Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by Lizzo on 13/3/2008

---

Quote: Originally posted by Slimjm on 12/3/2008

---

We have just got a new quest lounge porch awning & would like to try it out this weekend but its looking doubtful.

Post last edited on 12/03/2008 21:53:00

---

We'll be trying out our new Quest Lounge over Easter weekend, so would love to hear your comments, Slimjm, if you manage to try it out!

---

Hi Lizzo,

Just finish packing car & van & OH questioned why i was taking the awning, looked at forecast & very little/no wind where we are going for the weekend. Plus site is fairly sheltered, so fingers cross i will get to try it out, otherwise this will be the second time it has been sat in the car boot all weekend.     

Hi,

Cast your minds back to new year 2006/7 it blew like never before, some poor sole had there caravan blown over. We had opur awning up and yes it buffetted and slapped about alot but it survived. First time up too.

Its all down to the pegging out in my opinion, which you learn very quickly from having a tent. People around had their awning blow away but not ours.

We are going away Friday and the awning is going straight up asap. As others have said storm strap it if worried.

Noffy

hi we tryed to put our awning up last year a high gust of wind got it and flip it over the caravan found one pole 20 ft away glad there was not another caravan or tent there so high winds don`t risk it wind straps are great if you get the awning up first they take alot to get out the ground

cobblers71

Quote: Originally posted by Sean P on 13/3/2008

---

We have done some big winds with a flimsy PDQ awning when we first started out and it was ok. A well erected full canvas awning WITH storm straps is pretty solid.

If you get some serious wind, then do the lorry driver trick and take the sides and front down - then the wind just blows through - instead of the awning being a big kite! - ive done this and never lost an awning yet! It makes a row, but its then safe from being ripped.

---

Quote: Originally posted by michael on 18/3/2008

---

for the first time the full awning is stopping at home and the porch awning is getting an airing. the windy conditions are not my main concern, i am more bothered about snow on top of it and causing damage to the awning rail.

---

 Thats what I am worried about too the snow well actualy heavy sleet for our part of south wales.

  OH has been nagging to put awning up since 1st march and its still sits in it box. going to buy a porch awning today for the weekend as its a long weekend and with the rain, winds & sleet forcast I want some where to take my wellies of and stop mud getting in the van. so the full awning will sit in its box for a little longer.

 Andrea

I would say dont leave the awning up if you go home during the week. Its not worth the worry. Easter is early this year and if you look at the weather in the past few weeks, a lot of damage could still be done. We had a seasonal pitch last year. We put our awning up and tied it down with all the storm straps and good strong pegs. We have lost our awning in the past so have learned a few tips over the years but nothing can protect an awning from a coastal gale. We travelled down to our caravan after work on a Friday night. There weren't any severe weather warnings on the telly so thought everything would be ok. Within an hour the wind & rain started and the caravan was being shook from side to side. We had the most frightening time ever that weekend. I was in the awning at 2am trying to empty it as I knew it was gonna have to be dismatled before the wind took it. At 4am we were battling outside taking it down. The only good thing was that we didnt suffer any damage but when daylight came the vans that were empty had lost their awnings and contents. Others had broken poles and torn awnings.

I was in the awning at 2am trying to empty it as I knew it was gonna have to be dismatled before the wind took it. At 4am we were battling outside taking it down. The only good thing was that we didnt suffer any damage but when daylight came the vans that were empty had lost their awnings and contents. Others had broken poles and torn awnings.

we had a night like that at moffat one year,was up most of the night tying down the awning to what ever we could get our hands on.even tied it to the pushchair, and all this was on the inside of the awning. grandchild slept through it which was a good thing.it was a night to remember.

we had a night like that at moffat one year,was up most of the night tying down the awning to what ever we could get our hands on.even tied it to the pushchair, and all this was on the inside of the awning. grandchild slept through it which was a good thing.it was a night to remember.

Hi Michael, funny enough our ten year old daughter also slept through it. She couldn't believe it when she got up and awning was no where to be seen. She thought it had blown away in the wind, lol. Its a really frightning thing to experience as you are basically using torch light and cant see a thing, but you live and learn I suppose. We kept everything in it. We didnt have an oven in the caravan so we had made a wee mini kitchen in it complete with combi oven. You should have seen our caravan in the morning piled up to the ceiling with stuff to protect it from the elements! Its a laugh now but it has put us off awnings to be honest. We've not got one for the caravan that we've just bought. I think we will wait till the summer to buy one. 

A properly secured good quality awning will survive any wind that the UK has to offer.

By good quality, I'm referring to those such as an Isabella, Bradcot or Dorema. Others I cannot vouch for but I should think those constructed with Ten Cate material would be much the same.

Three tie down straps secured by long worm pegs holding down each leg and another throw over strap from side to side but under the awning itself to prevent the strap chafing the awning will more than suffice. Some awnings come with a pre-stitched tag either end and this obviously adds to the security. Then as said, some quality pegs such as Deltas to secure the bottom of the awning.

It just seems a bit daft to me that someone can spend up to a thousand pounds on an awning and then not bother to invest another £30 or £40 to safeguard that investment. Plus of course the integrity of the van itself. I've seen some extremely ugly damage to vans caused by flying awning poles.