Design problem with my van?

[Robster100]

Hi

Just playing with my my van as I have not yet had a chance to use it, picked it up late february!

Put up the awning today as less windy, just to see how it all works and check it was all okay.

My plan was to purchase, either the full privacy room or the end pieces, so I could set up a contained area for my dogs, probably install some track for my old caravan draft excluder!

However, having set up the awning, and marvelling at its 4.5M length, I suddenly realised that if I installed a privacy room, or rain shield, I would no longer have access to my garage!

I really cannot think of a way around this but thought I would through it out in case anyone has any bright ideas!

Robin

Picture attached to show the problem.

 

[Jev88]

All I can say is Doh!

Or abandon that end piece and use a section of windbreak.

 

[Two on Tour]

A pair of scissors and a couple of statically placed zips should sort the problem.

 

[M-J]

Simple, move the garage door location

 

[Pausim]

I wouldn’t say it was a design problem with the van. The awning might be a bit big or badly located but when I had one I just wound it out to provide shade and wound it away at night. The addition of privacy rooms was possibly not anticipated in either the design of the van or the awning.

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[Lenny HB]

Why didn't you go for a shorter awning?
Surely you have only got to unzip the end panel to get at it, or whats wrong with using the other door.

 

[Stanbrook]

Slacken off awning fixing and push back 150mm. You can always put back if no good.

Good luck

 

[PhilG]

View attachment 374127

Slacken off awning fixing and push back 150mm. You can always put back if no good.

Good luck

Exactly this.

 

[Pausim]

Very frustrating to have a nice new toy and not be able to take it out to play with.

 

[ceejayt]

This awning question would seem to be a first world problem

I used to have a van parked next to the house ready to go. Now I just have a white elephant ?

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[autorouter]

Maybe modify the privacy room with a zipped section to allow the door to open.

 

[lorger]

Mind sound daft but don’t you have a door on the other side

 

[Vipar]

But even worse when you know how much fun it is then you get restricted.

 

[Robster100]

I really like the idea of using the other door, if only I had another door! ?

I will have a look at some of the Thule videos again but I think it might be difficult to move the side out as far as I would need But it is probably the best idea if I can make it work.

Many thanks for all the responses.

 

[Vipar]

Could you not get a purpose built end screen with a Velcro or zip window/door. Might cost a bob or two but small price compared with cost of van?

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[scotzsue]

drive away awning? the door to the garage would be in the 'porch' just re-read OP oops no good as a dog compound

 

[ctc]

Put the awning out then drive forward to get in the garage, when you've finished reverse. You can repair it when you get home. Simple.

 

[two]

Use windbreaks. Much more flexible. Privacy rooms can be a fag to put up and take down.

 

[treetops1]

We used to put the full room up and leave the garage door wide open .with it being fully enclosed never had a problem ,also had a temporary shelf fitted across the door opening ,worked a treat ,

 

[Minxy]

Use some suction clamps in the 2 blue positions I've marked then secure the awning panel edge (yellow) to them so it angles out stays clear of the door ...

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[Robster100]

unfortunately a chunk of my garage would be outside of the awning, so leaving it open is a non starter! Unless I can find a way to get it inside the awning, in which case I can close it anyway.

 

[Robster100]

Minxy Girl, that sounds like a real solution.

really appreciate the suggestions, especially the tongue in cheek ones!

 

[Robster100]

Several people suggested the other door, I did see that on many vans I looked at, the garage had a door onboth sides.

However, ours only has the single door, which is a real shame!

 

[Steve and Denise]

If you use wind blocker type you could use an awning rafter to hang your end panel on.
From experience privacy rooms are hard work and very heavy.

 

[robnchris]

It most certainly is a design fault same problem with our Autotrail the awaning sides come down over the gas locker at one end and a window and the rear locker at the other.

We just put everything we might need at the other side of the motorhome, (locker goes all the way through) and get it out from that side, we put cling film down the window so the awning doesn't mark the window.

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[Pausim]

It most certainly is a design fault same problem with our Autotrail the awaning sides come down over the gas locker at one end and a window and the rear locker at the other.

We just put everything we might need at the other side of the motorhome, (locker goes all the way through) and get it out from that side, we put cling film down the window so the awning doesn't mark the window.

I still don’t see it as a design fault if someone has fitted the awning in a silly position, or put on one that doesn’t fit. I suspect the designers of both motorhome and awning expect the awning installer to position a suitably sized awning in a sensible position. If it is a factory fitted one then the fault lies in the specification not the designs.

 

[Robster100]

Looking at the different Thule options, the rain blocker looks like it might just work and appears to be the cheapest and lightest solution.

i will keep investigating!

 

[TCG]

Don’t you have another door to the garage the other side of the van

 

[Robster100]

As I have said before, just the one door!

 

[robnchris]

I still don’t see it as a design fault if someone has fitted the awning in a silly position, or put on one that doesn’t fit. I suspect the designers of both motorhome and awning expect the awning installer to position a suitably sized awning in a sensible position. If it is a factory fitted one then the fault lies in the specification not the designs.

It's an Autotrail the are inbuilt to the side of the motorhome by Autotrail, specification has nothing to do with it, Autotrail designed the side and roof panels complete in their design was an awning, windows and doors.

Poor design one would think by people that never owned or used a motorhome.

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