I would recommend at least two people for erecting an awning especially when windy
Step 1:
Site your caravan on level ground.
Lay out your ground sheet after first checking the ground for lumps and bumps and removing loose stones etc.
This gives you clean area to work saving your awning from getting dirty.
Step 2:
Construct the frame work middle and outer section and layout on groundsheet.
Step 3:
If needed use awning rail lubricant in the channel to ease pulling the roof section through.
Pull the roof section of the awning through the rail of the caravan.
When feeding the awning through the rail rather that feeding it in from ground level start from the openings in the awning channel it's easier to work from the opening just above eye level at the rear of the van.
If one feeds the awning into the rail while the other pulls it’s so much easier.
Put the roof pole brackets on the inner channel of the roof section.
Mark the position where the brackets are located for future use.
Step 3:
Lift the roof section over the framework and connect at the front.
Then lifting the framework insert the roof poles in to the pole brackets starting in the middle and have your partner hold the front middle section in place for added stability.
Then the two outer edges stretching the poles as you go along to get your basic shape.
Step 4:
With the awning roof and the frame erected, attach all side and front panels.
Make sure that both ends of the zips are correctly connected to each other
Now you can easy close the zip
When all panels are attached you can add on the supporting poles and tension the complete frame.
First tension all the roof poles
Put the legs at the correct height
Stretch the left and right ridge to a maximum
In this way you tension the whole awning including the canopy
Step 5:
Always start the pegging at the rear of the awning closest to the caravan.
Now continue with the front wall, the left and right corner.
Pull the corner legs outwards in an angle of 45°
By pulling outwards both corner legs you stretch the front wall in one.
Ensure all panels are zipped closed then peg the sides and the front leaving one section of zips free for your doorway.
You should end up with straight lines.
Step 6:
Go back inside and tuck all the skirts under the groundsheet.
The finished product:
Points to look out for:
Do not overstretch the awning only tension until it is taut with no strain on the material.
Doors and openings should be free and easy to open not so tight as it takes two people to close it.
After you've erected your awning a really good idea is to use coloured electrical tape to mark the poles that join into each other. If you don't have enough colours for each join use different rings of tape for each join. Next time you put it up its just a game of matching up the colours rings!
Never put your awning away whilst still damp. You run the risk of the cloth rotting.
All modern awnings are coated in special water proofing treatments, only use the appropriate cleaning solutions as recommended by the manufacturer. If you use household detergents you will strip the waterproofing from the fabric.
The pegs that come with an awning aren't usually suitable for anything other than soft ground - especially the plastic ones. Buy a set of Rock Pegs for hard standings it'll make life a whole lot easier!
