Awning storm protection

[Watchman]

I spent last weekend in our caravan in some very strong winds. I was worried about the awning at night, so I kept getting up to check it out. It moved about a lot but was ultimately fine.

We have it nailed-down with 3x Isabella storm straps and the accompanying steel pegs which are very long - I'm actually concerned how I'll get them out of the ground in October when we take the caravan away. These, in fact:



You're supposed to hammer the pegs into the ground *inside* your awning, next to the vertical poles with the straps pulling down vertically but we wanted some horizontal bracing against the wind which blows directly into the side of the awning. So we used them like this:



Although this worked, it got me thinking what *else* we could do to safeguard the awning against the strong winds there. Some people have ratchet straps going over their awnings to pegs with springs, presumably to provide consistent tension as the awning moves around in the wind, but I worried this would fret against the awning material, eventually wearing through.

The front and rear of the awning has nowhere to attach another strap of this type. The three we have are looped around the poles, through holes in the awning to allow the roof poles through for the "flap". The front and rear only has sewn-on tags where a more conventional guy line is attached. This is probably OK but I would have felt more comfortable with another couple of storm straps doing their bit. Perhaps I'll buy another pair anyway, and just use the massive steel pegs with the guy lines.


Am I over-thinking this? Does anyone else take extreme measures against high winds?

[mart 63]

We had a severe storm on a site we were on a couple of seasons ago,about 40 seasonal pitches.We were up all night (5 hours of a battering) holding onto poles.Around 30 awnings were lost that night,the only ones left were the awnings with a storm strap over the awning.We put the grey foam pipe insulation stuff over the strap where it rubbed the poles,no marks.The clip on storm straps are a waste of time.

Mart

[Watchman]

mart 63 said:

We had a severe storm on a site we were on a couple of seasons ago,about 40 seasonal pitches.We were up all night (5 hours of a battering) holding onto poles.Around 30 awnings were lost that night,the only ones left were the awnings with a storm strap over the awning.We put the grey foam pipe insulation stuff over the strap where it rubbed the poles,no marks.The clip on storm straps are a waste of time.

Mart

Several of the storm straps you describe had the foam insulation and looked meaty enough.

Our solution is undoubtedly helping in the situation we're in, with the wind hitting the side of the awning square-on. It stops the awning pressing into the side of the caravan, and stops it lifting. But I am concerned about winds from the front really, as there's only a traditional guy attached to a tag on the awning material. It's pretty substantial but nothing like the tensioners we're using on the side, so I am considering a sprung-tensioned solution for the front/rear.

We also have an annex which we're afraid to erect at the moment. Pity really - we've not used it and wanted to see how much extra space we'd get but I doubt it has location points for the tension straps - although it would be nearer to the fence and bushes which offer a reasonable amount of protection. I need to get it out in calmer weather and see how it's constructed.

Thanks for the comments - I worried about fretting of the awning material with those over-the-top straps but so many owners like you can't be wrong.

[LeadFarmer]

Nicely pitched awning watchman. I use a crowbar to pull my pegs out, makes light work of it. If its forecast windy overnight I sometimes use extra straps inside the awning pulling down on the roof poles and attached to the aqua-roll that I bring into the awning.

Isabella Storm guys work well, they attach to the lashing points low down on the outside of the awning and pull it tight, stopping the panels from blowing in and out.







(^^^Not my awning by the way, I have my flaps tucked inside and under the ground sheet)

By the way, the Isabella storm straps are great, but extortionately priced. theres a website called 'fasty straps' that sells very similar straps much cheaper. You can even have your own text printed on them. I almost had the word Isabella printed on mine out of brand snobbery :-)

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/straps/

Edited by LeadFarmer on Monday 11th May 23:13

Edited by LeadFarmer on Monday 11th May 23:18

[Watchman]

LeadFarmer said:

Nicely pitched awning watchman.

You're very kind, however I can't take credit. My brother has the caravan next door and has had 3-years practice with his own awning - it's fair to say I helped him... not the other way round.

I'll know what to do in future though.

LeadFarmer said:

I use a crowbar to pull my pegs out, makes light work of it.

I have a brilliant peg puller - kids have a trampoline which came with a spring puller. It's very strong and perfect for this.

However, the Isabella storm pegs are about 20 inches long and took some serious hammering to get them in. I may have to pull them out with my car [only half joking].

LeadFarmer said:

If its forecast windy overnight I sometimes use extra straps inside the awning pulling down on the roof poles and attached to the aqua-roll that I bring into the awning.

That is not a bad idea. I have a number of additional straps I normally use to lash things to the roof rack. Thanks - I may try this in future.

LeadFarmer said:

Isabella Storm guys work well, they attach to the lashing points low down on the outside of the awning and pull it tight, stopping the panels from blowing in and out.

It transpires that my brother already has these and agrees with you. I'll get a set. Thanks.

LeadFarmer said:

(^^^Not my awning by the way, I have my flaps tucked inside and under the ground sheet)

Me too. My brother told me it was the right way. I would have pegged them outwards but it does look a lot neater, and the flaps aren't in the way of the tension straps and pegs this way.

LeadFarmer said:

By the way, the Isabella storm straps are great, but extortionately priced. theres a website called 'fasty straps' that sells very similar straps much cheaper. You can even have your own text printed on them. I almost had the word Isabella printed on mine out of brand snobbery :-)

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/straps/

Yes, thanks for all this. For me, the only reason I'll buy the Isabella storm straps is for the massive steel pegs they supply. I can't find anything else that long. I've looked at land anchors but the bit hammered into the ground is a fair bit shorter. The site we're on this year has "new" top soil and turf, so it's quite loose. We needed something long enough to get well into the ground where it was still solid.


Thanks for all the A&G.

[LeadFarmer]

Sounds like you have your head screwed on correctly, many folk don't consider what will happen when the strong winds arrive.

I do like a neatly pitched awning, can't stand them being wonky and flapping about. Heres mine from the other year at St Ives..

[Watchman]

LeadFarmer said:

Sounds like you have your head screwed on correctly, many folk don't consider what will happen when the strong winds arrive.

I do like a neatly pitched awning, can't stand them being wonky and flapping about. Heres mine from the other year at St Ives..

That is undoubtedly the most awesome awning I've ever seen..!!

Mom has a single annex which we've been a little too scared to put up on the windy site where it's pitched at the mo. I'm desperate to see it though but I need to understand how it all connects to the main awning first. I assume the poles for the annex do not connect to the poles in the main awning which will be a shame. I don't want the only connection to the main awning to be the zip - and if that's all it is, I'll not erect it this year.

[LeadFarmer]

Watchman said:

That is undoubtedly the most awesome awning I've ever seen..!!

Mom has a single annex which we've been a little too scared to put up on the windy site where it's pitched at the mo. I'm desperate to see it though but I need to understand how it all connects to the main awning first. I assume the poles for the annex do not connect to the poles in the main awning which will be a shame. I don't want the only connection to the main awning to be the zip - and if that's all it is, I'll not erect it this year.

Thanks,

The annex does in fact connect by poles to the main awning poles, but they are a special shape. The end panel of the main awning zips out and the annex zips in, and is held up with poles. Below is a photo takin internally where if you zoom in you can make out the annex roof poles that are shaped to clamp onto the main awning roof pole. We use one annex to store bikes and the other is used by me and my young son for sleeping in. Wife sleeps inside the caravan and so theres no need to make up the double bed each night.

Edited by LeadFarmer on Tuesday 26th May 23:36

[Watchman]

Fantastic - thanks for that shot. It gives me all the confidence I needed to set it up now. Brilliant.

Although we've bought an inner tent with the annex, we'll likely use it for bikes storage too. I have one of those towbar mounted Thule bike carriers which, when placed flat on the ground, is the perfect secure bike park. Keeps them off the floor and prevents them from touching the sides/fabric of the awning too. Spot-on for inside the annex.

Nice one - thanks again.

Rubbish photo that doesn't properly show the bike carrier doing it's thing: