Hi
We are currently ontop of a hill in Wales and boy it's windy. The airbeam awning is bending like hell. We can't take it down as it's too windy. About 40 mph wind gusts. Anyone been in winds like that with an awning?
Few years back in Essex near the coast, VERY flat, when an un-forecast squall blew up. It battered everything on site for a few hours, flattening tents, snapping windbreaks off at ground level etc. My Kampa air awning was end on (side wall) to the full force. I moved the car in front of it to provide some protection, which may have helped. It buckled and distorted but survived. Only real problem was the end airtube twisted inside it's containment sleeve, which required deflating and realignment after the gale past. Like you, taking the awning down was not an option once the wind had really got up, far too dangerous to be handling a loose awning, it was a case of leaving it to it's fate, and it survived OK.
The manufacturers recommend NOT using in strong winds, but sometimes these things catch you out and you just have to let nature take it's course. Plenty of tales of air awnings (and tents) surviving unscathed, winds far in excess or reasonable. There is great risk in attempting to remove an awning in strong winds, it's a large sail area and can easily exert huge force as a loose flappy pile of fabric if the wind catches it, a friend had a near miss with a tent when taking down, where his teenage daughter was lifted feet off the ground, before thankfully having the presence of mind to let go. The tent cleared a couple of caravans and landed a complete mangled wreck in the next field!
End of the day, it's a replaceable awning. Attempting to take down in excessive wind is hugely risky to persons, caravans, and neighbours! The lesser risk is leaving up.
Our awning is end on too, but we can't put the car infront as there isn't enough room. We have put the car infront of the front, which has helped a bit, but the main gusts are hitting the end. It's the gusts that are a killer. So far it's surviving, but we've had to rehang some pegs in as they were coming out.
Our vango Varlala has stood up to 40 mph winds.
When the wind started to get up I unzipped and removed the end sun canopy to stop the wind getting under and lifting it then I fitted every storm strap that I had and shielded with the car.
At its very worst the wind flattened one of the end beams but it just snapped back up and thankfully the episode did not last too long.
all a bit hairy but overall I was quite impressed but no more clifftops for me
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Airbeam awning + wind
via mobile 24/5/2025 at 8:21pm
