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Quote: Originally posted by madspaceangel on 10/5/2013We are going to the IoW at the end of the month. The site we are booked with is in a quite exposed spot I believe and may be very windy.

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We would like to use our awning but I am a bit nervous as I've read things about them getting ripped off in high wind and doing big damage to the 'van.

Is it better to forgo using the awning (it is a full size one, a dorema) or is there a way of getting it really secured down and minimising chances of an incident?

Firstly no question is stupid,that's what these forums are for. No matter how big or small, hopefully someone can help. Regarding your awning,I myself have the Dorema full awning. I have purchased a awning pole tensioner. They are brilliant and keep the awning nice and taught. Make sure when you hammer your pegs in,put them at a angle. It was a how I was taught in the scouts,and is much better than putting them in straight. You can also purchase the storm straps for your awning from dorema, I think I paid about £15 for mine. They clip into the clasps on the sides. After that you should be ok. Just keep checking everything is taught, pegs are well into the ground and all ropes and straps are tight. Hope this helps cheers scoobz

My advice on getting the awning up and down in the wind is as follows. It's going to be a bit long winded but it's never let us down in many years of caravanning on beach front pitches in some serious gales with units around us losing theirs.

We've always removed our panels and kept them seperate from the canopy, therefore they go in last when erecting the awning and come out first when striking it. This allows any wind to blow straight though unitl you've secured the canopy with pegs etc leaving you in control  We've always rolled our awnings up upside down, lay it on its roof then after sorting out any loose bits, fold the front toward the caravan side twice then roll it up so you end up with the convertor rail exposed on one end. This allows you to insert this convertor rail into the van and unroll the awning straight into the awning rail on the van without having the canopy unfolded and able to blow about. Pegging it down as you go and finish off by putting the panels in or taking them out dependant upon where the wind is coming from.

To secure our awnings I've always been told I go over the top but, we've never lost one apart from hiaving an annex blow in twice over the years.

On our Dorema awning I've always used their extra storm poles as wel as their storm straps plus adding several simple cheap additions of my own. When the awning is up and the storm straps are fixed, I then slip a length of webbing under the front veranda and over the little poles which hold it up & seure this webbing down to Dog Tether screws placed at the foot of each of the front support upright end poles. Just tie this webbing tight, don't pull the frame to distort it and don't allow the strap to be loose. In addition to this, I always carry a bag of nylon baler twine with me, being a country boy I have access to this but you could buy a length of thin 4 or 6mm rope from a camping centre or B & Q.

I push this string in through the front of the awning through the holes where the veranda poles pass through the canopy, wrap it around the moulding where the uprights meet the roof rails so it's not tied to the pole itself & again I tie this string down to the three Dog tether screw I've put in the ground tight to the awning at each conrner & the centre pole position. Tie this string "just" tight so it's not pulling the frame out of shape but won't allow it to lift. this way the storm straps hold the canopy down, the extra webbing & strings hold the frame and it can't go anywhere.

I've used the ground screws, 9 in total, at the end of the annexes tied with my string as well, they cost about £3 each & the string has been with me for years and was free so I've never bought the expensive items to keep our awnings secure.

BB

Quote: Originally posted by Bridgelayer on 11/5/2013

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Don't forget to twist the storm strap. It stops it buzzing while you're trying to sleep. (it also helps prevent neighbours from throwing bird seed on top of your van )

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