Just found this on the Kampa website. Looks like a really good idea, especially for people that often put their awning up on their own.
I wonder how effective they are in real life, if there might be any downsides and if coming up with a home made version would be that hard. What are people's thoughts?
That looks very interesting Andy, we had had similar ideas in the past but couldn't be sure it would work. This kit is so new that Kampa haven't got any yet, the first batch are due at the end of the month.
Often the biggest struggle is feeding the awning into the channel at the begining where the openings are, especially with the new air awnings that are very heavy. We use the silicone spray in the awning rail at the start of the season to help ease things along, but im unsure if that device would be as easy as it looks.
A couple of years ago we bought aa awning puller from Winfields online store which is a long sturdy metal hook with a handle on one end rather like a very long shoe horn. One end hooks onto the leading awning eye and enebles easy reach to pull the awning along without the use of steps once you get the leading edge up onto the straight part of the rail. Its still takes one of us to pull and one to feed into the channel at the lower gap, but for a Tenner it was money well spent, its sturdy, simple and no parts to loose or go wrong, which is more than l can say for some of Kampa's so called gadgets we have tried in the past.
Julia
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For anyone interested and doesn't want to wait, there's a guy selling them on ebay for £29.99 Inc del.
I'm very intrigued to find out how well it works as I have a Rally Pro Air 390 which I sometimes set up on my own.
However, I've decided to go down the home made route. The component list has come to £18 but, bar the pulley at £3.77, this is enough to make 2 kits. The father in-law is also very interested so we're going halves.
Andy, the seller on ebay is selling them now with delivery when he receives them from Kampa at the end of the month. I saw the bit that promised delivery next week but lower down the page it explains that they are waiting for stock.
Let us know how you get on. I'm not sure about the awning stop providing enough resistance to enable you to pull against it but otherwise it looks straightforward enough.
The Kampa video looks great but they are using one of the lightest, smaller awnings for the demonstration, our Rally Pro 390 is probably twice as heavy as that.
I agree with your comments and am also slightly skeptical at how it will handle a heavier awning.
I do like the fact that it's providing the force in almost exactly the right direction that's needed.
I find the worst part of threading an awning is the marker light that sticks out just below the rail, the awning always snags on it.
I find if I insert the awning from the front I can push it most of the way (apart from the above mentioned) The pulley would be useful as I could stand inside the awning to guide it over the marker light
I bought the Kampa version but haven't been able to try it yet as the awning stops are too big to fit in my awning rail. When I get home I'll measure the stops and see if the ones that Andy mentioned are suitable. I will also ask Kampa if they have a smaller diameter stop available to suit the Swift awning rail.
Quote: Originally posted by Rob and Tina on 24/3/2018
I bought the Kampa version but haven't been able to try it yet as the awning stops are too big to fit in my awning rail. When I get home I'll measure the stops and see if the ones that Andy mentioned are suitable. I will also ask Kampa if they have a smaller diameter stop available to suit the Swift awning rail.
I though awning rails were one-size-fits-all?
(diameter, not length)
If it's too narrow to take the awning stop, wouldn't it also be too narrow to take an awning strip?
Answer to own question: A quick google shows that awning stops seem to come in 6mm and 8mm diameters, so maybe there is some variation after all.
The awning rail openings are too small for the awning stops supplied in the kit. Kampa are aware that some openings are smaller than others and are sourcing different awning stops.
We only got home last night so I'll measure the stops later but I think they are 8mm and I probably need 6mm to fit in to the awning rail on our Sprite.
Having looked at the video, I bet that regular cleaning & lubrication of the rail would be necessary.
I was very impressed with the way the awning fed into the rail opening without any human intervention - ours have always had to be 'persuaded' in inch by inch.
If the awning doesn't want to "go quietly" there will be a lot of force applied to the bit of the awning rail where the awning stop is fitted - perhaps enough to distort it.
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Topic: Kampa Easy Awning Pulley
