hi,
we've just been away thsi weekend with newly purchased second hand caravan with awning. the caravan is a lunar chateau 400 and the awning an NR Scorpio. at first i thought it was the wrong size because when erected the side windows slanted back towards the 'van. but i've measured it and it is the right size awning. can the caravan shape cause this, or have i done somthing dopey?
Not sure what you mean about the windows slanting backwards?
as long as the awning fits to the ground well enough to peg down easily and is not too baggy it doesnt really matter if the windows arent perfectly straight.
is the front of the awning higher than the back? making the windows look up at the front edge and down at caravan wall edge ?
this can happen with uneven ground, or you could possibly lower the front frame with the adjusters on the poles.
or do you mean that the front frame of the awning is narrower than the rail on the caravan?.so the sides dont sit square?
this doesnt matter either , because there is a certain amount of leeway in the sizing for awnings to fit caravans of different shapes and heights.
example , the front frame might be 15ft wide but the widest part of the caravan might be 16 ft, so the sides would slope back outwards at an angle.
If the windows slanted backwards was it because you had over extended the front poles making the front higher than it should be? As Debbie says it doesn't matter (unless you're like me and get a little neurotic over it being level!) Grass pitches are usually not level so it's one of those things you have to learn to live with.
Hi
thanks for the comments. i think you've got the picture despite my description!
effectively the front of the awning windows is higher off the ground than the back. the ground we were on was pretty level. i extended the front such that the bottom of the front waning touched the ground. if i'd lowered it any it would have been saggy.
the whole thing works OK but looks like it's about to fall down. will drive me nuts looking at it!
i've noticed that the frame at the front is wider than the caravan when extended to fill the width of the awning.
maybe just the shape of the caravan?
john
Quote: Originally posted by beefysmum on 01/6/2010
Not sure what you mean about the windows slanting backwards?
as long as the awning fits to the ground well enough to peg down easily and is not too baggy it doesnt really matter if the windows arent perfectly straight.
is the front of the awning higher than the back? making the windows look up at the front edge and down at caravan wall edge ?
this can happen with uneven ground, or you could possibly lower the front frame with the adjusters on the poles.
or do you mean that the front frame of the awning is narrower than the rail on the caravan?.so the sides dont sit square?
this doesnt matter either , because there is a certain amount of leeway in the sizing for awnings to fit caravans of different shapes and heights.
example , the front frame might be 15ft wide but the widest part of the caravan might be 16 ft, so the sides would slope back outwards at an angle.
Have you come from a camping/tent background? We had Conway trailer tents and folding campers for over 20 years before we changed to a caravan. Our full size awning drives my husband mad because it is 'never right'. It's a good quality awning and the correct size for the van but..... With the Conways all the bits were purpose made for the unit. The perfectionist in him was able to get all things symmetrical, level, taught where necessary etc etc. If you go to a showroom to look at new awnings they are always hung from a frame - that is symmetrical - unlike the side profile of the caravan. If you wander around a site and look at many other people's awnings the pitching isn't always that good. One or two makes seem to pitch better than others. Considering how much large awnings cost i'm not impressed and am quite sure that many of the manufacturers could do better. As northerners we camp in rain, often heavy, and we found that water seeped through the stitching holes of our carefully chosen, expensive awning for a very long time. Yes I know all about weathering and how the process works. Tent owners wouldn't put up with the lame excuses from the awning manufacturers - not least because they would be getting wet!! Our lightweight porch awning pitches better and has never let in any wet through the stitching. It is of course made by a reputable tent manufacturer!!
is it that obvious?!!! 6 years with a frame tent and miscellaneos weekend tents and 5 years with a penine folding camper and awning.
interesting pointyou make though.
however this thing just doesn't sit properly the window head sits about 10 inches below the rail that runs along the caravan body (not the awning rail).
maybe i'll get better, or learn to live with it.
cheers
john
Quote: Originally posted by Annegor on 01/6/2010
Hi
Have you come from a camping/tent background? We had Conway trailer tents and folding campers for over 20 years before we changed to a caravan. Our full size awning drives my husband mad because it is 'never right'. It's a good quality awning and the correct size for the van but..... With the Conways all the bits were purpose made for the unit. The perfectionist in him was able to get all things symmetrical, level, taught where necessary etc etc. If you go to a showroom to look at new awnings they are always hung from a frame - that is symmetrical - unlike the side profile of the caravan. If you wander around a site and look at many other people's awnings the pitching isn't always that good. One or two makes seem to pitch better than others. Considering how much large awnings cost i'm not impressed and am quite sure that many of the manufacturers could do better. As northerners we camp in rain, often heavy, and we found that water seeped through the stitching holes of our carefully chosen, expensive awning for a very long time. Yes I know all about weathering and how the process works. Tent owners wouldn't put up with the lame excuses from the awning manufacturers - not least because they would be getting wet!! Our lightweight porch awning pitches better and has never let in any wet through the stitching. It is of course made by a reputable tent manufacturer!!
I've just bought the same awning
(second hand) and I queried the height of the windows too. They seem very low and if you were to open up the side as a door, even I ( at 5ft 5 ) would have to stoop a bit to get through. Strange design but if the overall awning fits, I'm happy.