The last trip I put my awning up! Whoop Whoop. it was surprisingly easy (Pennine Countryman 2017), very lightweight and the instructions were understandable even for me!
It was a great addition to the space but we don't have much furniture so it looked a bit sparse!
I have a couple of questions cos I'm new at all this.....
1. Do you have to peg the inside awning bits down? Should all the floor eyelet holes meet up? (Mine didn't really)
2. What's the best carpet to buy?
3. On the side panels there are kinda weird flaps that come back inside the trailer. I had the trailer skirts on so there was two layers of canvas there.....is that right? I guess its so you don't have to put the skirts on.....??
3. It was very mild weather and I didn't really bother too much with the pegging out of the awning. Is it necessary??
4. How much additional stuff do you store in your trailer? Mine is really filling up and I thought about putting stuff under the black cover, like chairs etc. Do you pile it under there or is that not a good idea?
Thanks for the replies everyone. LOVING my trailer, it's been the best purchase for us. :-)
Best to buy a breathable groundsheet. A lot of sites specify that. You can get the springy rubber type ones they have holes in them but they are soft underfoot.
The flappy bits on the awning are more useful when you aren't using the skirts. They cover the join of awning and caravan from floor upwards leaving less of a gap. When not using the skirts you can thread the part of the awning along that covers the gap under the van and that meets up with the flappy bits and stops any gaps. With the skirts you may not use that long bit that runs along as you need access to the storage under the bed boards, or you may have an underbed tent as we did on one side so again you wouldn't use that little gap covers. (On most FC and caravans that little piece would cover the wheel)
We always pegged the awning out using all anchor points on the outside not sure if you were referring to pegging the inside bits? We also used a storm strap over the front part of the awning just back from the front legs. I taped a piece of flat sponge like the type you use in washing up bowl around the middle of the strap with duck tape to stop it flapping and rubbing the canvas. You may have the big storm straps already attached to your awning near the front, it being a more up,to,date version than ours was. The weather can change quickly so be prepared is a good motto to follow!
Packing the trailer up is a very individual thing. And weight has to be considered too. We used to share it between car and trailer. Often I found it annoying arriving at site and having loads of stuff to find a home for whilst we got the camper up, especially in the rain! A lot of it was transferred back to the car whilst we got things sorted. We used to put the fold up chairs under the cover around the edges where there was a natural shelf bit, I think the groundsheets too.
Q1 The inside flap on mine is light grey. I don't peg this down. I only peg the elastic rings on the outside and at the bottom of the poles. I do pull it in to the awning and you can peg down to stop droughts.
Q2 I have bought a carpet but don't really use it. I normally put down some foam mats as I find them easier to use / handle and to wash.
Q3 Yes that's right. Not everyone has the skirts. When I have the awning up, I normally roll up the flaps from the awning and tie them up as otherwise they get in the way.
Q4 In the summer I don't put the sides on at all, but double peg each corner. If the sides are on and you don't peg down you might find the canvas flaps at night and wakes you. I normally put most pegs in if the sides are on ..
Q5 My awning lives on top of the unit, but under the cover. On the floor in the trailer I have my chair, table, mini oven, side shelf (clips on by hob), water container, step. Cupboard by door has pots and pans, toolkit, kettle, fire blanket, tissues and first aid kit. Under seat with fuse box - EHU, bucket, crocs, pegs and mallet. Pillows and spare fleece and blanket under the hob. Washing up bowl and plastic drinking glasses, pump and fold up bin under the sink. Front locker has gas, winder, waste container, rag and wooden blocks. Sleeping bag lives on bed and just remove it in winter. The long storage box over wheel arch has some canned food and cling film, kitchen roll (depending on model you might have a second box under seat).
With packing I found it best to have camping kit inside the camper with awning and chairs etc on top. Clothes and food etc in the car. Bedding was inside camper.
That means no unfolding for packing or unpacking at home and on sit, if it's raining, everything can be in the car until the camper is up.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Awning, pegging out & carpets
