Hi, can anyone recommend suction coat hooks which I can use on the outside of the caravan (within the awning) which will actually stay up with a coat hung on them .
Hi Tango55, thanks for posting. I've got some of these hooks left over from "tenting days", I was looking for suction hooks to keep wet jackets out of way rather than dangling in awning space. I had actually forgotten all about them but they may be a good compromise, thanks for the memeory jog :-)
I find that suction hooks are okay for hanging light items on such as a dog lead, a fly squatter, umbrella or hat etc. but hanging heavier items such as coats they tend to slide with the weight and eventually lose their suction and fall off. We always use the hooks as previously mentioned but only one on each pole as too much weight can tend to bend the pole especially wet coats after coming in from the rain.
Being as the outer skin of a caravan is made of relatively thin metal which relies somewhat on its backing for its strength, I think if you did manage to find a suction type hook strong enough to hold a fairly heavy wet coat, then you would be in danger of damaging the outer skin of your caravan, even to the point of a potential tear in the outer skin from the sheer downward pull from its weight.
A better idea would be to either use some of the S shaped hooks onto the awning frame as described above, or buy one of the laundry racks, either the free standing collapseable type, or the whirly ones that can be pegged down into a corner and use that as a coat stand if you have enough space in a large awning.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Wilkinsons sell suction cups for about 70p for two we use these and have never had any problems. Used to hold the awning skirt to the wheel arch, and to hold a nest of pockets up in the awning.
Your replys are greatly appreciated I take onboard the reply about possible damage to outer skin of van, I have a dinky Bailey 400-2 with an even dinkier Kampa 200 porch awning so would not have room for a free standing outfit, I will go with an s hook per horizontal and try the Wilko hooks for dog leads etc.
B&Q do them and they are fine for one coat on the outside of the van. We have used them for weeks on end and have never had an issue. They would easily hold more than one coat but we stick to one so its not to heavy. They are useless inside the van (don't stick to any of the surfaces!) but fine on the outside!