We have a Vango Verkala air awning. It was the first one to collapse on the morning of Storm Ali, and that was before the winds really gathered strength. The three main struts kept bending like a giant bendy toy, at one time making it hard to open the caravan door. The cross beam struts, which on the Vango awnings are separate and are fixed in place by velcro to the main struts, just flew off. Where the awning feeds into the awning rail, the material had started to tear away from the channel. All in all, not to be recommended. I know that the winds (we were at Lauder in Scotland) were fierce, but it was later in the day before other awnings were taken down, and one good old fashioned steel pole, canvas porch awning, was still standing when the storm passed. The owner had put storm guys over the top, and also storm guyed the poles inside as well. Maybe he was lucky, but as an advert for air awnings, ours wasn't good.
Thanks for all of your replies guys :) I have been a bit under the weather myself lol so apologies for the late response! I have gone with the Swift 260 air awning, at £230 it isn’t a massive loss if it does let me down. I am following your lead Morepints and invested in some of those candy cane pegs and the roof pole. I have also got some Delta ground pegs…has anyone used these on their awning ladders? I am not quite sure how they will attach yet but the theory behind them is good and it will save time hunting through the grass to find the dam things as they lay on top and can be easily seen. I am hoping that if I know a storm is coming it will be quite easy to whip the thing down as it only took me 15 mins to set up the poled version on my own and hopefully I will manage to take it down in even less time! Got a new problem now, I think with my water heater as every time I switch it on it blows the site! Got a guy coming to look at it on monday but my senses are telling me it is the element in the heater that needs replacing :/ another expensive job me thinks
------------- If I can tow a caravan then anyone can!
Morepints...hahahaha!!!
nora.....I am at the caravan most of the time, in fact I am there more than I am at home even through the winter! The first time it hit us out of the blue and I was asleep, got up at 3am and pulled the awning down, this time I was visiting friends when it hit. Now hopefully I have found an awning that can be taken down and put up within minutes so it isn't a monumental job like my Dorema was ( I am on my own) and I can take it down when I am not there.
Moorlander.....I have found the element I need an it is £100! £100 for two wires and a bit of bent metal. the prices they charge for caravan spares is a real mick take. Got a guy coming out today to do the service and hopefully repair the element and hoping the bill isn't going to be too painful :/ thanks guys :)
------------- If I can tow a caravan then anyone can!
Quote: Originally posted by nora on 01/11/2018
If this has happened before why ! Do you leave your awning up . I have never understood why anyone would leave an awning up if your not there.
I was thinking the same. Also no matter how many straps, pegs used, its still going to be a high risk of damage.
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HEATH63,
I am following Morepints advice on the pegs etc to give the awning the best possible chance of holding together if I am caught away from the awning for a short period of time if the bad weather hits. Like I explained to nora in an earlier post I am at the caravan more than I am at home and taking my full size Dorema down on my own for just one or two nights every week was just was not feasible. With this new porch awning I should be able to do just that.
------------- If I can tow a caravan then anyone can!
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Topic: lost another caravan awning
