Awnings and rain

GaryKelly · Guru

Awnings and rain

Landfall · Guru

Fiamma awning, and most definetely used for protection over the door when it's raining.

But not left out if the wind is getting up.

If by some chance we have to roll it up wet, we get it back out as soon as possible to dry off, or even just to put it back out in the rain.

Now seven years old with no signs of wear.

Ken

-- Edited by Landfall on Tuesday 17th of December 2013 09:12:33 AM

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Yep, agree with Landfall. Only time we don't use the awning is when its windy, and sadly that's also when it rains sometimes. Have found a way to fix it open about a foot to stop the rain from dripping on our head when exiting the van.

Big Gorilla · Guru

There is a gap of about 1cm between the van body and the awning casing on my MH, and rain does fall through that gap. I've arranged to have an aluminium strip riveted and sealed between the van roof and awning case to solve the problem.

Delta18 · Guru

Just a hint, if your awning is out and it is raining, lower one end leg so the rain can run off that end rather than allowing it to 'pool' in the middle which will stretch and possibly tear the fabric.

If you are in an area where water supply is scarce you can catch the run-off in a bucket or, do as I have seen, once the awning is rinsed pipe the run-off directly to your water tank.

mongrel · Guru

This is what Ilike about this forum the way people come up with the simplest of fixes..Something else to put in the memory box.

brian · Guru

I made a set of spiral rings out of 25mm x 3mm Aluminum strip. I simply wind them onto the awning flap along its length which forms it into a gutter to catch the rain water and funnel it to one end for collection. At the end, I hang a collapsible bucket with a hose attached to the bottom, the hose goes to the water tank. By retracting the roller about a quarter turn from fully out, the roof depression that is normally present, and which traps water on the top is removed, and so the rain comes straight off the roof into the gutter. I also have a length of aluminium awning runner mounted with the channel upwards across the back of the van to catch water coming off the roof. The channel is a bit lower at one end to direct water into another bucket. We are often weeks away from civilisation, so need to collect all that we can.

neilnruth · Guru

Have you got a photo of that brian? Sounds interesting.

brian · Guru

neilnruth wrote:
Have you got a photo of that brian? Sounds interesting.

These are the rings. Can't show them in place at present as I would need the awning rolled out, but I have been using them successfully for around 10 years.

Simply, they basically roll onto the flap. The hemmed edge of the flap locks into the small kink that you can see near the inside end of the ring, the straight bit on the outside sits up behind the rolled flap and against the roller to hold the ring in an upright position.

The second photo is of the channel on the back of the van.