Fitting awning to van

What is the best way to join a drive away awning to a bay? Figure of eight adaptor, pole and clamp or some home made method?

Steve

 

i've got a figure of eight - lift off to disconnect and vice versa, none of this clamping rubbish

 

We use pole n clamp, we found our figure of 8 was just pulling out the gutter in anything more than a slight breeze

 

never found that, but our awning is always taut with no limp bits

 

figure of eight for me but i've got a devon poptop. pole and clamp would be better for windy and rubbish parking times but don't think it'd fit with my roof.

 

You're right Mabel, but I feel just a bit more secure with pole n clamp

 

Wise words in so many ways

 

figure of eight has always been good for me..I have 2 old bungee cords so when parked up and got the awning right I tent peg around the tyre foot print so when we go out in the van and leave the awning I can drive straight back onto the right spot,, this works well till some numpty takes em though..

 

we use fig 8 but with the big awning it's cack in the wind so pole for that from now on, with the little awning it works fine with fig 8

 

Cheers for quick replies. Hmm, seems like they both work ok then. I must admit the pole and clamp does look like it will stand up to more wind and snagging etc. Has anyone had any problems with damage to gutters or body work using either of these methods?

 

I use a pole and clamps

 

I've used both methods and find they both work very well. The fig. 8 seems easier but it has damaged the paint slightly.

 

On the paint damage front I was going to say that our pole and clamp took paint off our bus, so we now always use figure of eight - we thought the plastic was less likely to damage the bus than a metal pole and clamps. It's always stayed attached so far...

 

Pole and clamp for us. Have had problems with the one above the sliding door catching on the top of the door if it isn't positioned properly

 

dont buy a cheap figure of 8 I did and they did not clip on securely

 

Bloody had that problem with roof rack clamp, not nice.

 

As BS said if you do go for pole and clamp you need some pieces of rubber to stop the clamp damaging your paint.

 

Or wrap the faces of the clamps with insulation tape

Im eventually going to get round to sewing some rare earth magnets into mine with webbing pull loops on the opposite side
Should be no fussing about then