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Hi everyone!

On returning to do some repairs to our 'van this weekend, it appears that the wind has taken it's toll on the Dorema Starcamp awning and we have some broken poles.

I did buy storm straps from Ebay last year which were supposedly Dorema compatable, my husband had to make some adjustments as they turned out not to fit at all. This has obviously weakened the straps and so they haven't been very effective in holding the awning down. Lesson learned

Can anyone suggest the best option for new poles? We have a corner pieces that needs replacing, and probably at least 2 or 3 other poles which have bent where they attach. I'm less than impressed actually, I know the site we're on is windy but they seem to have crumpled worryingly easily.

I was thinking of writing to Dorema but although the awning is quite new it's from Ebay, so I doubt they'll be all that interested in the problems we've had.  

Just out of interest too, a lady at a caravan shop in Reighton mentioned that the Quest awnings are manufactured at the same factory as Dorema. And my husband noticed that the Quest storm strap fixings were the same as the Dorema. Fingers crossed that the Quest ones are cheaper! I'm about to google it now...will let you know!  

It may be worth looking at your local caravan dealer, my local one has a box of poles for a £5 each, take your damaged ones with you to get the right size.  Good luck in your search.

Shirley

We had a bent pole on our Dorema sun canopy (very heavy rain in France caused pooling overnight=bent pole!).

Managed to buy a replacement from local dealer, as well as a couple of extra support poles.Not too expensive.

Quote: Originally posted by bobsbabes on 06/10/2010

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If the storm straps were wrong not really sure what dorema could do iyswim
hope you manage to get the piles sorted

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Hahaha! I was just re-reading my post and wondering how on earth you found out about my piles!

Dorema warehouse is just oop the road from us as it turns out, but I will try the local dealer first and see if they're cheaper. I will be investing in their own storm straps this time too! I wish we'd gone for steel or carbon instead of aluminium as the site if very windy most of the time. Buuuut we went for the first cheapest thing that came up on ebay.

Live and learn I guess.. :o/

Thanks so much for your advice folks. And your cnocern about my piles, bobsbabes! Lucy x