Awning control

[Old Techo]

I always worry about deploying the awning. Several times I've had to get out of bed in the wee hours to furl the awning due excessive winds. My view is the awning minimum deployment setting is too big. This minimum setting is when the upper arms are deployed at their shortest position.

To overcome this I made my own discrete upper arms. They are all aluminium and very light. They enable the awning to be deployed and firmly tightened at about 2 feet less than the standard minimum.

To use them the awning is unfurled to a position I marked on the awning. The existing awning arms are left lowered and unused and the new arms then placed in position between the awning mounting bracket on the van and the awning roller or drum. The awning ratchet is then released allowing the awning to recoil and firm up on the new arms - but only to the nearest ratchet locking position. Then the arms are slightly extended with the arm wheel adjuster to remove any slack. Now the awning is tight against the drum locked ratchet.

To further minimise awning flapping (still likely with a taut awning, as with any flat sheet) I fit the 3rd curved arm or rafter in the centre of the awning. This introduces a curve in the awning fabric and kills the Rolf Harris 'wocker board' tendency.

[Old Techo]

The new awning arms (or props) are made from aluminium tubing. At one end is fitted a fork that plugs into the awning mounting bracket on the van. At the other end is a bird's mouth shape attached to some rod I threaded and this slides loosely into the tubing.

Once in place the threaded wheel is spun to lengthen the arm and take up any remaining slack.

[dieseltojo]

Good idea OT.