm
Location: Northern England
Outfit: Coleman Mosedale 5

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Thank you, its encouraging to know that we might do better next time! And thanks Blue Sky, I did think about that myself. Worth spending some money on a decent groundsheet that fits the awning I think.

That video makes it look so easy. Some good tips though. I wish our awning looked like that when it was done!

Trev.c

18/8/2014 at 10:18pm
Location: Kingswinford Westmidlands.
Outfit: Bailey Ranger 460 4

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Hi,
Just to try and reassure you,you're not on your own.
Just come back from Brean,4 nights decent weather apart from wind
when we attempted to put the awning up for the first time.
With advice from this site,we managed to get it finally up with a few
moans and groans at each other,nearly giving up at one point.
It was not perfectly set up but I think next time in about a weeks time
down Paignton,we shall learn from our mistakes and perhaps have a
better,neat fitted awning.
But when they're up,it's well worth the effort with all that extra room
you've got.
Trev.c.

Alan Chilestone

20/8/2014 at 8:20am
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Adria Sportline 532 UP

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It does need to be tensioned, but even then our roof sometimes flaps a bit. Being on a slope does not seem to help. The 3 occasions we have been on a slope (twice in our Cruiser and this year in the Quartz, we have suffered some pooling.

-------------
Alan

2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
August C&CC Oxford
October C&CC Lauder

Hengus

20/8/2014 at 2:51pm
Location: South Yorkshire Doncaster
Outfit: Conway crusader 2010

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We're still experimenting. I know you're supposed pitch up and down a slope but if it's not too severe I prefer to pitch across the slope. I find having the front of the awning all on "one level" makes a far better job of pegging out. The sides obviously are smaller and you can follow the ground better with the sides. We have a few pieces of wood in the locker so we can use them to get the axle level so not having a sloping bed or sink. This all helps to stop the pooling because you can tension the sides to give a good run off for the rain.

-------------
Remember to grow old disgracefully. it's our turn to embarrass the kids

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