After reading the post about tent footprints I thought I'd ask you all about awning footprints.
After a very soggy weekend on a grass pitch we had water coming over the footprint causing puddles in the carpet - how do I prevent this please? Is there a way?
Many thanks
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Firstly I don't think you can do much to stop ingress of 'running' water into your awning, I've had positive rivers running under van and through awning when rain has been torrential! When the rain stops, it drains away, never been a problem other than the odd wet sock when I hadn't realised carpet was floating on a river! Even if you use a 'bedroom' in your awning, they usually have their own built in waterproof bathtub groundsheet to deal with that problem.
The beauty of 'proper' woven awning carpets, is they let water drain through and away rather than puddle. Footprints under carpets in awnings don't serve a lot of purpose, typical awning carpets are water resistant (as in not inclined to soak up water and become saturated), quick drying and easy to clean if they get wet and muddy (hose down when you get home), AND are packed separate from the awning flysheet. Tent footprint's role is to keep tent sewn in ground sheet dry and mud free so that when you pack tent away you don't transfer wet and mud to the flysheet! - different situation entirely.
Most sites wont thank you for using an impermeable 'footprint' in your awning and yellowing the grass! Most insist on breathable 'carpets' only, and some go further and expect you to lift that occasionally for a few hours to let grass recover!
About only way I see of keeping awning floor dry is a waterproof 'bathtub' type groundsheet with raised 'walls' so any running water goes underneath rather than on top. Think there have been awnings with them built in, but few and far between AFAIK, and NEVER seen one offered as an accessory.
How do you stop water puddling on your carpet? - don't use a waterproof footprint under it!
i believe its kampa that make an inflateable groundsheet, basically its a big square paddling pool! expensive tho, but generally speaking you dont have footprints for caravan awnings
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