Awnings and Wind

[bluebob]

Sitting in 30 degree sunshine on a lovely site just outside Newark yesterday afternoon when, what we Scots would not even call a wee breeze came along. It was sudden, lasted only a few seconds, but enough time that suddenly the lovely Hymer van across from us had its awning over the roof where it then ripped right off landing right across the outdoor chairs where seconds before the lady occupant had been sitting.
Would not have believed how easy this happened and how lucky that no one was injured
Lesson - never underestimate the power of our weather!

 

[EuroTrotters]

was it secured?

 

[Phill D]

I have learned to never ever put the windout awning out without a full peg down.
Hope there was no damage to the walls or roof of the van, have seen one which pulled a hole in the sidewall.

 

[Beti]

I got dometic storm straps for my awning, but when the wind hits I usually wind it in!
I get a bit nervous about a gust ripping it even when it's tied down. Too cautious???

 

[Phill D]

I got dometic storm straps for my awning, but when the wind hits I usually wind it in!
I get a bit nervous about a gust ripping it even when it's tied down. Too cautious???

Not too cautious at all. I am exactly the same.
Try winding it in when the wind is too strong, you have to remove the tie downs to wind it in just when you need the most. Takes 2 and you need to be quick.
Best store it away sooner rather than too late.

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[Wonders]

Not too cautious at all. I am exactly the same.
Try winding it in when the wind is too strong, you have to remove the tie downs to wind it in just when you need the most. Takes 2 and you need to be quick.
Best store it away sooner rather than too late.

Agreed
Just returned from Costa Brava awning was in and out when many ignored the gusty winds that arose. I felt over cautious even though storm belt across and staked down.
But better safe than sorry.

 

[Speve]

All good advice I remember being in Germany at a site next to the Rhine in bright sunshine and a thunderstorm came up the valley and there were approx 8-10 vans had their awnings either ripped off or badly damaged? We were very lucky and just managed to wind ours in before the tempest arrived

 

[PP Bear]

Remember the same thing happened to a Hymer at Crick. Huge gust of wind that picked up his awning and folded if across the roof, damaging the bracket and legs. Made a right mess of it.

Don't like leaving mine out overnight as if it does get windy, it rattles the fabric, which sets off my imagination and thoughts of damage, so goes to bed just before I do. Nun nights

 

[IRHP]

Tend not to leave ours out a night but that's due to the noise, it's a Thule omnister. Do they all rattle when there's a breeze?

 

[RedFrame]

We witnessed a similar occurrence the other week in Belgium

Lovely and sunny, guy across from us had his awning out without anything holding it down, and the slightest breeze folded it in half, we managed to get it wound back in , luckily without damage to his van.

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[Nirvanauk]

I got dometic storm straps for my awning, but when the wind hits I usually wind it in!
I get a bit nervous about a gust ripping it even when it's tied down. Too cautious???

No, not too cautious at all. Just sensible.

 

[Cookieboy68]

So I was thinking about getting an awning tie down kit,do they quick release,so you can wind it in quickly if it gets too windy

 

[AndyPK]

Yes, usually plastic clips that you squeeze to release….

 

[Cookieboy68]

Yes, usually plastic clips that you squeeze to release….

 

[Folkranger]

Speaking as someone whose awning went over the top in Prague with a sudden gust preceding a devastating hail storm I must admit to being cautious. It is now fully pegged down and has a centre rafter as well as the "magic" rafter. It is tilted to allow rain to run off and I have fitted two short pieces of wood in the legs to stop them from slipping down. I did have the fiamma awning tie down straps with the plastic clips but one of them snapped so now I have all metal fixing ratchet straps. We will leave the awning out overnight but only if it is absolutely calm and in a sheltered position.

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[Folkranger]

Careful. Those clips can snap when under strain.

 

[NigelNovice]

After our first ever outing where we got the awning out, the wind picked up in the night and we lost sleep as it sounded like someone was getting in the MH, We now have tension pole, and tie down straps to keep the noise anxiety down

 

[bigwood]

During my time doing recovery work I was sent to a large motorhome with storm damage requiring recovery. When I got there the awning had gone over the roof. This caused a bit of a headache.
I couldn’t recover the motorhome with the remains of the awning still attached. If I could remove the awning were do I put it. Lastly the motorhome could be driven and recovery refused without the awning.
After a lot of discusion with my boss and the owner it was decided it would be better dealt with by a mobile motorhome repair company. And maybe he could try and claim some of the cost through his insurance.
I know this was an extream case but it showed how easily things can go wrong. Given the choice I don’t think I would have an awning. We have only used ours a couple of times and had to wind it in quickly when the weather changed.

 

[Zigisla]

We use a “Peggy peg” awning foot anchor point kit. Mainly as our dog wraps himself with his lead around the tie down kit and leg when we use them. Now just the leg. These plates peg to the ground and the foot clamps in place. When stowing just undo clamp, legs up and wind in. To deploy, wind out, put legs down into clamp and fully wind out again.

 

[CutThroatJake]

We use a “Peggy peg” awning foot anchor point kit. Mainly as our dog wraps himself with his lead around the tie down kit and leg when we use them. Now just the leg. These plates peg to the ground and the foot clamps in place. When stowing just undo clamp, legs up and wind in. To deploy, wind out, put legs down into clamp and fully wind out again.

We do exactly the same Definitely recommended

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[carolyn]

I don’t think the pegs that you put on the two poles do anything other than stop them being accidentally kicked or knocked by dogs. I wouldn’t dream of putting ours out without the storm straps even if it wasn’t windy at all without any wind forecast.

We’ve just bought 2 extra storm straps from Parrotsol which slide into the awning rail for extra security. They are sturdy, but the straps are a bit skimpy on length which is a pity as they’re not cheap and the webbing strap is probably the cheapest bit!

 

[63720]

2*5 fixing footplates with a strap and roll it in if you're going out and at night.

 

[NicandJay]

We witnessed a huge safari room and awning attached to a tag axle hymer collapse during a storm in nov 2018 at Kiko Park. It was a right mess. The owner cut off the awning and salvaged some of the safari room but not much. Full anchored down but wind and rain was just too much that time.As said before ... going out, wind it in.

 

[JnJ]

And don't forget the rain!
A few years ago in the Netherlands we were parked next to a huge brand new German motorhome. Couple went out for day leaving nice flat level awning rolled out. Then came sudden thunderstorm rain came down in torrents. Within seconds there was a huge bulge in their awning. My husband bravely/foolishly ran out and dropped one of the legs to release a deluge. Had to explain to them on return pitfalls of leaving awning out, even on what seems a perfect day.
So yes, never underestimate the damage a bit of summer weather can cause.

 

[suavecarve]

We got a new van without awning, so far, we would have put it out a couple of times, but found that we just take the chairs over to the nearest shady part.
Havent missed the awning and at the moment cant see us buying one, and generally for the reason of the sudden unexpected wind.
Beginning to wonder if they are overrated as a necessity

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[Sandancers]

If our awning goes out it is with the legs pegged down AND the extra straps from the front of the awning to the ground AND a big storm strap under the awning fabric but on top of the awning bars. The "pegs" we use to hold the extra straps are not shop bought flimsy ones, but made out of 1/2" round steel bar 12" long, nothing would pull those bad boys out of the ground.

It's not a large awning, obviously the bigger the awning the more the wind can effect it. So with all our anchoring we feel safe to leave it out in a gentle breeze. Say up to 20mph wind. Anything more than that and in it goes.

 

[TheAleMan]

Use ours a fair bit when weather warrants it, or just fancy cooking outside if it’s raining. Never leave it out over night, and it’s put straight away if I judge the wind to be too strong. We use the fiamma foot plate thingies on each leg, and a tie down strap at each end. Just have to be sensible about it and not left unattended

 

[Guigsy]

I really like the -idea- of an wind-out awning. When the sun is beating down, or it's drizzling, it provides great protection. Provided there's almost zero wind. And it is pretty convenient to wind it in and out without needing storage inside the van. But even in the slightest wind, they flap about and make horrible noises inside the van. Even with tie-downs, I don't trust it enough to leave it out when we go out. And I've got up at 2am too many times because the flapping is keeping me awake. It's just a constant faff.

 

[NicandJay]

We got a new van without awning, so far, we would have put it out a couple of times, but found that we just take the chairs over to the nearest shady part.
Havent missed the awning and at the moment cant see us buying one, and generally for the reason of the sudden unexpected wind.
Beginning to wonder if they are overrated as a necessity

That is an interesting thought. We use ours both with the legs on the ground and with suction mounting cups but ...... would it be any more inconvenient to carry a cheaper sun shade tarp and poles that simply would need threading into an awning rail that could fixed to the side of the van? With some diy the poles could be made to fit into the suction cups too for use on all tarmac aires etc. Definitely lighter ( therefore more payload), definitely cheaper to buy and replace so worth a thought maybe for next van if it doesnt come with one as standard fit

 

[cyberyacht]

I've thought the same. If speccing a new van, I'm not sure I'd have the expense and weight of a wind-out awning but rather a lightweight sunshade.

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