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Greetings again,

As previously stated I use my 'storm straps' whenever, in this windswept country of ours, I take the panels out and use the awning as a sun? canopy.

Having had the 'sun canopy' remove itself from the side of the caravan in the height of summer due to a rogue wind, I have now learnt my mistake ( and saved persons with a delicate demeanor learning some choice anglo saxon words)!!!! 

I agree with D S B.  The instructions for mine say that the friction caused between the strap & awning fabric over the poles can cause damage.  Certainly if high winds are forecast or appear I put the thing on.  Different for those built in as part of the design.  I'm sure putting packing under the straps where they rub on the frame will help too.

Steve.

Now why didn't I think of that?  Great idea.  Only issue would be if the awning front did come off the poles.  Don't know if that would happen though.  I'll try that next time.

Steve.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Lots of ideas that won't cost a fortune. I'm in favour of that.

Many thanks.

I have storm straps with a hook on the end that attach to the frame - they are not long enough to go right over the top of the awning fabric itself, and I habitually put them on when pitching and leave them on all the time, for peace of mind. Strong winds can and do blow up from nowhere (must be the beans...).

I think of it like this: in a gale the awning fabric acts like a sail and produces thrust laterally and vertically. Proper pegging all round stops the fabric taking off, and the straps act as braces to counteract the sideways push on the frame.

In Penbrokeshire this August, as we got the tail end of a hurricane blowing through, I had five of the short storm straps in place (I normally use three) plus extra straps bracing an awning pole at the back of the awning, which was getting the majority of the blast. My awning shook a bit and a couple of pegging rubbers broke, but otherwise no problem. My only concern then was that a zip or a seam would fail.

I've tried several ideas.

I bought some of those seatbelt foam thing's from ebay, they velcro on and protect the canvas from the strap. Bit fiddly tho'.

My favourite at the mo is to feed the strap 'under' the canvas and 'over' the stub poles at the front of the awning. No rubbing and easy to do.

I like the idea from emmitdb. We do this with a marque in our garden.....did'nt think to try it with the awning.....'DOH'

Trev.

Quote: Originally posted by Chalkie on 23/10/2009

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I've tried several ideas.

I bought some of those seatbelt foam thing's from ebay, they velcro on and protect the canvas from the strap. Bit fiddly tho'.

My favourite at the mo is to feed the strap 'under' the canvas and 'over' the stub poles at the front of the awning. No rubbing and easy to do.

I like the idea from emmitdb. We do this with a marque in our garden.....did'nt think to try it with the awning.....'DOH'

 

Trev.

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Trev,

I accept royalties in most currencies LOL

Quote: Originally posted by michael on 23/10/2009

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not tried it myself but i did read of a good idea for the type of storm strap that goes over the whole awning.it read like this.the awning storm strap was threaded through the holes for the two short poles that hold up the front valance and then placed over the top of the frame itself.it would prevent strap wear on the awning.it could work because ours is a dorema and only held by the stitching on the two corners.what do you think?

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To have clips attached to your awning I'd suggest contacting Kingswood Canvas in Bristol. They done several jobs on awnings for us over the years & while they're not cheap, they certainly know thier onions & I'd go to them without question.  Google kingswood canvas & they'll pop up.

We've got the Dorema storm straps clipped to our canopy & in addition, I do what's suggested in your reply michael. I use plastic baler string like very thin rope, about 4 to 6 mm. Very strong & well up to the job. This is tied around the plastic moulding of the uprights/roofbars of the frame then passed out through the hole in the canopy & straight down the line of the upright to a ground anchor. I don't put any strin on the string/rope when I tie it off but I also don't leave any slack at all. This means the canopy is held down by the clipped on Dorema straps & the frame is held down by my string. I do this every time we put the awning up, I'd rather spend an extra few minutes doing so that get up at stupid oclock to tie the thing down as we've had to do in the past.

BB