Awning addition.....

[Toot-toot]

We have been on our travels for the past month which included the COTF 2014 at brean (great by the way)...... we have a driveaway awning and have been looking to improve the way it attaches to the original vw awning.
Currently you wind out the awning and use the figure of 8 strip with the khyam strip and then wind the awning back in -this catches on the sliding door so not great ! We then just hooked the figure of 8 strip directly onto the top edge of the l shape that winds out...this keeps it out the way of the sliding door which is great and also easy to drive away from and to re attach - HOWEVER in the wind it really pulls the awning and also lets a bit of rain through.
We have done some R&D and toiled how to attach a driveaway without the need to wind out the awning, so it stays stronger and dryer in the weather (although we are hoping to find more sun!)
Unfortunately we haven't taken photos as we go, so after purchasing 2.4 metres of aluminium awning rail (flat backed c section), hammerite paint and some adhesive, we took the awning off the cali (a 2 person job - its heavy!) then after the usual prep of cleaning and marking out where it was to be attached, we mixed the two part adhesive and crossed our fingers - placed it on the awning and waited, the next day we used local authority bin bags and masking tape to cover around the awning strip and sprayed our hammerite – careful if you do this as you could spray more than you want to -once it was dry we attached it back to the cali and the results are attached below..... we are very chuffed!!
pictures taken at 6 am this morning so not so good - sorry :doh

 

[bvddobb]

Great idea!

 

[Ma77sc]

Nice work OP!

I'm new to the awning game (Vango Kela) and am under the impression that the extension and retraction of the standard awning helps with erecting, and disconnecting/reconnecting with the driveaway. Is this the case or does it just help amateurs? Also do you have genuine concerns with loading the awning if it's fully retracted or extended by up to 5 cm? I get the gaps/rain thing but then that seems almost insurmountable given the protrusion of the vehicle awning beyond the side of the vehicle

Regards

Matt

 

[Toot-toot]

Nice work OP!

I'm new to the awning game (Vango Kela) and am under the impression that the extension and retraction of the standard awning helps with erecting, and disconnecting/reconnecting with the driveaway. Is this the case or does it just help amateurs? Also do you have genuine concerns with loading the awning if it's fully retracted or extended by up to 5 cm? I get the gaps/rain thing but then that seems almost insurmountable given the protrusion of the vehicle awning beyond the side of the vehicle

Regards

Matt

Hi Matt,

To answer your questions, yes we were also concerned about loading the awning when it is extended, especially in windy weather when the driveaway is connected! as there is continual drag and movement which we weren't happy with.

As for connecting & re-connecting we are now reliant on some VERY accurate reversing skills!! :lol: when we first pitch up at a site we peg out our thick stone protect sheet against both front and back wheels, we can then reverse back into place using this as a guide.

Any stresses are now taken on the main body of the awning as opposed to the just the leading edge...

We haven't tried it in the rain just yet but as its above the awning opening rain ingress should be severely reduced or stopped

Hope this make sense and helps!!