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Hi all, just wondered if we were the only people who find awning ladders hopeless?  Our van is on a seasonal pitch and pretty much every weekend we are having to replace a couple of ladders which have snapped. 

As we are now approaching winter, we are going to be securing down the awning ready for the winter season so wondered if anyone has any thoughts on an alternative to awning ladders? 

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

Don't think Im thick but what are awning ladders?

Not at all. Bit of an odd expression for the things that we use to peg our awnings down with. These are ladders.....

I can here you now "Didn't know they were called that". Next time you go away ask one of the kids to go and get an awning ladder and see what he comes back with

Phil

Probably come in different qualities, We've got a Bradcot, and it has a heavy plastic type of ladder.  Not had one break yet in nearly eight years, so suspect other awnings have a softer type???

Tony B

I hate awning ladders with a vengenge.  There easy enough to replace if one goes, but the thing I hate is that when you take down the awning and pack away, if you leave the ladders on then there's a good chance some will come off and either get lost or end up in the bottom of the bag.  This was particularly the case with our last Dorema awning.  When we had to replace the awning I especially went for the Eurovent because of the pegging point.  Good old fashioned rubber band type which were not sewn in, but fixed in a buckled tape loop.  Brilliant pegging points!  Easy to replace, they don't come off, you can adjust them by tightening the 'buckle', they don't mis-shape like the ladders and they last longer.  I've even invented a good strap-line for them.... 'One day all pegging points will be made that way'.  The awning goes up so well, you could park your car on the top!! 

Sadly, it doesn't help if you already have ladders

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions - so glad it's not just us that have these difficulties.  I think we will give Wizzo's suggestion a try and see how we get on. 

Thank you all once again.

Just a thought, I wonder if the awning vertical poles may be extended too far and putting extra tension on the ladders? On our Bradcott there's ladders on the corner points and rubbers between, they all stay in good condition.

I always use a peg puller to remove the pegs when taking it down so that the ladders don't get pulled.I've seen people pulling the pegs out using the rubber bands.

Hope this helps, good luck with it.

p.s. thanks to cwdc for pointing out what ladders are, that would have gone around in my head all night, I didn't have a clue they were called that, cheers!

Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 05/10/2011

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Don't think Im thick but what are awning ladders?

Not at all. Bit of an odd expression for the things that we use to peg our awnings down with. These are ladders.....

I can here you now "Didn't know they were called that". Next time you go away ask one of the kids to go and get an awning ladder and see what he comes back with

Phil

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We bought a full set of spare ladder straps thinking they'd snapp, so far we haven't had one break. I don't overstretch them when I peg the awning down though, I like to have them tight but not like a guitar string.

Just my opinpn but, if I had my van on a seasonla pitch, I'd certainly not be leaving the awning up over the winter months. I've een snow bring the roof down on several farm buildings & I hate to think what damage a few inches of snow, considering water weighs 10ld per gallon, would do to an awning.

BB