Borris
Super Poster
VIP Member
Mrs B and I have just spend two delightful days with our very good friends Mr and Mrs SimonB glamping on a very cold and frosty campsite just outside of Oxford. We met up to explore the area, feast, drink of the grape and have a jolly good natter. Whilst there, I finally had the oportunity to test out a new kit that Nick at Comfortz has made for me.
When we have met up in the past we have experimented with joining our two factory fitted Thule awnings together (each with Comfortz awning rooms fitted) to produce a very large covered in dining area.
The trouble is that there has always been a draughty gap between the two sections of end wall in each end of the joined awning rooms. There has also been a gap between the two extended awning rails which lets in water if it rains. So I came up with a design for a kit to seal these gaps and make the whole thing very cosy. Here are some snaps of the prototype.
To connect the awnings to make one large joint awning room, park both Calis facing in opposite directions (if the campsite allows you to do that). The extended awning rails should run paralel to each other but be separated by a very small gap. To do this park the first Cali and extend it's awning fully. Then pace out how far it extends from the side of your van and then pace the same distance beyond the awning rail to find where the second Cali's side should be positioned. Don't forget that you will need to add about 25 mm for a gap between the extended parallel awning rails. After parking the second Cali and winding it's awning out, adjust it's position, for and aft, (whilst someone raises that Cali's extended awning rail), to line up the extending awning arms on both vehicles. This is to ensure that the front and back walls of both Cali awning rooms line up. Once lined up attach the Comfortz awning room ends to both Cali's extended awning arms.
The kit that I asked Nick at Comfortz to make me, joins the gap between the two awning room wall sections at the front and back by utilising the existing Velcro strips on the end walls. The gutter section is made up of three strips that form the gutter. Two strips slide, one into the Kador slot in each awning rail. Each strip has Velcro running the full length. Once in position, attach the third gutter strip by sticking the Velcro edging to the previously mentioned Kador Velcro strips to form a gutter. Any rain will run off at either the front or the back via the joining gutter strip. Under these circumstances it is advisable to drop one end of both awnings to create good rain water run off. If using it as a large joint awning room then obviously you would leave off the outer awning walls that attach to the awning rails run parallel to the sliding doors.
I hope that has made it clear. If anyone is still reading this and is even remotely interested in having one of these kits please have a chat with Nick. I am sure he will knock you one up if you cross his palm with silver.
When we have met up in the past we have experimented with joining our two factory fitted Thule awnings together (each with Comfortz awning rooms fitted) to produce a very large covered in dining area.
The trouble is that there has always been a draughty gap between the two sections of end wall in each end of the joined awning rooms. There has also been a gap between the two extended awning rails which lets in water if it rains. So I came up with a design for a kit to seal these gaps and make the whole thing very cosy. Here are some snaps of the prototype.
To connect the awnings to make one large joint awning room, park both Calis facing in opposite directions (if the campsite allows you to do that). The extended awning rails should run paralel to each other but be separated by a very small gap. To do this park the first Cali and extend it's awning fully. Then pace out how far it extends from the side of your van and then pace the same distance beyond the awning rail to find where the second Cali's side should be positioned. Don't forget that you will need to add about 25 mm for a gap between the extended parallel awning rails. After parking the second Cali and winding it's awning out, adjust it's position, for and aft, (whilst someone raises that Cali's extended awning rail), to line up the extending awning arms on both vehicles. This is to ensure that the front and back walls of both Cali awning rooms line up. Once lined up attach the Comfortz awning room ends to both Cali's extended awning arms.
The kit that I asked Nick at Comfortz to make me, joins the gap between the two awning room wall sections at the front and back by utilising the existing Velcro strips on the end walls. The gutter section is made up of three strips that form the gutter. Two strips slide, one into the Kador slot in each awning rail. Each strip has Velcro running the full length. Once in position, attach the third gutter strip by sticking the Velcro edging to the previously mentioned Kador Velcro strips to form a gutter. Any rain will run off at either the front or the back via the joining gutter strip. Under these circumstances it is advisable to drop one end of both awnings to create good rain water run off. If using it as a large joint awning room then obviously you would leave off the outer awning walls that attach to the awning rails run parallel to the sliding doors.
I hope that has made it clear. If anyone is still reading this and is even remotely interested in having one of these kits please have a chat with Nick. I am sure he will knock you one up if you cross his palm with silver.
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