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All caravanners do have an awning or an annexe installed in their caravans or motor homes as it gives you the extended personal space that you deserve. With a caravan annexe or an awning, you can take the comforts of home with you on your trip (even if the comforts are a little). You may have taken the time to understand the install the best caravan awning but are you aware of the correct way to erect a caravan awning? In our previous post, we shared about how to set up a roll out awning.

If you do it incorrectly, or you just open it up without paying attention to the details, then you could damage the awning soon enough. The following steps will show you how it’s done correctly.

1. Refer to the supplied frame diagram for your RV / caravan and layout the frame in front of the vehicle.
2. The next step involves folding out the awning and laying it on the ground just next to the frame. (The two front panels of the awning should be placed aside safely.)
3. Now you need to find the leading edge of the awning bead and this needs to be fed into the awning channel. (The channel is the railing structure that goes along the way around the side of the caravan). Make sure that you do this prior to installing the frame onto the vehicle. The awning needs to be fed all the way around the channel until central on the caravan.
4. With the awning now in position on the caravan, the bracket pads need to be installed. They should be attached on either side and one needs to be placed in the centre.
5. It is time to assemble the frame onto the caravan as the awning has been fed properly into the railing and the bracket pads have been placed so the awning would stay intact. This will make it easy to work with the frame.
6. You should start the assembly with the centre roof pole wherein the first pole needs to be fed through the pocket that is located in the front of the awning. One end of the pole is fixed to the centre bracket pad that was installed earlier.
7. Now the centre leg needs to be attached with the leg being angled back towards the caravan. This is important as it would prevent the frame from collapsing under the weight during the frame’s assembly. (The same process needs to be repeated for the two side roof poles and the legs).
8. The front poles need to be attached to the frame as soon as the first side frame has been assembled properly.
9. Once the assembly for the above stage has been completed, the leg heights need to be adjusted so that the top of the side panels are aligned in a horizontal plane.
10. Now use the quick release clamp to give tension to the roof poles but remember to make only a slight change.
11. The next thing that would have to be done is to attach the canopy poles. (You need to check whether this component is provided with your awning set.) During the process, you need to ensure that the protective piece of fabric is seated properly between the pole and the canopy.
12. It’s almost done. Now you need to zip in the two front panels. This needs to be done carefully. First you need to move the first zip to the third quarter position and then continue zipping from the bottom.
13. Once this is done, use the quick release clamps to give tension to the front poles. This will bring the central leg to the awning’s centre.
14. The final step in the process is to peg out the awning. For this you need to make sure that the mud wall is neatly tucked under the awning. It is best to start with one of the rear points. Attach the tension peg and then hammer it till it goes through half way. Now apply tension and lock off. Then continue hammering it till it goes all the way in.
15. The front corners need to be pegged next. But first, check that the awning is pulled tight and the leg is aptly located down the seam.
16. When you finish pegging off the other points, the awning is ready for use.
17. As a safety measure you could fit a tie down kit (which is available with most vendors and dealers) as this comes in handy during windy conditions.

People often overlook the fact that taking proper measurements can mean the difference between a comfortable trip and a holiday disaster. Full awnings are caravan awnings that are designed to wrap all the way around the rails. So for getting an awning that fits your RV perfectly, you need to take accurate measurements. But when it comes to measuring caravans, people are often clueless.

You can compare the measurement process to be similar to buying a new pair of jeans. If you are not careful about it, then you could end up getting a pair that is either too tight or too loose. So now you should be able to understand the importance of getting an awning that fits perfectly. Surely you can rely on your caravan manual for getting the dimensions, but these are standards that are good only when the caravan is in pristine condition. There is also the possibility of the manual getting lost. What do you do when you have nothing to guide you with respect to the required measurements?

 It’s simple! Just follow these simple steps.

1. Get yourself a ball of string. You might even find one lying around in the house or if you have a cat, then you can definitely find one in its possession (cats love to play with a ball of string). You can go for anything that is flexible enough and has enough length which would allow you to measure the caravan properly.
2. Now you need to put a tent peg in the ground but make sure it is parallel the back edge of the rail (directly under the van).
3. Tie one end of your string to the peg and let the remaining string traverse through the length of the rail. Be careful here as you need to protect the rail as well as the twine from being damaged.
4. As soon as you reach the front of the caravan, you need to continue all the way to the ground till you reach point A (as shown in the figure above).
5. When you are completely sure that the string is still attached to the peg and the other end has reached the ground then cut it while keeping the end as close to the ground as possible.
6. Once you have cut the string, you have the measurement with you. All you need to do now is to compare it against a standard measurement tool and you can either measure it all at one go or you could fold it in half and just double the measurement that you get.
7. When you have calculated the length, just note it down and don’t forget to convert it into centimetres.

You now have the measurement for getting your caravan awning. Just take this measurement to a vendor or a manufacturer and they should be able to help you out with the most suitable caravan awning for you.

When you are out on a trip with your family or loved ones, the one thing that you miss the most is the comfort of your home. Your personal space is something that cannot be replicated by any hospitality service. Caravan annexes are great for carrying your home with you wherever you travel. But unlike cleaning conventional houses and accommodations, it takes a good understanding of the materials and the appropriate cleaning method for maintaining the quality of the annexe’s material. It is important to clean your caravan canvas annexe in the correct manner as it is subjected to dirt, grime, bird droppings and harsh weather conditions, all of which can negatively affect the material.

If you are not sure about the correct cleaning approach, then the following tips could help you get started.

Detach Removable Parts

It is obvious that you cannot clean your caravan annexe properly if it is assembled completely. So the first that you need to do is remove the parts that can be detached and unzip the annexe so that it opens up. This makes it easy to clean the material and exposes the internal surface where dirt could have accumulated over time. By detaching the removable parts, you can also check for possible damages as these would have to be repaired before it is cleaned. By separating the parts, you can also dry the individual components in a better manner. All you need to do is to leave them out to dry.

Clean Excessive Debris

Bird droppings, earth, sand or vegetable matter should never be allowed to remain in contact with the annexe’s material. This can worsen any damage that has already be made. Make sure that you remove these from the fabric with a soft cloth. But be gentle when removing such debris as it may have stuck to the material and forceful actions could affect it. The best way to prevent this is to regularly dust the annexe and hose it so that all such debris is removed without reduced chances for accumulation of grime.

Select Compatible Cleaning Agents

While soap and water may do the trick for you, but you often come across some stains that are hard to remove. For cleaning such stains and other hard to clean places, you need to identify the right cleaning agents like Camco RV Awning cleaner, which are compatible with your annexe’s fabric. After all, you would not want your beautiful annexe to be tarnished due to reactions brought about by incorrect cleaning products. Petrol, oil, solvents, kerosene and other similar fluids should be completely avoided.

It’s Time for Intensive Cleaning

Now that you have done the preliminary cleaning and the annexe is prepared, you need to clean intensively. You need to use cold water and a soft cloth for removing water based stains. In case this does not remove the stain completely, then you can use a mild solution of soap in lukewarm water.

Use a soft brush or a sponge for scrubbing the strain off the material as forceful scrubbing could damage the exterior. Most annexes are made from waterproof fabrics such as canvas and vinyl. You should be careful not to damage the finish of the surface during the cleaning process.

Some stains can be really hard to remove even with the soap and lukewarm water solution. In such cases, you need to use non-abrasive household cleaners, diluted rubbing alcohol or diluted bleach for removing the stubborn stains. But as a precaution, you should immediately wash the portion of the fabric with clean water, following which the fabric needs to be left out to dry properly.

Check for grime or dirt build ups in hard to reach corners and other places that often go unnoticed. It is important for these areas to be cleaned as if untreated, these places could be subjected to gradual damage which would weaken the strength of the annexe’s structure.

Check Again

Once the intensive cleaning has been completed, just wipe the surface clean with a soft cloth and then leave it out to dry. Do not roll up the fabric when it is wet as this could damage the material. Spread it out and leave it to dry naturally under the sun. Upon drying, the fabrics can either be rolled up or they can be installed again in the caravan. But before you use the annexe again, make a last minute inspection to check for possible damages or dirt that may be have been missed out. If required, perform the necessary repair work before usage.

Some Points to Remember

Cleaning your caravan annexe is not a big task, but you need to be careful so that you do not damage the finish and quality of the fabric. Here are some important points to remember while cleaning the annexe.

• Clean your caravan annexe periodically
• Use only certified and compatible cleaning agents
• Use soft cloths with gentle scrubbing for removing stains. Excessive force should never be applied.
• Never roll up your annexe when wet. Leave them out to dry by spreading them out.
• Make sure to keep a check on the accumulation of dust, bird droppings and other solid particles. Remove them as soon as possible as the longer they are left in contact with the material, the more damage they can inflict on the exterior.

Related Post: How To Clean Caravan Awnings.