Big awning trouble

[Mansfieldman750]

I’ve never seen anything like that.
We went into Salamanca on the bus from campsite, beautiful place, oldest university etc etc, had a bit of lunch, knew there was chance of rain and gusts of wind up to 30mph so came back.
We had a washing out drying on the awning and wife was knitting socks which is her thing and I was in the van actually browsing on here when the first drop of rain fell.
Quick gather up of the washing and we’re both in the van and suddenly there is a huge gust of wind and the awning is up and over the van as we’re standing with our mouths open.
Did we have tie down straps on the awning ? No
Or at least pegged the bottom of the legs? ‘Fraid not.
So my fault 100%.

Rear bracket has sheared. Managed to put awning away. Phoned VW assist, said it was a California specific problem, he said in UK we may have got a VW specialist but they work with partners abroad so take whoever comes.
Anyway someone should be here 60-90 minutes.
My first reaction is take awning off altogether unless it can be made safe. Don’t know where we’d put it but cross that bridge when we come to it.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Always look on the bright side of life. The washing is dry.

 

[WelshGas]

I’ve never seen anything like that.
We went into Salamanca on the bus from campsite, beautiful place, oldest university etc etc, had a bit of lunch, knew there was chance of rain and gusts of wind up to 30mph so came back.
We had a washing out drying on the awning and wife was knitting socks which is her thing and I was in the van actually browsing on here when the first drop of rain fell.
Quick gather up of the washing and we’re both in the van and suddenly there is a huge gust of wind and the awning is up and over the van as we’re standing with our mouths open.
Did we have tie down straps on the awning ? No
Or at least pegged the bottom of the legs? ‘Fraid not.
So my fault 100%.

Rear bracket has sheared. Managed to put awning away. Phoned VW assist, said it was a California specific problem, he said in UK we may have got a VW specialist but they work with partners abroad so take whoever comes.
Anyway someone should be here 60-90 minutes.
My first reaction is take awning off altogether unless it can be made safe. Don’t know where we’d put it but cross that bridge when we come to it.

View attachment 146751View attachment 146752View attachment 146753

2 Options.
Unbolt awning cassette. There is 1 bolt / bracket exposed by winding awning out and then unbolt brackets from vehicle.

Replace brackets, a VW California specific part, provided Awning cassette has not been damaged.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

2 Options.
Unbolt awning cassette. There is 1 bolt / bracket exposed by winding awning out and then unbolt brackets from vehicle.

Replace brackets, a VW California specific part, provided Awning cassette has not been damaged.

I think the awning cassette is ok, managed to wind it back in. We can live without it for rest of holiday.
Do you think AA would get the cassette back to UK or is that way beyond their remit ?

 

[WelshGas]

I think the awning cassette is ok, managed to wind it back in. We can live without it for rest of holiday.
Do you think AA would get the cassette back to UK or is that way beyond their remit ?

I very much doubt it I’m afraid.

 

[squiz]

I feel your pain, we had exactly the same thing happened on our trip to the alps, we got the last available space in the campsite but was a tarmac pitch, and as it was 38c we quickly put the awning out not pegged out as tarmac, went for a swim. We were only gone 10 mins came back to our fantastic neighbours trying to secure our awning as it was now bent over the roof like yours.

Ironically we didn’t see a breath of wind the entire time just that freak gust.

Luckily we were able to make space to lie it on floor inside van so removed it for travelling, also bodged the brackets enough to use it while stationary, using straps not ideal but like yours cassette was completely unmarked just knackered brackets so was determined to save it.

As soon as home i ordered new brackets and hard lesson learned luckily only cost was new brackets.

Hopefully you can get it in the van and bring it home, if not buy some brackets abroad and fit maybe ?

Good luck

 

[Mansfieldman750]

The breakdown guy didn’t have much English and we don’t have much Spanish so translating on our phones he said “ This cannot be fixed now “ and I said “I know “
Four torx screws on each side and I gave him a lift off with it.
We’re not lugging that about with us for another 3 weeks so it’s off to the awning graveyard.
I have a full complement of Marks and Spencer washed pants again so maybe we will not need to do another washing and if we do we’ll find a pitch with two trees for the washing line.
Sh1t happens.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

I very much doubt it I’m afraid.

The breakdown guy is going to call in tomorrow morning with a bigger van and take it off our hands which is very decent of him.
If he puts a bracket on it and gets something for it fine by me.

Just to add a couple of takeaways from that incident.
1) I know the AA gets a lot of criticism but this time they were very good.
2) Be very careful with that awning in any sort of wind.

 

[Andy C Berks.]

Glad it didn't damage the van. That's an expensive part to be leaving behind though. Appreciate it's a pain to carry but can't you carry it inside when driving between front seats & over rear seat, or even put the bench out flat ? Unless there are more than two of you travelling of course. Then sling it out of the way underneath the van when you make camp. If you do leave it behind probably worth salvaging the rubber rain guard as I think that comes as a separate part when you buy the new awning.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Glad it didn't damage the van. That's an expensive part to be leaving behind though. Appreciate it's a pain to carry but can't you carry it inside when driving between front seats & over rear seat, or even put the bench out flat ? Unless there are more than two of you travelling of course. Then sling it out of the way underneath the van when you make camp. If you do leave it behind probably worth salvaging the rubber rain guard as I think that comes as a separate part when you buy the new awning.

Yes it is an expensive thing to leave behind but for us that is outweighed by the hassle it would be carrying it around. If it was the last week of the trip I would have brought it home.
If the breakdown man has a plan for the awning he can have the rubber strip and the winding handle as well for that matter. I don’t know If he does or not.
I’ve gone off awnings.
I think we’ll run without it for a bit ( no choice ! ) and see how we get on.
I also thought about claiming on the insurance but that would just be opening a can of worms.
So carry on regardless.

 

[colintfcolintf]

Probably just as quick to inflate something like Vango Sunlight Air canopy in the future if you ever do want an awning / canopy - it has sides etc, also available as a poled version in addition to inflateable version

 

[andyinluton]

Can't the local VW dealer just order you in a replacement bracket? It seems a bit extreme to be leaving a £600 awning behind

 

[Up10]

We happily used a fly sheet type awning on our old van. Cheap, cheerful and adaptable.
I will try and share a link (not done this before!)

'Alternative to Wind-out awning?' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/alternative-to-wind-out-awning.56901/post-736013

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Can't the local VW dealer just order you in a replacement bracket? It seems a bit extreme to be leaving a £600 awning behind

You couldn’t be more right.
We are now at Caceres which is 2 hours down the road from Salamanca and straight across the road from the campsite is Santano Automocion, VW Commercials Service Centre.
Doh.

 

[vbk1975]

You couldn’t be more right.
We are now at Caceres which is 2 hours down the road from Salamanca and straight across the road from the campsite is Santano Automocion, VW Commercials Service Centre.
Doh.

Double check, but part number should should be 7H7 877 238 D 9P7

 

[2into1]

You know there's a facility to load long items by removing the 'ski hatch' on the very right of the bench seat (looking into the van)? Unless you have a small drawer fitted, the cover just pulls off and I suspect the awning could be stored there without too much disruption.

 

[vbk1975]

You know there's a facility to load long items by removing the 'ski hatch' on the very right of the bench seat (looking into the van)? Unless you have a small drawer fitted, the cover just pulls off and I suspect the awning could be stored there without too much disruption.

It will be very very tight length wise, you can gain a little bit by taking the rear chairs out of the boot and unzipping the chair bag for a few extra cm. awning is ~2.6m, max load length at floor level is 257cm

 

[andyinluton]

You know there's a facility to load long items by removing the 'ski hatch' on the very right of the bench seat (looking into the van)? Unless you have a small drawer fitted, the cover just pulls off and I suspect the awning could be stored there without too much disruption.

I suspect that unless his van is like a Tardis it wont fit! Looking at an awning mounted, the back end is level with boot lid & the front end goes past the edge of the door opening. Put that on the floor inside the van & the front would need to be where the passenger seat is.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Shows you how much I’ve learned in 4 1/2 years, I never knew that pulled off.
As said, it would be very tight but I think it would have gone in.
It’s all academic for me now though, the guy turned up at 11.00 am in a recovery truck as he said he would and it’s gone and I’m not asking for it back.

 

[Arnoob]

Don't throw away your rubber strip:

You do'n't have to use so many sails, we only use one:

 

[Mansfieldman750]

You know there's a facility to load long items by removing the 'ski hatch' on the very right of the bench seat (looking into the van)? Unless you have a small drawer fitted, the cover just pulls off and I suspect the awning could be stored there without too much disruption.

You wouldn’t be able to use the sliding table though and for me that would be a big disruption.

 

[Perfectos]

May be helpful to someone in future

 

[hirsty]

I had the same happen in Glen Nevis on my previous van, a T5 conversion with a Fiamma awning fitted - not only did the bracket shear (with the awning having gone 90 degrees vertical, albeit briefly) but it had also bent the back panel of the awning cassette itself out of shape.

as per @andyinluton above, like Hell was I leaving it behind, so once home I removed & straightened it out with a hammer and block of wood & then got to learn a lot more than you'd think possible about Fiamma bracket options ...

pegs, and sometimes straps too, now regardless - an expensive mistake you only want to make once tops.

 

[chris151151]

Even in North Norlolk this happened to me. Bought tie down straps. Take a deep breath or stiff drink before looking up the replacement bracket prices.