howie Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 I posted this by mistake earlier on the camping section and of course is more relevent to caravaning. I,m having problems getting the canvas through the rail section. Nothing damaged, but difficult to achieve. Is there a suitable lubricant anyone could recommend. Howard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calomax Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 Try Towsure, they have lubricants & tools to clean out the awning rail if necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted September 15, 2006 Author Share Posted September 15, 2006 Thank you Calomax. I wanted the correct lubricant for fear of staining the fairly new awning. I was unaware you could get the cleaning tools as well, and as I have the Towsure catalogue to hand, will go through it later. Howard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted September 22, 2006 Author Share Posted September 22, 2006 Thanks for the info Doug, and taking the time to reply. I,ve already bought some lubricant but will bear your advise in mind as i,m not averse to cheaper alternatives. Just to point out that my caravaning days are over (aching joints) and that this relates to the awning rail on the front of a Omnistor pull out type fitted to my camper van. Howard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Hope I'm not gate crashing here. But I've getting very few replies on a question I raised re. Isabella awnings elswhere on the forum. I need to buy a new awning for a larger van. Is the Isabella brand the best or not? I've had one since 1980's and have found it terrific. What advice? Sorry I can't help with your own question Howie. Sounds like you've got some pretty good responses there though. Happy St. Patrick's Day on Sat, folks. Be thinking of you when drowning the shamrock Brandon :'( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted March 16, 2007 Author Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hi Brandon and I hope you enjoy Saint Patricks tomorrow. Try not to overdo it though. There,s no doubting the quality of the Isabella brand, and as your previous one lasted for so long I would have no hesitation in buying one of these for your new van. Plenty of good makes around, and the old adage of you get what you pay for still applies. If you survive tomorrow night then call in the chatterbox section at the top of the page and i,ll enlighten you on what proper drinkings all about as shown to me by my Scottish grandad. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted March 18, 2007 Author Share Posted March 18, 2007 Might be of interest to anyone else thinking of buying a new awning. Two new Isabella models were shown on the Caravan Channel today with some innovative designs including a nifty tool for adjusting pole tension. The program will be repeated at 6pm Wednesday on Sky channel 181. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Just about resurfacing now. Thanks for the info. Looking forward to wed. with video recorder on standby. Hope to take you up on the chatterbox invite. anon. >:-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Hi Howie, Just finished watching the repeat caravan programme as recommended albeit a repeat of the repeat. Anyway.....interesting. Disappointed they did not give a better overview of the awning inside and out. Wonder what it/they cost? That said.... I'm still convinced that the Isabella is indeed and continues to be a really class awning....not to say high quality. The blinds...? My van (2003 Fleetwood) is cosy and curtained. Wonder if the new awning is a bit too stark with those blinds. Is there a clash of decor. (my better half's suggestion)...and are you more exposed when the blinds are up? That nifty tool. Well I have a bit to say about that but next time. I've had similar for a long time and tended not to use it!!!! Thanks for the tip-off....didn't know there was a caravan programme. Brandon P.S Wonder why there is not a lot more in the chat about awnings. Surely they are the most undeveloped side of caravanning....little discussion and relatively little imagination from the manufacturers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 The other thing I want to say about awnings is this: I often let my van in the caravan site as a static van with the awning up. (Have done for many years.) Two summers ago, when I returned to the site, having been away for 5 days or so, I found that water had "ballooned " on the roof and had dragged the feeder rail away from the side of the van. Horror of horrors!!! I am nervous now of letting my awning up when I am away. even though it is not practical to do otherwise. Any comment? :$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted March 28, 2007 Author Share Posted March 28, 2007 Hi Rachel. Often wondered at the wisdom of buying expensive accessories for a specific van when its quite often the case that after a few years we then go and buy a new caravan, for whatever reason, meaning a quality product that we expected to last a lifetime proves unsuitable unless size/shape is compatable with the new one. What usually happens is that the awning is sold on the with van (price negotiable perhaps) and the only one to benefit from your initial outlay will be the next owner. Cheap and cheerfull may the better option, and should provide good service for the length of time we own a particular van. Brandon. Whenever there was heavy rain I always used to drop the front legs of the awning down a few inches to make sure there was adequate run off to stop water collecting on the roof, and you usually have enough adjustment on the walls and front to take up any slack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Thanks Howie, Tres interresent. Must keep that in mind. Seems Obvious...why didn't I think of that? Re. buying an expensive awning and then selling on the van + awning, I'm inclined to feel that having lived in an Isabella for so long, and having a sense of that quality around me it is hard to settle for less. But you're right of course. In my case however , my last van held from c. 1989 to 2007. My "new van" is expected to see out my independent caravaning days. After that it's going to be accepting invitationsto OP's. Looking forward to that already. (lol) (lol) (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 Owning the same caravan for so many years makes you the expeption to the rule Brandon, and if you are planning the same with your new van then I agree that a quality awning such as a Isabella makes sense, and I also agree with your "feelgood factor" by having and using such quality items. A quick look around the websites seems to confirm your high opinion of this particular make with the general consensus being that they don,t come much better. ( www.isabella.net ) may be of some interest to you re. this matter. As for your disappointment at the lack of innovation and design with awnings, i,m not to sure how there can be any major changes here as apart from small details and fine tuning the basic design seems well suited for its purpose. Perhaps I lack imagination though. Touching briefly on T.V. concerning camping/caravan/motorhome programs. With so many people now enjoying and participating in this type of leisure activity I find it disappointing that only the one channel feels it worth while airing this subject, ( no disrespect to the "Caravan Channel" which I do enjoy ) especially when you look at some of the programs on offer where the appeal to viewers must be limited to say the least. Never mind. We live in hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 Re. awning design.......... .......I don't have the answers but I'm prompted to think of de Bono's lateral thinking technique of coming up with new ideas. Not sure if you know how this works but... take an item at random...for example a cartwheel and attempt to design an awning using a cart wheel as your inspiration. How would it look? Modify the cartwheel any way you like (and hence your new awning design). Let me know what you come up with. (With apologies to the eminent Mr. de Bono.) :-S :-S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted March 31, 2007 Author Share Posted March 31, 2007 Edward de Bono may have been a leading authority in the field of creative, lateral and parallel thinking Brandon, and his approach to the behaviour of self organising information systems such as neural brainwork networks does have its merits, but I still prefer the simple approach where a fundamental design of five equilateral triangles which encompass reverse combi technology, quick pitch swivel hub with hybryd double wall construction of a variable diameter configuration that utilises the advantages of geodesic design while still retaining the basic simplicity of ulitarian design and function still remains my preferred option. Then again others may differ, but in the majority of cases simplicity will always be the best approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 " The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this:- that a thing that is constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists." -Charles Dickens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 Very true and fine sentiments Brandon, but Dickens never faced putting up a awning in driving rain and a stiff North Easterly on the Isle of Anglesey. Let strength, simplicity and function always be your maxim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sally Pepper Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 Don't part with any cash until you've had a look at the May edition of Which Caravan - it's got a 12-page awning special in with loads of tips on what to look out for before you purchase. Happy shopping EE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Thank you Eagleyes...I've just placed an order for a years subscription of "Caravan Which" and hoping that the May edition is included in the first copy. Any thoughts on good furnishings for awnings anyone? My van does not have enough storage space for my needs and I like to keep an awning looking neat, but with a relaxed, lived in look. *-) *-) Thank you too Howie...value your responses greatly. Happy Easter guys :-D :-D :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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