Has anyone tried one of the new magnetic strip attachments that connect a drive away awning to campervan? Wondering how effective they are as my VW T4 has no gutter or awning rails, this appears to be a simple option.
so why not get a length of proper channeling and fix that on properly, unless of course you like chasing your awning across a field at 2 am when the wind gets up?
Type into YouTube "Outwell magnetic band connector" I think we have the only video and I was amazed how well it stuck. I like you would like to hear of actual owners using it though.
------------- Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.
Although they obviously won't form a complete "seal", I've heard that some folk use small, cheap dent pullers to attach their awning tunnels..?..although we've never used them, so don't know how successful they are, or if they *mark the van's roof or not?
...*similarly, my concern with magnets would be what sort of marks would they leave on the roof if ( when!) the wind got up and "slid/dragged" it/them..?
If it's a low roof, can you not just use throw-over straps, maybe with some lengths of pipe-lagging tube..?
Thank you. I am not too worried about marks on roof. I have been using throw over straps, to good effect. However I put 2 solar panels on top which I don't want to obscure. I have ordered the magnetic strip now, will give it a try as it's not expensive and potentially a good option. On Gary's video they look fine.
Hi, yes I bought one. I haven't tried attaching the awning yet, but I have tried it on the van roof. It is full length of VW T4, seems robust, powerful magnet. I thinik it will be ideal. Off camping in mid June, so will post the results of a proper trial.
so why not get a length of proper channeling and fix that on properly, unless of course you like chasing your awning across a field at 2 am when the wind gets up?
Above is Copied and pasted from earlier post.
The point of my post is that I am asking if the magnetic strip is tried and tested. As I am looking for a simple, cheap, and effective option. It could be that this solution does not blow away in wind. For £25 I am happy to try it as it will be much easier to connect figure 8s to an unattached awning then plonk the magnet on roof, and take off with the 8s still attached to drive away.. I live on a small island with plenty of cliff top windy campsites to test it.
How did it go twirlybev? I've only just discovered this option online and like others I am keen to hear about a real life trial.
I'm thinking of replacing my ageing motorhome awning and would like an improvement on the throwover straps I've used in the past. I'd plan to use straps and the magnetic strip. Gary's YouTube clip suggests it would be a fairly robust, cheap solution.
The strip seems to have lost a lot of the magnetism by the 3rd use. and is no longer effective. We have gone back to tying ropes over the van. Worth a try though as I am very small and like to be able to set up myself at times
hi all bought one last year but found it needed straps as well defeated the object of using it spend your money on easy straps I used it on a vango air now I just use tube and 3 straps over roof with seat belt covers to stop rubbing on paint work
Outdoor Revolution are bringing one out for 2016, I think it will be about £35-£40 but its fabric is a PVC type which grips really well. These magnetic fittings need to be in the flat part of the roof, they peel off easily if fitted to an angled/rounded part of the roof. I think having the PVC/rubber type fabric covering the magnet will stop any water maybe getting between the strip and the roof.
------------- Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.
Quote: Originally posted by grandad.wales on 27/10/2015
hi all bought one last year but found it needed straps as well defeated the object of using it spend your money on easy straps I used it on a vango air now I just use tube and 3 straps over roof with seat belt covers to stop rubbing on paint work
Could you let me know what kind of tube you use? The problem I have found with straps is that the awning edge isn't held flat, which inevitably means that water pools. Do you use something to give a rigid/semi rigid edge to the awning along the roof?