AndyLou Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Hi, We have a roll out Fiamma awning on our Bessacar E745 and there are go guy ropes to secure the legs. I was wondering do people strap theirs' down or just rely on pegs in the legs feet? When we had a caravan with a pull out awning we had to secure the legs with pegs and guy ropes. Some people even went to the trouble of adding a strap. Thanks Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 We have just returned from 108 nights away. We didn't use the awning once, they are such a pain. I would never have one fitted to a new van, given the choice, plus they weight a ton, or is that tonne, whatever. Each to their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Andy&Lou - 2016-05-20 9:18 AM Hi, We have a roll out Fiamma awning on our Bessacar E745 and there are go guy ropes to secure the legs. I was wondering do people strap theirs' down or just rely on pegs in the legs feet? When we had a caravan with a pull out awning we had to secure the legs with pegs and guy ropes. Some people even went to the trouble of adding a strap. Thanks Andy It depends....... If we're in a sheltered spot and the forecast is good, then we often leave the awning out, but I'll use ratchet straps as well as pegging down the legs..... If the weathers a bit iffy, then I'll just peg the legs down, or else the dog will take them out when she's on her lead *-) .......But if we go out, and at night I'll wind the awning in....... Once had to help a chap escape his RV when a gust of wind took his awning up into the air, which enabled the legs to come off and trapped him and his Mrs in their van 8-)....... It wasn't pegged down but latched onto the van side as some do ;-)....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sshortcircuit Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 If the awning is going to be up for a while I strap down with a strap at each corner and then a further strap along the top. For a short time no straps but do not leave and keep an eye out for the wind getting up. Great piece of kit as it expands considerably the use of the MH and provides a shelter from the sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Depends a lot on the weather conditions. If calm and at the van, then pegs on the legs. If a little breezy and at the van, then supplementary ratchet strap looped around the top of the leg at the knuckle joint. If away from the van or at night - retract the awning. I've had too many sleepless nights listening to the gathering wind and eventually getting up in PJ's and retracing the awning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 We usually put 2 guy ropes from each leg. If we think it may get really windy, if we don't take it down , we throw a strap over the centre an secure that either side. A piece of webbing will suffice Have found that having a front sheet, sun shade threaded through the slot , gives a lot more stability and also some privacy It really depends where you camp. We are usually in Spain , so don't know what is best in UK as you get more wind. Usually take ours in at night, if not sure about the weather. Nothing worse than having to get up in the night , to take a rattling blind in PJay Looks like I took to long to answer, as others have said the same.!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagrid Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Fiamma do a tie down kit which includes adjustable straps and springs to absorb shock loading, it works very well but,If there is strong wind forecast over night, I put the awning away, it saves having to get up in the night! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tall_Mike Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 In a word - No, not yet although I have bought some very substantial rock pegs to hold the thing down driving them well into the ground through the legs. There are some horrendous tales of these awnings flipping up, breaking the awning and doing untold damage to the structure of the van in the process. We were thoroughly warned by our dealer and then by friends, - almost to the stage that I am wary of using it. One issue is that my wife is disabled, so I need to do this on my own, it isn't that easy to set the thing up - or fold it away on one's own, especially in a wind without assistance, getting the legs clicked into place and not bending anything. Saying that - we are very careful of it's use, - The solution is straightforward - In any remotely dodgy conditions we wind it in, - or if we are leaving the van unattended for a while, also at night and we haven't had a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliB Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Fiamma tie down kit everytime. Very substantial although the rock pegs can be a pain to pull out sometimes but that is reassuring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Andy&Lou - 2016-05-20 9:18 AM Hi, We have a roll out Fiamma awning on our Bessacar E745 and there are go guy ropes to secure the legs. I was wondering do people strap theirs' down or just rely on pegs in the legs feet? When we had a caravan with a pull out awning we had to secure the legs with pegs and guy ropes. Some people even went to the trouble of adding a strap. Thanks Andy Wouldnt be without a wind out awning, and YES, we always put out guy ropes or straps, even if we only put it out for half an hour. Have never had any problems over 4 differant vans, all with wind out awnings. Used mainly as rain shelters rather than sun shades. Cheap cargo straps from screwfix or toolstation do the job just as well, with really strong metal pegs. It is possible to wind it in in a high wind ,single handed, by hanging on to the far strap, as you wind in the awning. Leave it attached until the wind dies down, my Wife is disabled too, so have had to do it many times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAS Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 I put pegs in the feet. If it seems too windy for that I roll it in. I have to agree with starvin marvin though. If it hadn't been fitted as standard I wouldn't bother with one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeco Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 We use our awning all the time. When I roll it out I add two guy ropes to each leg. Additionally I add two antiflap beams, one each end and a centre rafter. I also have an end wall and a side wall that I use depending on conditions. When we first used the awning I was very concerned about stability of the lightweight design of our awning. Now that I have added the additional components we have no problem with worrying about it blowing away in most winds we experience here. Having said that I have "pulled it in" once or twice when I have seen an ugly sky approaching. Set up time is around 15 mins, no big deal really. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebishbus Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 I use the Fiamme stap down kit, and fit windstopper curtains, they make it much more stable in windy conditions. I modified the curtain rails making them spring loaded and a more positive fit. Brian B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith T Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Ours is the Omnistor version, which I find a bit stronger than the Fiamma ones we have had previously. Rarely use in UK, but most times when stopping on sites in France. Very useful, and always peg down, plus Tie down kit, and usually ratchet straps to pole tops. We also have the rain blockers both sides, and the sun blocker along the front, and these give considerably more support in windy conditions.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leake Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 Well ours is an Omnistore but yes we most defiantly do strap ours down using their own strap system which locks into the top of the legs and includes shock absorbing springs. We never leave it out in windy,or even potentially windy conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyLou Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share Posted May 23, 2016 Thanks to everyone for your advice. Looks like I had better adapt the old caravan strap down kit to work with the MH awning. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len Salisbury Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Two weeks ago in Devon we went to my daughter's just a couple of miles away and left the awning out. The awning was fitted with the FIAMMA kit which hooks on to the slot of the front of the awning and the pegs are about 12 inches long with the springs attached and the upright legs were in position with a peg in each. The rafter was also fitted. It was sunny with no wind on the site. When we got back a few hours later it was like a bomb site. The rafter was still attached to the MH but had come off the fronf and was BENT. I have managed to straighten the rafter but it is not like new with a couple of kinks but I can adjust it just about. I shall certainly take the rafter down and wind the awning in when MH is left unattended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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