Sorry for long post.
We’ve just returned from a quite wet and very windy week in Salisbury. We fitted our storm strap earlier in week as the wind picked up. On Wed night, we lost our awning. It just picked itself up and was flailing at an angle of 90o to van. With two of us holding onto awning, the third person threw everything into van dismantling cupboards as they went! We then managed to take awning down and put that in car. We were all soaked and frozen but, on checking the following morning, the awning had survived.
We are experienced caravan and campers, have put up many tents and awnings, so I’m feeling that I need to rethink things. The storm strap disappeared. My question is which one do you recommend and do you use thicker straps as guys? I have noticed a few with wider guys than the usual cord ones. Any ideas welcome. Our youngest son heads off to uni this yr. so it will just be the two of us and the two dogs. We couldn’t have saved everything without him, so I want to future proof things as much as possible.
Nobody came out to help us, despite curtains twitching… I know we would have been out there straight away if it had been another camper in that situation. Sad really!
------------- 2026
Various weekends, weather and time permitting
April - Yorkshire and Yorkshire
June - Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Autumn - North and Scotland
was it the the straps that failed (although you typed strap, hope you had more than 1?) or was it that the pegs pulled out of the ground, maybe part of the solution is get some bigger old fashioned 'patrol tent' type pegs as well as decent straps.
------------- Regards
Johno
VP and Librarian of the Renault Trafic MK1 Owners group
When we had vans, we preferred a traditional awning and ended up with an Isabella with CarbonX frame. I think the pole securing system etc on that gave us an advantage over other awnings we'd had. So, awning type, construction and frame may have an immediate bearing in storm situations.
We used Isabella Storm Securing Kit, which are straps and very long, strong metal pegs. The straps fit around the rafter joints (corners and middle) on the inside of the awning, not over the top like other brands. Indeed, Isabella claim that fixing a strap over the top of the awning can damage the awning.
I think good pegs, at the usual 45 degrees, is imperative, whether it be on an awning or a tent. And, use every guy rope (how often you see them not attached, or still bundled and tied up, especially on awnings). For added awning stability you could add extra rafter poles and / or front legs.
Ultimately, the way you're pitched / exposure to the storm might be implicated. Once, we were in a tent during a violent storm in France. We were unscathed but, in the morning, the campsite was littered with fallen tree branches and some caravan awnings were quite literally over the roofs of caravans or torn off completely.
You can only do what you can do, and hope for the best. Maybe better to take an awning down if high winds are forecast but we all know that's not an easy or quick task, especially when you've got it set out with all your gear.
It sounds like you've been very unlucky. It must have been scary. Glad nobody got hurt and neither the awning nor the van were damaged.
Quote: Originally posted by moppetsdad on 15/4/2023
When you use awning straps again make sure to put a twist in them, because it stops them viabrating in the howling wind.
Thanks for that, I've never thought about twisting the straps,
Neither did I!
Shall try that with the storm straps on my awning next time.
Mind you, I put the awning away if it is windy, and do not leave it out when I am not on site or at night when I am asleep, unless I can be certain of no to very light winds only.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I must admit I would not normally offer to help if there are more than one person addressing an issue, for fear of interfering and adding tension to an already stressful situation.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I've got a couple of awnings and the instructions BOTH advise NOT to use (take down if necessary!) in strong winds! They are simply not capable of nor designed to withstand strong winds.
I've used mine in winds far stronger than sensible (they were already up before the winds started!) and they've survived OK.
My Kampa Air awning has all webbing guys and the optional storm straps are even bigger webbing BUT with an elasticated section to allow a bit of flexing on the awning. The storm straps affix to the dedicated attachment points near the roof/rail.
My Sunncamp lightweight poled (single hooped pole) awning has very few guy ropes but they are cord, I've used the webbing storm straps on that when necessary.
My Kampa has survived a gale that blew up from nowhere, it trashed adjacent tents and windbreaks, and was blowing in the walls of my awning, but did no lasting damage. It was far too windy for me to attempt to take down the awing on my own as that would have been dangerous to both myself and the caravan, it just had to take it's chances until the wind passed. The best I could do was move the car close into the awning to provide a bit of shelter and shield from the wind as much as possible.
The manufacturers intention is that you don't use an awning in strong winds, but that is easier said than done when it's already erected! Beyond fitting storm straps, and pegging ALL points with decent pegs, ensuring guys are taught, not really sure there is anything else you can do.
If you put on too strong guys that have insufficient elasticity, you risk over straining the attachment points which may fail! Ropes and webbing are often intended to have a little give under load, and are deliberately chosen to protect anchor points.
I didn’t know about the twist either. We normally pay more attention to weather forecasts. I suppose this one caught us out. The awning as a Kampa pro 390 pole not air. I’ve bought a different strap. It didn’t help that the hard standing and surrounding grass was flooded so the pegs wouldn’t stay in …
------------- 2026
Various weekends, weather and time permitting
April - Yorkshire and Yorkshire
June - Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Autumn - North and Scotland
in the sort of conditions you seem to have suffered from we have simply moved the car to take the brunt of the weather off the awning and also use the car as an ancourage point, i seriously doubt any wind is going to send a 2.5 ton 4 x 4 air bound
Quote: Originally posted by gailbonney on 16/4/2023
I didn’t know about the twist either. We normally pay more attention to weather forecasts. I suppose this one caught us out. The awning as a Kampa pro 390 pole not air. I’ve bought a different strap. It didn’t help that the hard standing and surrounding grass was flooded so the pegs wouldn’t stay in …
I use 4 regular ratchet straps on our porch awning, and if its bad - in conjunction with 12 inch re-bar pegs. On one occasion i have also used rope i had in the truck, lashing it to the legs of the van. To be honest, awnings arent really built for severe weather with or without straps. And i'd either take it down, or not even put it up, if it was forecast.
Quote: Originally posted by OLLIEB on 16/4/2023
Try some rebar about 18-24 inch then just bend in a hook end and put a split tennis ball on them for safety
Not many would have the wherewithal to put a hook into re-bar!
Quote: Originally posted by OLLIEB on 16/4/2023
Try some rebar about 18-24 inch then just bend in a hook end and put a split tennis ball on them for safety
We bought something similar from our local camping shop, labelled as marquee pegs, or ground anchors. They don’t budge, especially after being driven in by a substantial long handled lump hammer.
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: Storm straps
via mobile 14/4/2023 at 7:43pm
