Roll-out awning and wind speed (1 Viewer)

[gerrym11]

Morning all, we are currently on site and the wind is expected to pick up later. I have heard that a roll-out awning has to be brougt in if it gets too windy. That feels a bit subjective, is there any guidance on a maximum wind speed or gust that you should not use an awning?


Cheers

Gerry

 

[Googlebot]

All depends on the direction and shelter with mine.

I have a rule though, if I think it might be too windy, it’s too windy.

 

[bigalw35]

if ours is out/extended and it starts to flap/make a noise I get it in, apart from the damage cost, it would disastrous trying to get it back in the cassette

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[Sapper520]

Expensive mistake if it all goes wrong. We use pegs on the legs and two Thule securing straps with large pegs in those.

I suppose it depends on how well you’ve got it secured down, but there are no maximum wind speed recommendations in our instruction manual.

 

[tonyidle]

Assuming you are using tie-downs the irritating flapping noises will tell you when to bring it in. Don't ever use it without tie-downs.

 

[Landy Andy]

If you think “should I” you should.

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[sallylillian]

Once I see gusting in excess of 20kts in the forecast I look to be ahead of the game.

 

[cyberyacht]

The best time to reef is before you need to. At least with a motorhome you don't have a pitching deck to contend with.

 

[Bobby-gg]

Yes, I wind it in every night now - had too many scares when I've thought it'll be fine, then when the wind gets up in the early hours it's no fun getting out of your cosy bed in your bedroom attire to bring it in (as quietly as you can)!

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[MikeH]

On the Cirencester site now. Here until tomorrow but took our awning in this morning as the wx report says high winds. Even with storm straps and mid section rafter it still bounces a bit. Doesn’t take long to take it in but imagine to cost and hassle if it tears or rips off. Lots taken theirs in too this morning I’ve noticed.

 

[TerryL]

Nearly lost ours when the wind got up and we dashed back to the van to get it in - fortunately at a Funster meet and lotsa help arrived quickly when it got out of control.

But in the middle of the night? Nope, get it in before dark. The only time I leave it out is when it's fully secured down and the forecast is for flat calm.

 

[AndyPK]

On the Cirencester site now. Here until tomorrow but took our awning in this morning as the wx report says high winds. Even with storm straps and mid section rafter it still bounces a bit. Doesn’t take long to take it in but imagine to cost and hassle if it tears or rips off. Lots taken theirs in too this morning I’ve noticed.

Yes….it’s a bit too windy in Ciren now for a wind-out to be out…..

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[MikeH]

Yes….it’s a bit too windy in Ciren now for a wind-out to be out…..

Lots of pretty flimsy ones still out though

 

[gerrym11]

Thanks for all the advice, taking it in now before we head off for a long walk.
Cheers
Gerry

 

[Landy Andy]

Only time mine out is when I’m under it. If I’m not there the awning goes away. It’s so quick to do, why not.

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[SpeedyDux]

Only time mine out is when I’m under it. If I’m not there the awning goes away. It’s so quick to do, why not.

Exactly what I do.

There are also campsites where a high wind can come off mountains without warning on a calm sunny day.

 

[paddymcc]

Another factor to consider is wind direction. If the van is between the wind and the awning there is a bit more leeway. If it blows along the awning then having the into wind leg lower than the Lee leg makes it more stable.
Having said that I still tend to take it down unless dead calm forecast. And I always use straps.
Some years ago in our poptop we had a lovely evening in a valley in Norway. It was dead calm on going to bed but it picked up hugely in the night. We were side on to wind and were at risk of losing the roof. Had to wake our daughter ( who slept through it all!) move her down to our bed and lower the roof.

 

[Landy Andy]

Exactly. There is no wind speed that is X it all depends on gusts, direction, shelter, if you can peg/guy or not, and how brave you feel.

I must say that some, normally from other countries, are far braver than me with mine.

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[two]

Never leave the awning out while you're not around, then you should be aware of when to wind it in.
If it wraps itself over the van, you're unlikely to get it back in and will have an interesting time removing it all before you can move on, to say nothing of the expense.
Don't rely on the wind not changing direction or picking-up.

 

[62272]

I used to leave mine out (always with storm straps and pegs in feet (Fiamma F45)) however, came back one day to find the storm straps had worked loose from the huge spring and was flapping! So always in when not attended now.

 

[BillyKontiki]

Exactly what I do.

There are also campsites where a high wind can come off mountains without warning on a calm sunny day.

Exactly and if in foreign climes you also get those mini whirl winds.as above if you are not there leave it in.

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[Landy Andy]

I used to leave mine out (always with storm straps and pegs in feet (Fiamma F45)) however, came back one day to find the storm straps had worked loose from the huge spring and was flapping! So always in when not attended now.

I don’t really get the idea of the springs, and don’t use them. Do you still use the springs?

 

[Graham of Madrid]

Here in Spain if it's windy then it means a change of weather. Best to be indoors then with the awning in. An awning is a necessity here during the summer and normally there's no wind. Maybe in the UK summer when it's windy it's best to be flying kites than risking your lot under an awning

 

[bigwood]

I rarely use our awning after being called out to a motorhome that the awning had gone over the top in high winds.
It wouldn’t wind in so they wanted the motorhome recovering. Removing the remains of the old awning and disposing of it is the biggest issue. I didn’t even have a ladder for a start.
After a lot of thinking the site owners found a mobile caravan repairer I didn’t stay to see the end results but it must have been costly.
If in doubt wind it in and as others have said don’t leave it out overnight.

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[Spriddler]

gerrym11

Fill yer boots with the replies to the same question from a few days ago.........

Wind speed

What's the maximum wind speed before you take the sun canopy in?

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[pandas]

I don’t really get the idea of the springs, and don’t use them. Do you still use the springs?

It's a bit like a tree flexing in the wind and indeed a high rise building - some flex helps to take the sting out of the wind.

 

[Shrimp]

If it gets too bad and the awning has to come in we hook a string/strap around the anchorage along middle-front and I hold that whilst hubby sorts unpegging/getting legs up and winding in!
In a ‘gusting’ wind it only take one push whilst you are trying to wind it in to send it over!
If you think it’s too windy get it in, better safe than sorry!

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[TDub49]

Yes, I wind it in every night now - had too many scares when I've thought it'll be fine, then when the wind gets up in the early hours it's no fun getting out of your cosy bed in your bedroom attire to bring it in (as quietly as you can)!

Morning all, we are currently on site and the wind is expected to pick up later. I have heard that a roll-out awning has to be brougt in if it gets too windy. That feels a bit subjective, is there any guidance on a maximum wind speed or gust that you should not use an awning?


Cheers

Gerry

There's no rule of thumb because a lot depends on wind direction relative to the awning, the degree to which you are sheltered by hedges, trees and other mohos etc. It also depends on what lengths you have gone to to tie your awning down - we never deploy ours without guy ropes - and whether or not you have a central beam fitted. That said, I would be winding it in if anything much more that 16 knots (gusting) was forecast.

Rain is also a big factor to consider - if you haven't deployed your awning with a slight 'lean' to one side or the other to ensure that any rain that falls on it runs off and doesn't pool, there's a big risk of breaking things because of the sheer weight of water if you are caught out with a heavy rainfall. We saw this first hand in Italy last year when our daughter's moho lost an arm (snapped off) due to an unforeseen thunderstorm at four in the morning. It was quite refreshing to be out and about in a torrential downpour at that time of the morning, stowing flapping bits and pieces on her van, but our awning was fine with the water running off one side.

 

[nicholsong]

Two threads running.

I just posted this on the other one

Wind speed

What's the maximum wind speed before you take the sun canopy in?

www.motorhomefun.co.uk