New to this site so bear with me. We are on a seasonal pitch in yorkshire for the first time. Having erected our new to us Bradcote Active awning, and having it totaly destroyed by the high winds last week, where did we go wrong as other awnings on the site stayed up. Granted ours was alloy poles ( bad idea on seasonal pitch ). We are buying a Quest Elite Blenheim awning with steel poles and storm straps. Does anyone have any advice on how we can keep this one erect as the pitch is prone to savage winds.
we also on seasonal pitch and erected our Bradcot Consept awning only to have that ripped off the van and ruinned.
Insurance paid quickly and new Concept was purchased, except we paid extra for the fibre glass poles. (we had the aluminium poles too and they bent so easliy)
we also purchased these www.awninghandyman.co.uk (we have one in each corner) so far they have with stood equally bad winds since.
We're on a seasonal in North Yorkshire and as the name suggests Highfield Farm)it is rather high and the winds can be horrendous. We had our Quest Sandringham blow down twice the year before last and then added two extra storm straps. No problem since then but we did increase the pegs and bought VERY heavy duty ones. We've just finished putting up our new awning as the Quest eventually gave up and leaked like a sieve. We've now bought a Eurovent Montreaux which is supposedly a 4 season so if we can get 3 seasons out of it we'll be pleased. It really looks very substantial and much stronger than the Quest which was sold as suitable for a seasonal pitch but then we were told it wasn't really suitable.
Good luck in our beautiful climate and here's hoping you have no trouble and we all have a SUMMER.
Storm straps are the answer as everyone else has said one trick you can try is to run some small ratchet straps diagonally across the front inside of the awning to form a cross don't over tighten these as it shall bend the frame, these should provide some support to side winds you can also run some of these vertically at each end and again at the front this should help stop and lifting.
I also have a Bradcot awning and so far so good but I also have the alloy easy up poles and these are very soft and have a few that bent. A bit cheeky but if you have any that were salvaged and are selling I would be happy to make an offer.
Thanks for the replys,ive just bought two handyman awning supports,with these,storm straps and bigger pegs there is nothing more we can do ,except prey,
Put them on the poles to reduse the chance of the poles pushing back and given the awning a chance of flapping up and down.
Plenty of storm straps, I also put one in the centre between the two doors on the middle pole pulling it away from the caravan if you know what I mean.
In addition, a pair of those 'cheap'? 15ft or 5mts ratchet straps sold in £ shops.
Stitch a loop in the non ratchet end and thread that onto the centre awning pole, on the immediate outside of the awning.(ie near the front overhang.)
Then take the strap to the outer awning poles ( hope you're keeping up) and down to the ground where the hook should be put through a stout (and I mean stout!!!) peg.
Ratchet the ensemble down until the whole thing is taut.
------------- How come when some people visit the fountain of knowledge, they only gargle!!!
You have to really make sure it is down well, as people have said, storm straps, secondary straps down inside, sandbags all around skirt, and go to your local caravan shop and replace the pegs with marquee pegs.
Mine is on a windy site in West Yorkshire and I have seen 9 awnings down this season already.
Thanks folks for all your great replies. Extra supports - jubilee clips - hard core pegs - inside storm straps - outside storm straps - ratchet straps. Asking to be moved when better pitch available. Fingers crossed eh..............
Welcome to the site!
I was worried about having an awning as our seasonal pitch is windy too. After hearing some stories on here I was concerned that if it was really bad when we weren't there the poles might damage the caravan so decided to buy (on order), an inflatable Kampa awning so we can put it up and take it down every time we use the 'van. According to people who have one they are very quick and easy to put up and take down. At least my mind will be at rest when we are at home.
we too are on an exposed seasonal pitch in cheshire, i have acdded to ratchet straps to the outside frame at the front to stop wind lifting up the legs. and being ex campers we used rock pegs and deltas as well as every pegging point and guy rope. finally, insid i added three additional leg poles and bungees to support the fabric and frame. thus far ours hasnt shifted, but others have, fingers crossed and good luck!
I am on a seasonal pitch, just make sure you peg down well, I just use the normal plastic pegs,My choice. I have longer steel pegs on the corners of the awning, You are better adding extra roof poles as well, fibre & alloy poles for a seasonal pitch are a waste of time, they bend, fiber crack or split in the wind, These cheap ratchet straps are only a temp measure they rot in no time at all,You be lucky to get a season. get your self a awning tensioner, tension the awning tight.The caravan skirt is just as important, make sure its well pegged, the wind blows under the van and blows the awning upwards like a kite.
A slack awning is asking to be blown away,plus wear to the awning its self,I tell folk not to use these silly storm strap clips that the strap clicks to on the corner of the awning, seen to many rip these off completly. I go through the corners of the awning and tie directly to the corner brackets.also use veranda poles to take the stress put some water pipe insulation over the pole to stop it rubbing against the windows.If your awning has the eye holes on the outside of the awning(theres normaly 4 at the front 2 on each of the sides)These are for ties to stop the windows blowing,Look for these.. IsaLink storm guy.These stop the awning windows from damage.
http://www.isabella.net/uk/accessories/spare-parts
its a fact,you get what you pay for.
------------- Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!
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: Awning versus winds.
