Here we are at sunny Moore Park near Bunderberg Qld 50yds from the beach so a couple of days ago I bought a pair of Deflappers (the longer more expensive ones) & as it is a continuously gusty day here today they were put to the test....& failed, looks like I'm back to the caravan shop to get a replacement tomorrow as the bracket that the velcrose strap threads through just snapped off. Just hope the shop does the right thing.
rosey said
04:05 PM Nov 29, 2009
I heard the girls in the 20's were called "Flappers" so am a bit confused.... what's a deflapper????
kiasen said
04:20 PM Nov 29, 2009
We bought the full length ones that fit from roof to the awning roll bar, not cheap but good
Basil Faulty said
05:38 PM Nov 29, 2009
We have the long ones that you clamp the awning edges in..... Still flaps around and eventually the edges pull out...
Hylda&Jon said
05:45 PM Nov 29, 2009
Had a look at those full length ones on the internet just now('Aussie Traveller' brand), expensive buggers arn't they? near $300. Did some researching & one popular suggestion to use in place of or combined with deflappers is to string a rope or webbing tight over the top of the awning from front to back or diagonally to stop the billowing from the wind. have done that now to help out till we head south tomorrow for Burrum Heads after a detour to replace the deflapper & 2nd detour to get a roadworthy certificate & gas check for the NSW rego renewal.
Cruising Granny said
05:53 PM Nov 29, 2009
I have the storm flat kit from Aussie Treveller, but unfortunately my annexe has shrunk and I can't get it to grip and fit in the original holes. I don't want to drill any more holes in the van and the roller.
I also have the velcro straps and clamps on each end, as well as a rope over the top.
Unfortunately with the roll out awning, there's no way to secure the roof to the cross bars.
With the old slide in annexe I had pockets welded on and the cross bars were wrapped and studded in to secure everything.
While the roll out is great and easier to handle, it does have down sides.
I compromise and it's working so far. It gets quite squally here in Cairns, and my measures are holding.
I have also pegged the legs down and tied them down from the top.
Useless in a cyclone though. Everything is useless in a cyclone.
The shop you got the straps from should honour the warranty. Good luck
justcruisin01 said
05:58 PM Nov 29, 2009
Hylda&Jon wrote:
Had a look at those full length ones on the internet just now('Aussie Traveller' brand), expensive buggers arn't they? near $300. Did some researching & one popular suggestion to use in place of or combined with deflappers is to string a rope or webbing tight over the top of the awning from front to back or diagonally to stop the billowing from the wind. have done that now to help out till we head south tomorrow for Burrum Heads after a detour to replace the deflapper & 2nd detour to get a roadworthy certificate & gas check for the NSW rego renewal.
Guys, would not use the rope/strap over the awning , seen this many times . Pulling the ends of the awning down tight stretches the material ,particualy on a hot day. you end up with surpluse material accross the end & does not go back into place .
Cruising Granny said
06:44 PM Nov 29, 2009
That's not been my experience. I just tie the rope to the rails at either end. There's nothing to stretch the awning. In fact my awning roof as shrunk between the times I used the storm flap kit in Broome until using it 12 months later.
While the roof was clamped into the flap kit at either end for 12 months, nothing unusual happened.
What are you tying the straps to?
Ma said
08:15 PM Nov 29, 2009
We looked at getting deflappers too but figured the expense wasn't warranted.
Good old Aussie ingenuity to the rescue.
Bungy (occy) straps are the best thing since sliced bread in our opinion.
We have eyelets on the side of our awning (two at equal intervals) and we hook one of the hooks into the first one, take the strap down and under the cross bar twice and then hook it into the next eyelet.
Never had trouble with flapping and it certainly hasn't stretched the awning in all the time we have been using them.
Ma
Terro said
09:23 AM Nov 30, 2009
Hylda&Jon wrote:
a couple of days ago I bought a pair of Deflappers (the longer more expensive ones) & as it is a continuously gusty day here today they were put to the test....& failed,
I found the same thing with the longer anti-flappers. Had some smaller ones and they do the job much better but still pull out with a really strong gust of wind. I have been thinking along the lines of a rope or strap across the awning. Seen a few around just a matter of deciding what to use, strap as in one of those "tie down" straps that you can buy cheaply from Bunno's or a rope. I feel the strap would be better with a flat edge on the vinyl. Only have to work out how to fix them on.
Terro.
Hylda&Jon said
09:29 AM Nov 30, 2009
Terro! I read in some forums that with using the straps there may be some flapping of the straps against the awning across the middle as the wind blows them, others say this is not a problem.
Terro said
09:57 AM Nov 30, 2009
A good point Guys. The main concern with that would be the wear and tear and rubbing any colour off. Keep it on the drawing board though a lot are using them.
Terro
justcruisin01 said
11:08 AM Nov 30, 2009
Cruising Granny wrote:
That's not been my experience. I just tie the rope to the rails at either end. There's nothing to stretch the awning. In fact my awning roof as shrunk between the times I used the storm flap kit in Broome until using it 12 months later. While the roof was clamped into the flap kit at either end for 12 months, nothing unusual happened. What are you tying the straps to?
Granny , I do not have this problemn,I only stated whaqt i have seen , & thatbwas a strap /rope length wise over awning & tied to a ground pegs directly under each end of the awning .This methord does stretch the awning.
As mine is a 20ft van i use two curved roof rafters @ even spaces , this stops all of the middle section from flopping up & down.
My end walls have a top support pole that fits into the van roof & the awning drum. I use these when not using the wall .the awning has three eyelets each end which are directly above this pole & i tie these to the pole , works very well. When the wall is up these same eyelets connect to the top of the wall ,making it as one .
Hope this makes sense to you.
Cheers.
Cruising Granny said
11:54 AM Nov 30, 2009
Gee, we all have our own methods for the same problem. We could write a manual.
Whatever works is good, I reckon.
The flapping is the downside of roll-out awnings. I have straight cross bars from the van to the roller because I'd been advised using the curved ones long term can stretch the awning.
The flapping can damage the awning at the van end where it's in the track.
My awning is 3 years old and has been rolled out more than it's been rolled away - exposed to all weather, and it's lost its flexibility and stretch, which is why it can't be clamped into the flap kits at either end.
If anyone can come up with a "fool proof" system which works in all situations let us know.
justcruisin01 said
12:30 PM Nov 30, 2009
Hey Grann, may be a BIGGER van with a slide out verandah.
Cruising Granny said
05:58 PM Nov 30, 2009
Bigger! I don't think so. The wind-out verandah sounds flash, but nuh.
I've been looked at with some funny looks when they see a woman driving the Cruiser with a 20footer on the back. The looks get even bigger when I reverse to park it up.
Now all I have to do is sort out the roller problem. I may have to ask someone in the park to give me a hand, eh?
justcruisin01 said
10:27 PM Nov 30, 2009
Cruising Granny wrote:
Bigger! I don't think so. The wind-out verandah sounds flash, but nuh. I've been looked at with some funny looks when they see a woman driving the Cruiser with a 20footer on the back. The looks get even bigger when I reverse to park it up. Now all I have to do is sort out the roller problem. I may have to ask someone in the park to give me a hand, eh?
good onya granny, bet the looks come from those who cant
the ends of the awning down tight stretches the material ,particualy on a hot day.
you end up with surpluse material accross the end & does not go back into place .
Good old Aussie ingenuity to the rescue.
Bungy (occy) straps are the best thing since sliced bread in our opinion.
We have eyelets on the side of our awning (two at equal intervals) and we hook one of the hooks into the first one, take the strap down and under the cross bar twice and then hook it into the next eyelet.
Never had trouble with flapping and it certainly hasn't stretched the awning in all the time we have been using them.
Ma
Terro.
Terro
As mine is a 20ft van i use two curved roof rafters @ even spaces , this stops all of the middle section from flopping up & down.
My end walls have a top support pole that fits into the van roof & the awning drum.
I use these when not using the wall .the awning has three eyelets each end which
are directly above this pole & i tie these to the pole , works very well.
When the wall is up these same eyelets connect to the top of the wall ,making it as one .
Hope this makes sense to you.
Cheers.