Which rafter?

[U.Toadifact]

Having finally fitted our new Fiamma F80s 3.7m awning to our PVC, I am thinking of adding a Magic rafter pro. Has anyone used these, and if so, do you recommend them or are they a waste of cash?

 

[tonyidle]

Having finally fitted our new Fiamma F80s 3.7m awning to our PVC, I am thinking of adding a Magic rafter pro. Has anyone used these, and if so, do you recommend them or are they a waste of cash?

I use one and as far as I'm concerned they're superb. I've had the awning out now for four weeks (with a day's break for travelling) with no wind issues at all. I use tie-downs of course but there's no flapping, no movement of the support arms, and no worry.

 

[Tonks]

Having finally fitted our new Fiamma F80s 3.7m awning to our PVC, I am thinking of adding a Magic rafter pro. Has anyone used these, and if so, do you recommend them or are they a waste of cash?

I've got one on my shorter Fiamma, and I DEFINITELY recommend them. Got mine after a sudden torrential storm caused water pooling on my canopy and partially collapsed it. I VERY narrowly avoided the frame going through the canopy when the awning partially collapsed under the weight and twisted the awning casing. Luckily no serious lasting damage done but I bought the rafter immediately afterwards.

 

[Guigsy]

We've got a rafter on our 4m F80s. It's not a magic fix. Once winds get above about 20km/h (depending on gustiness and direction), you're still going to get flappage. And it gets worrying above 30km/h.

 

[U.Toadifact]

Thanks for your replies. I have ordered one.

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[Phill D]

I also use a standard rafta good support.
I have shyed away from the one that lifts the canopy fabric as I have seen one stretch in the sun...
He may have been unlucky but the straight one works for me.

 

[Steve N Tracy]

I bought the straight to one, our friend bought the curved rafter pro, after 2 weeks in France in the sun the material was stretched on his and it never recovered.

 

[U.Toadifact]

It is the straight version I have ordered.

 

[tonyidle]

We've got a rafter on our 4m F80s. It's not a magic fix. Once winds get above about 20km/h (depending on gustiness and direction), you're still going to get flappage. And it gets worrying above 30km/h.

Fiamma confusingly sell two types. The one I mean runs the length of the awning and clamps to the two support arms. It lifts and tensions the fabric.

 

[U.Toadifact]

Thanks Tony, that is the version I have on order.

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[Guigsy]

Fiamma confusingly sell two types. The one I mean runs the length of the awning and clamps to the two support arms. It lifts and tensions the fabric.

I've just got the one that connects to the van. It helps, but is still pretty flappy. I'll take a look at the arm brace version. Thanks.

 

[autorouter]

I've just got the one that connects to the van. It helps, but is still pretty flappy.

That's what I found. The centre is fixed but the awning bar can still move by rotating around the fixed point. My fix was to add two more rafters at the ends of the awning bar. The attachment fittings are available, and it's possible to fix them without interfering with the awning movement.

With these rafters and the legs fixed. it's a reasonably rigid metal frame, and the fabric just has to support itself, not take any other forces. It stands up to gusts of wind very well, but I still wind it in when it gets very windy. I take care to set the awning sloping to avoid water pooling.

 

[Guigsy]

That's what I found. The centre is fixed but the awning bar can still move by rotating around the fixed point. My fix was to add two more rafters at the ends of the awning bar. The attachment fittings are available, and it's possible to fix them without interfering with the awning movement.

With these rafters and the legs fixed. it's a reasonably rigid metal frame, and the fabric just has to support itself, not take any other forces. It stands up to gusts of wind very well, but I still wind it in when it gets very windy. I take care to set the awning sloping to avoid water pooling.

I've been using Lilypad WindBlockers with my awning. It includes two end bars that put lots of outward pressure on the awning. It still doesn't stop the fabric from whipping up and down when wind speeds increase.

 

[Guigsy]

To those that have a Fiamma Magic Rafter (the one that goes between the support arms)? How long is it when it's retracted for storage?

 

[Richard n Ann]

To those that have a Fiamma Magic Rafter (the one that goes between the support arms)? How long is it when it's retracted for storage?

142cm

Edit: don't know if it's a magic one

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[Guigsy]

142cm

Edit: don't know if it's a magic one

Thanks. Reason I ask is that my van has no garage, only a few lockers. None of which are big enough for storage of this kind of thing. But there's recesses either side of the hab door. So I 3d printed some clips to store the poles... might be able to squeeze one of these in...