Drive-Away Attachment

[Blackadder]

G'day
Our Buerstner Travel Van came with a 3.5m Thule wind-out awning but we'd like a small drive-away as well. The Thule has what appears to be an attachment strip for an awning immediately below the cassette but a) if this is used then the LEDs on the cassette would be useless and b) at 2.4 m off the ground (without ramps) I can't reach it without stepladders! It also has a slot in the in the front rail which would hold an attachment strip though it's really intended for Thule sun blockers etc. None of the Thule alternatives are "drive-away" so are unsuitable.
One of the leading vendors of awnings suggests that the awning is wound out until the rail is easily reached and then wound back after attachment of the awning+Kador. However, our friendly Thule distributor says that this will put undue strain on the awning mechanism, causing premature wear and breakage
I've been looking at something like the Vango Kela V but I'm estimating that these weigh about 12Kg - not inconsiderable. Lighter awnings (invariably with poles) seem to be either discontinued or (permanently) out of stock.
So, what do people do? Has anyone broken their wind-out by hauling up a drive-away? Is there another way for a 5'6" pensioner to attach an awning?
cheers
Blackadder

 

[Swifter]

Yes just wind it out , slide into the rail and wind the awning back in . Works for us

 

[2 Jabs]

+1

 

[pappajohn]

The Thule has what appears to be an attachment strip for an awning immediately below the cassette

The cassette front face should have a slot for an awning.
If you mean yours is fixed to the van wall below the cassette someone has fixed it aftermarket, probably for a caravan type awning.

 

[Blackadder]

The cassette front face should have a slot for an awning.
If you mean yours is fixed to the van wall below the cassette someone has fixed it aftermarket, probably for a caravan type awning.

Fiamma rails have a slot in the front of the rail. Thule have one in the back - officially to attach a Privacy Room or Sun Blocker panels. The fixed rail underneath is part of the cassette. We bought the van new so it definitely isn't aftermarket.

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[pappajohn]

Fiamma rails have a slot in the front of the rail. Thule have one in the back - officially to attach a Privacy Room or Sun Blocker panels. The fixed rail underneath is part of the cassette. We bought the van new so it definitely isn't aftermarket.

Thank for the heads up.
Only ever had fiamma so didn't realise.

 

[Jonno1103]

but I'm estimating that these weigh about 12Kg - not inconsiderable.

Our drive away inflatable with the extension, lights, carpet & bedrooms is huge and weighs around 36kg. My missus is 5'3" and has no problem sliding it along our 3.5m awning rail and it winds back up to the cassette housing easily.

You have a 500kg+ payload I'd not be too concerned about the extra weight of a small to medium awning, inflatable or otherwise. An Outdoor Revolution Movelite T2 weighs just over 17kg and is currently on offer at leisure outlet for £569. They have a twin Kador enabling attachment to both Fiamma & Thule wind out awnings.

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Vango Kela V weighs about 18.5kg.

 

[Blackadder]

Thank for the heads up.
Only ever had fiamma so didn't realise.

All the "how to erect a drive-away" videos I have seen also show the Fiamma so until I watched a Thule video I didn't know about the slot in the back either. Now I'm wondering: Since at least part of the Kador will be wound back under the front rail, could I leave that attached during short trips away from the pitch and just use the figure8 to detach the awning? Or would it flap around too much and damage paintwork? Anyone tried it?
That's assuming I've got this right - the Kador goes in the rail and the figure8 joins that to the awning...

 

[2 Jabs]

I’m not sure of the terminology but the fabric one pulls out of your awning rail and then the figure 8 and fabric stays with your awning. On return you park exactly where you left from and then join it all back up again. (Yeah, right).