I don't often post, usually lurk in the background but I'm hoping you seasoned caravanners can give me a few tips please!
We recently sold our tent and bought our first van, really impressed with how quick we can get the feet down and kettle on but the awning was a different matter...
We have a Kampa Fiesta Air awning but we had a right job threading the awning onto the rail, neither my husband or myself are very tall so struggled to pull the awning through the rail, plus it was quite stiff.
Other than standing on a set of steps, is there anything else we can do to make this job easier?
Not sure if you did, but one common mistake is to be feeding the awning in from the bottom end of the rail, much easier to start at one of the rail openings around head height.
One person at the bottom of the rail making sure the awning has a straight run and the other on the caravan step pulling it through.
Our van has a wider opening a couple of feet up but find it goes in easier straight from the bottom.
Give the rail a spray then a clean out with a small brush then spray it again.
Don't step off the steps the wrong way though its further down than you think.
Quote: Originally posted by Rowlo on 02/5/2015
... I'll get some silicone furniture polish and make sure we pack a set of steps in the van!
Don't make the mistake of standard furniture polish as these can dry and leave a waxy residue if left. There are specific silicon sprays for awning channels, or a non-greasy silicon spray from Maplin or Halfords would do the job.
As for the steps, your normal caravan step should do to help you reach up, without the need of packing additional one's.
We are not very tall but our double caravan step allows us to reach the awning rail no problem and we use awning rail lubricant from our caravan dealers.
Thanks everyone, our caravan step is quite low, its not one of those 2 tier jobbies, so even on the step we couldn't quite reach when the awning (eventually!) got to the highest point.
Maybe investing in a double step would be a good idea, we're quite lucky to have a small caravan supplies shop down the road, i'll nip in tomorrow and look for awning rail lubricant too.
Look at the awning rail. They usually have a sharper bend at the back of the van. If so, start threading from the front and it will save dragging it round that tight bend too much.
Ah that's a good idea Navver, didn't think about that, it was tough to get around the back corner, will give it a go from the front when we go this weekend
Mr Sheen has a higher silicon ratio than wax never had a problem feeding awning after lubrication.
Lidl / ALdi sell pure silicon lubricating spray in Yellow tin £1.99, tin should last you a full seasonal.
I have a stainless steel tool for pulling round awning rail to see if rail has been closed in any time by unknown accident.
If tool sticks just tap past tight spot which will be reopened up to original size, only used once in about 6 years I have had it.
I have seen people using those pick up sticks to ease awning round rail instead of continually moving steps.
The type used to pick up litter and plastic bottles from of M-way banking.
When the awning rail is not in use I thread a old plastic washing line through the rail to keep dirt and muck out. We also have a light weight two step ladder/ stall that doubles up to a extra seat if needed
Thank you to everyone for all of your help and advice, we're just on our way back from a weekend in the lake district and I can report we had much more success with the awning this time round!
Armed with a set of two tier steps and a can of awning rail lubricant, we (the royal we!) prepped the rail and then started to thread the awning in from the front of the van at head height and it was a doddle!
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Topic: Awning rail...tips please!
