fiamma awning fabric tension.

[cid]

Hi all, I have owned my motorhome for 16 years. It was 10 years old when I bought it. It came with a Fiamma f50 awning already fitted. On trying to use it I found the fabric never tightened up and flapped around in the slightest breeze. I didn't use it much as I couldn't see the point. However, I lost the right hand end cap (it disintegrated through age) and it was while looking for a replacement that I discovered that the awning should have come with an optional rafter that you had to fit between the van and the front rail  and then wind back the fabric to apply tension. The rafter cost around £50 so,I presume, not many sold. I looked for a suitable alternative and found an adjustable washing line pole at B&M. How it works. Extend awning, hook top hook of pole to little clip on inside of van rail. Slide bottom of adjustable pole to centre of outer rail of awning and tighten adjuster. Wind in fabric till tight. Mark position on washing pole with a felt tip pen for future use as you will want to collapse the pole for transport. Total cost £3.50. Bargain! All the Best, Ian.