Support Beams for Fiamma wind out awning

[Prop]

Hi we had a wind out awning fitted yesterday to our van, I have ordered a type s tie down kit and notice that people talk about magic beams to add extra support, Do you use one, if so which one of the two below and how much stability do they add?

My concern is leaving the awning out unattended?

 

[AndyPK]

Don’t leave it unattended…….!!!

 

[BusyBuilder]

I may have a spare one, I'll have a look later.

 

[sonar]

I use the one in your first image.
it pushes the middle both out and up.
adding a little tension and shape .
helps a lot if it rains as it add shape and water will not pool on the top.

I am also in the throes of making a simple device that will also keep the canopy in position .
in wet or boggy grass.

 

[poppycamper]

I use the top one.. however I believe it's purpose is to stop middle of awning sinking and collecting a pool of water if it rains..if so one corner should be lowered to drain water.
As AndyPK says I would never leave unattended.

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[Folkranger]

Don't leave it out unattended. I had one blow over the top while we were sitting in it so never leave it. Of the two you mention, the first one can stretch the awning leading to difficulty winding it in.

The second one is a concept that seemed obvious to me ages before fiamma developed it. It stops the two main struts from closing up when the wind tries to push it against the van and so this is my choice.

Always have one leg lower than the other to prevent rain puddling on the roof.

Use a tie down strap to help stop it lifting with the wind.

I have two lengths of pivc trim inserted inside the legs that stop the legs from slipping down.

 

[TDub49]

Likewise the one in the first image (only ours is just a straight extendable strut); and if leaving unattended (only do this when the weather forecast is beneficial) make sure it is securely tied down at each corner and lower at one end than the other to facilitate drainage should an unexpected shower happen.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We leave ours unattended but it's ratchet strapped down and if high winds are forecast we wind it in. Ours is Fiamma and the top beam is known as the Rafter.

 

[63720]

I use something like this for both legs and tiedown straps. This way I can quickly drop the straps, move the leg out and wind it in and then put it back out in the same place. Don't leave it unattended though.

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[Two on Tour]

We have and use both the curved rafter and magic rafter together to reduce the awning flapping in a breeze, plus we peg and strap down the legs.

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[Prop]

I use something like this for both legs and tiedown straps. This way I can quickly drop the straps, move the leg out and wind it in and then put it back out in the same place. Don't leave it unattended though.

Fiamma Awning Foot Plate Kit | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Fiamma Awning Foot Plate Kit at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Thanks for the reply, I saw those foot plates and thought I would knock some up out of some 6mm ply I have lying around in the garage.

 

[L' Hobo]

What hasn't been mentioned is, always drop the corner nearest the direction the wind is coming from.

I too have a long lorry ratchet strap that I use over the front legs, stops them lifting and comes in handy as a tow rope if stuck!

 

[Bleau’s]

Made my own from 10mm plastic with 2 6mm bolts through with locknuts under the legs and wing nuts to fasten legs down so easy to wind in and leave the plastic pegged in place on the grass for the next day.

 

[Prop]

I have two lengths of pivc trim inserted inside the legs that stop the legs from slipping down.

Hiya where do you insert the Upvc trim please, inside the slot in the picture or is there somewhere else?

 

[sonar]

I use something like this for both legs and tiedown straps. This way I can quickly drop the straps, move the leg out and wind it in and then put it back out in the same place. Don't leave it unattended though.

Fiamma Awning Foot Plate Kit | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Fiamma Awning Foot Plate Kit at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

I am making something like this now but the leg will sit on it. Just in case the ground is very soft.

the plates I am making with a triangle foot print will not sink into soft ground or mud.
and are staked down the same as your image.

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[Prop]

I am making something like this now but the leg will sit on it. Just in case the ground is very soft.

the plates I am making with a triangle foot print will not sink into soft ground or mud.
and are staked down the same as your image.

Just ordered some aluminium chequer plate off eBay to make some, quite like the idea Bleaus mentioned about a couple bolts with wingnuts so you can leave the plate in position and quickly fasten it to the plate if the van has not been moved.
Will post a pic when they are done.

 

[Prop]

Deleted

 

[Tonks]

I sometimes use the one in the first image, to stop rain pooling on the canopy (Fiamma). I ONCE left it unattended (before I had the extra rafter) on a brilliantly sunny day and there was a flash thunderstorm which lasted for about 10 minutes with torrential rain. I was a long way from the van so couldn't get back. When I did arrive back, the canopy was partially collapsed. At first I thought one of the rafters had pushed through the canopy but luckily it hadn't, just made a 'dent' which has since eased out. I had strapped down the canopy with storm straps, so the feet and legs hadn't moved and the van itself wasn't damaged, but the canopy front casing was twisted. This meant I couldn't get the back end of it to engage into the cassette properly and had to drive home with it improperly secured though in the end it was fine. The front casing has now been 'adjusted' so it retracts and clips but you can still see the battle scar.
For that reason I wouldn't leave the canopy out while any distance away from the van.

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

Hiya where do you insert the Upvc trim please, inside the slot in the picture or is there somewhere else? View attachment 581430

Yes put something in the slot. I have used some wood section into which I screwed a hook so the I could pull it out easily.

 

[autorouter]

As well as the curved rafter in picture 1, there is a straight rafter available. I found that just using one in the centre, the awning bar would kind of pivot around the end of the rafter if the wind gets up. So I added two more, at each end of the awning bar. It now constitutes a quite rigid frame, and the fabric is not doing anything except supporting itself. It can stand higher winds before I start getting bothered. Need to take care that the end fixings don't interfere with the mechanism.

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[Bleau’s]

Will put a picture on tomorrow so you can see mine plenty of people have copied them already , message me if you want further details.

 

[Prop]

Will put a picture on tomorrow so you can see mine plenty of people have copied them already , message me if you want further details.

A picture would be brilliant, no point in re inventing the wheel.
Thanks
paul

 

[Bleau’s]

Hi,

these are what I made, the outer holes are for the pegs, the inner two are for the leg holes I then just tighten the nuts then (hopefully) it stays put,

 

[Folkranger]

Hiya where do you insert the Upvc trim please, inside the slot in the picture or is there somewhere else? View attachment 581430

If you slide out the inner and insert a length of (anything that fits really) and then reinsert the inner.
I used a piece that held the two parts out at the length they needed to be when the awning was stowed away. This also gave a good height that I can just walk under. It stops the leg slipping down further than that.

 

[Prop]

Just ordered some aluminium chequer plate off eBay to make some, quite like the idea Bleaus mentioned about a couple bolts with wingnuts so you can leave the plate in position and quickly fasten it to the plate if the van has not been moved.
Will post a pic when they are done.

This is what I ended up with. The plate 4.5mm Ali and the bolts 8mm, the wingnuts caught the leg so I had to grind the wings to fit. 6mm might have been OK.

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[Themselves]

I left mine unattended once. This explains why it is in a broken heap in corner of a campsite in France and will be forever

 

[Bleau’s]

I put a lock nut between the base and the leg to stop the bolt dropping out or spinning when we take the wing nut off.