dugcati wrote:If you thread your awning onto the rail (that you permanently fitted to the van) then how on earth do you make use of the 'drive away' feature of the awning? and more confusingly how would you reattach the awning without some super special driving or un-pegging the awning to re-thread it onto the rail?
I'm just trying to sort this on mine. (please excuse stupidities)
If you fit 'j-rail' directly to hi-top will the figure of 8 strips clip directly onto it (like on a gutter) doing away with the need for the double sided bead strip? Or am I missing something. (again)
Using the kit is the following the way things work when you return to the awning?
*Drive up
*Stop in the right place (ish)
*Slide the beaded strip along the channel on the camper
*Slide one figure of 8 from the back (gripping both the strip and the awning)
*Same again from front
*Sit down
*Open beer
*Realise you have left someone at beach
you can slide your awning directly into your 'J' rail (mines a 'C' rail) but i believe it proves difficult to remove if you choose to 'drive away' for the day. The fabric strip shown in the photo makes the 'drive away' alot easier as you pull this apart from the figure of eights and awning attachment and slide in to re-attach awning when you return
Yep thanks - I know what you mean. I just wondered wether the figure of 8 would clip over a J-rail like it does over a normal gutter rather than have to slide along. I used to have a tin top with a proper gutter. The figure of 8 would clip on easily with one downward action - mind you if it got windy it would just as easily blow off again but thats another story....
Soooo easy with a pair of these....suprised anyone hasn't mentioned them, OK they aren't cheap but so quick and convenient.
Might even have a pair 4 sale.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar now sleep xxHayleyxx
Does anybody use the suckers to fix to a high top, my vans gutters are full of sealant and the clamps and figure of eight will not fit. I was thinking of buying some suckers, modifying the bracket so it pulls closer to the roof i.e straight rather than 'L' shaped. This would give more height as the canvas sits quite close to the sliding door. I guess i should however stop being lazy and clear out the sealant and do it the proper way!!
kervinmervin wrote:Does anybody use the suckers to fix to a high top, my vans gutters are full of sealant and the clamps and figure of eight will not fit. I was thinking of buying some suckers, modifying the bracket so it pulls closer to the roof i.e straight rather than 'L' shaped. This would give more height as the canvas sits quite close to the sliding door. I guess i should however stop being lazy and clear out the sealant and do it the proper way!!
Unfortunaltey the suction clamps will not fix to my high top and the gutters on our autosleeper are not deep enough for the pole attachment or direct figure of eight attachment so we had to fit the 'C' rail. I had reservations about fixing the rail but was very easy and straightforward. I reckon its the best set up now. Wouldnt be without it as it makes attaching an awning a doddle. Plus you can use a sun canopy as it just slides in to the rail
ahh the royal traveller!! Just bought and tried out on Friday night, just about got the clamps to work but as the connecting fabric has a cutout to fix clamp in the middle the rain collected and dripped through sliding door. May look at the 'c' rail, as I guess that would be water tight(ish), however if I cleared out the gutters mine would probably fit!!!
kervinmervin wrote:ahh the royal traveller!! Just bought and tried out on Friday night, just about got the clamps to work but as the connecting fabric has a cutout to fix clamp in the middle the rain collected and dripped through sliding door. May look at the 'c' rail, as I guess that would be water tight(ish), however if I cleared out the gutters mine would probably fit!!!
The hightop on ours fill most of the gutter. The C rail was cheap as chips and had pre drill holes through the rail to get the fixings in. offered it up to the high top, got the spirit level on it and marked off the fixing points. Used a small metal drill bit to pilot the holes. blobbed a tip of sealant over the holes before I screwed the rail up with self tapping screws, then run a bead of sealant along the top of the rail to make it watertight.
works a treat and jobs a good un
What I ended up doing today between showers was attach a length of j-rail (£13 from local caravan shop) about two inches above the original gutter to the side of the high top with stainless self tappers; sealed behind it with a little silicon. The figure of 8 now slots directly onto the rail as it was meant to on the gutter - hope it works...
Tinker wrote:What I ended up doing today between showers was attach a length of j-rail (£13 from local caravan shop) about two inches above the original gutter to the side of the high top with stainless self tappers; sealed behind it with a little silicon. The figure of 8 now slots directly onto the rail as it was meant to on the gutter - hope it works...
Nice one, sounds good. Let us know how well the figure of eights hold next time your awning is up. Good info for the next person
I'm just curious.....why don't suckers (as pictured) fit to the side of your high top? is the paint a rough stipple like on a westy poptop? I always though high tops were smooth?
It's just I'm hearing so much talk about drilling holes etc I wondered why these very convenient and quick suckers were dismised so quickly? They worked great on my dads high top leisuredrive, holding the pole firmly and securely in a matter of seconds and releasing just as quick for quick driveaway.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar now sleep xxHayleyxx
Red Westie wrote:I'm just curious.....why don't suckers (as pictured) fit to the side of your high top? is the paint a rough stipple like on a westy poptop? I always though high tops were smooth?
It's just I'm hearing so much talk about drilling holes etc I wondered why these very convenient and quick suckers were dismised so quickly? They worked great on my dads high top leisuredrive, holding the pole firmly and securely in a matter of seconds and releasing just as quick for quick driveaway.
Martin
Good point. Maybe the ones we had were of poor quality?? They would hold for a short time then tend to fall off.
but i believe it proves difficult to remove if you choose to 'drive away' for the day. The fabric strip shown in the photo makes the 'drive away' alot easier as you pull this apart from the figure of eights and awning attachment and slide in to re-attach awning when you return
Soooo easy with a pair of these....suprised anyone hasn't mentioned them, OK they aren't cheap but so quick and convenient.
They would hold for a short time then tend to fall off.