Vango Airhub Hexaway drive away Awning

[boabster67]

Hi all,
Never owned a MH or awning before so finding our way. We liked and bought the Vango Hexaway Tall awning due to the height of our van as the low awning would not have been enough. Vango no longer do a medium fit. Anyway, tested the awning by attaching it to our MH external canopy, keeping it tight to MH side, but find the awning roof is sagging even after we tightened the height adjustment. If I pull the Awning right out to reduce the roof sag I lose the awning tunnel closeness to the side of the MH. I did contact Vango and they said the awning needs to be pulled out as far as it can to reduce the sag this will take the tunnel sides away from the MH but this is how it supposed to be. Is this true? Thanks

 

[stuartholmes]

Hi all,
Never owned a MH or awning before so finding our way. We liked and bought the Vango Hexaway Tall awning due to the height of our van as the low awning would not have been enough. Vango no longer do a medium fit. Anyway, tested the awning by attaching it to our MH external canopy, keeping it tight to MH side, but find the awning roof is sagging even after we tightened the height adjustment. If I pull the Awning right out to reduce the roof sag I lose the awning tunnel closeness to the side of the MH. I did contact Vango and they said the awning needs to be pulled out as far as it can to reduce the sag this will take the tunnel sides away from the MH but this is how it supposed to be. Is this true? Thanks

Aren't you supposed to use those awnings with your wind-out awning wound in?

 

[boabster67]

Aren't you supposed to use those awnings with your wind-out awning wound in?

Yes. My wind out awning was wound in. The tent awning tunnel roof still sags

 

[stuartholmes]

Yes. My wind out awning was wound in. The tent awning tunnel roof still sags

Misunderstood. Sorry. Bit of a puzzle then.

Presumably you've tried pulling the tent pegs further from the van to exercise tension from that side?

 

[donkey]

Start by attaching the drive-away to your wind-out. Wind-in the vehicle awning. Inflate the Hexaway without pegging out, will not work if too windy. Once inflated, use two people to pull the Hexaway with the guy cords, away from the vehicle. This will tension the tunnel. Then holding that position peg out awning. to drive away simply extend vehicle awning and uncouple the Hexaway.
By the way, you will not end up with a perfectly taught tunnel, but it will be adequate. Personally I don't bother to attach awning to vehicle, I just erect it as close as possible. The Hexaway is a stand alone awning and does not need the vehicle for support.

Geoff

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[boabster67]

Misunderstood. Sorry. Bit of a puzzle then.

Presumably you've tried pulling the tent pegs further from the van to exercise tension from that side?

I will be trying again. I was thinking the tunnel sides need to as tight to the van as possible, but now thinking am that’s not the case

 

[stuartholmes]

Start by attaching the drive-away to your wind-out. Wind-in the vehicle awning. Inflate the Hexaway without pegging out, will not work if too windy. Once inflated, use two people to pull the Hexaway with the guy cords, away from the vehicle. This will tension the tunnel. Then holding that position peg out awning. to drive away simply extend vehicle awning and uncouple the Hexaway.
By the way, you will not end up with a perfectly taught tunnel, but it will be adequate. Personally I don't bother to attach awning to vehicle, I just erect it as close as possible. The Hexaway is a stand alone awning and does not need the vehicle for support.

Geoff

Geoff,

I'm sure you're right but shouldn't a 'drive away' awning be designed so you can actually drive away much more easily??

We haven't had one for many years but when we did it was a free-standing frame tent (with 'proper' aluminium poles!). The tunnel was held to the vehicle's rain gutter by two clamps that could be removed in about 23 seconds each and it all worked perfectly.

I don't think I was designed for the modern world...

 

[boabster67]

Geoff,

I'm sure you're right but shouldn't a 'drive away' awning be designed so you can actually drive away much more easily??

We haven't had one for many years but when we did it was a free-standing frame tent (with 'proper' aluminium poles!). The tunnel was held to the vehicle's rain gutter by two clamps that could be removed in about 23 seconds each and it all worked perfectly.

I don't think I was designed for the modern world...

thanks . We have only used ours once and next time we try we will see how we go with it. With being new to MHoming everything is trial and error.

 

[stuartholmes]

thanks . We have only used ours once and next time we try we will see how we go with it. With being new to MHoming everything is trial and error.

Cool, good luck!

Don't be scared to say 'hi' to anyone you see on a campsite who has similar gear, it's highly unlikely they will be anything other than keen to help or advise if they can.

 

[dna]

We have a similar drive away awning and the tunnel is very tricky to get exactly right. On ground that is not perfectly flat the main awning is not exactly aligned to the van so a bit of sagging does occur. After a day out, I also confess that I find it tricky to get the van back in the exact position parallel to the awning to reconnect it.

I also have to be a bit careful where the van door opens to make sure it doesn't catch the tunnel fabric. In fact you could make a comedy video for youtube of me trying to get it sorted on my own.

Its not really a problem unless we get extremely heavy rain when water can collect in any saggy bits. The door between the tunnel and the awning keeps any weather away from things in the awning

Its a tent which you are trying to attach to a van - the van might rock in the wind as well as the tent moving so perfection is not likely. Put it up to your satisfaction then take a seat and have a drink and enjoy it

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[stuartholmes]

We have a similar drive away awning and the tunnel is very tricky to get exactly right. On ground that is not perfectly flat the main awning is not exactly aligned to the van so a bit of sagging does occur. After a day out, I also confess that I find it tricky to get the van back in the exact position parallel to the awning to reconnect it.

I also have to be a bit careful where the van door opens to make sure it doesn't catch the tunnel fabric. In fact you could make a comedy video for youtube of me trying to get it sorted on my own.

Its not really a problem unless we get extremely heavy rain when water can collect in any saggy bits. The door between the tunnel and the awning keeps any weather away from things in the awning

Its a tent which you are trying to attach to a van - the van might rock in the wind as well as the tent moving so perfection is not likely. Put it up to your satisfaction then take a seat and have a drink and enjoy it

That reminds me - when my 'drive-away' was up & sorted I used to peg a little reflector right beside the wheels to make it easier to aim for the exact same spot upon returning from driving away.
Somebody should make something specially for the purpose. Probably now I'd try some of those solar powered LED things they sell for sticking in the ground to light the garden path. Or the grass round your gnomes.

 

[donkey]

Your Hexaway should have come complete with a pair of long straps. These are for throwing right over the van, then a simple job of securing to sill or wheel arch. They are quick to use and you do not need to be super accurate when returning with van. The only issue my be avoiding roof furniture such as antenna and opening hatches.

Geoff

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

One of the reasons I opted for a free standing Quest Screenhouse Pro 4.
Could not be doing with trying to get a " caravan type" square and taught awning again with a drive away type.
Far too much faff in my opinion only though.
That, and I have not got a wind out canopy.