MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: camdyson on February 02, 2011, 08:02:52 AM
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I've read alot of posts where people talk about "zipping my awning on" etc. Just for interest's sake, I leave my awning permanently zipped to my Southern Cross tent. When packing up, we just fold it back over the roof, then it gets folded up with the rest of the tent.
Walls still get zipped off, but wouldn't want to have to zip the main awning on/off every time.
If we do a quick set-up for the night, we just leave it lying over the roof - can be tied back if windy.
Do others do this too - seems logical to me?!
Cheers,
Cam
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On my last camper I used to take it off but this camper it permantly on.
rich
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We leave ours permanently on. Too much of a pain in the backside to put on and take off everytime.
Hamish
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We leave ours off, it would weigh about 35kg. 'Weigh' to heavy to flip over etc.
We rarely use the awning, depending on the weather and length of time I guess.
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I generally leave mine off and never use the big one.
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To flip my awning over I use the poles from the awning as extensions with the pointy end still through the eyelets then walk around the side of the tent to fold it back.
Rich
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Ours remains on, and flipped over the main section of the camper. Sometimes it gets put up when camping, depends on the length of the stop, or the weather outlook.
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We leave ours on, it's tied down to the roof, so when we open up the camper it's already over the roof. On windy occasions, I've used some guide ropes to keep it from flapping.
It came from the factory already attached, and me thinks it would be more trouble to attach it when we want it, than leave it over the roof.
Just our opinion.
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With the Tambo we left ours on.
You need to watch the packup if you didn't set it up as there could be some water pools in it. It is funny to you when the wife gets wet but not funny to her ;D
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We leave ours on. It fits under the cover without any issues.
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We also have a kids room, so it means we have 2 awnings and I leave both on. For short stays were we don’t use the kids room we just leave folded back above the main tent area.
Mind you with 2 awnings, it does make everything a bit heavier then putting the main tent up and down. It also means having to sit on the top of the trailer to pack the canvas down to get the cover to fit.
I use to find putting awning on the hardest part of setting up
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I always take ours off. We have a "tropical" roof over our main tent that is built in to stand up when we open the tent out. Tried it in the back yard a few times to see what it would work like if left on, but no matter what, it was a real pain in the arse to leave on & pack away. We have a Lifestyle camper, so it's pretty high to the ridge line & flipping (read that as wrestling) the awning over to pack it away, well I'm glad I didn't film it. Then, because we have the 12 ft tent as well, it just weighed too much to try to pack up. With this size camper it's easier to leave off and attach as needed.
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We leave ours on as well...
Bill and Morag
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Another here for leaving on.
So far, except for the very 1st night we used it, we've always set the awning up with either 1 or both side walls, rarely the front, but then we haven't done any only overnight stays yet either.
With the 12' tent, yes the roof is a bit heavier, but with it laid out flat over the whole tent roof area, the weight is distributed evenly.
Last camp we done, I did see 2 CT's pull their roof off when they packed up.
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We leave the smaller of the two awnings on all the time, and use it just about every time we setup, only takes a minute or two to put out. It also provides somewhere under cover to put all the chairs etc during the night. We generally only swap over to the bigger awning if we are going to stay in the one place for 4 or more nights - a bit of PITA to change them over, but its worth the effort.
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We have the cub spacevan so we leave our awning on. I am only a shortie so reaching the peak to zip the awning on and off is a bit of a challenge. We it folds up the awning just folds onto the tent as the hard floor folds over. No problems. For overnight stops the set up is very minimal.
Todd and Mel.
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We leave ours on. Even though I'm 6' tall, I can barely reach it whilst standing on the step stool.
So far, we've always pulled it out and used it. We 're going for an overnighter in April so it may not get used, but we'll leave it on anyway.
Cheers
whitedg
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I have a question for those that leave the awning on, do you flip it over before you collapse the main tent or after, not having done it myself yet I am just wondering.
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Flip it over before you collapse the tent.
As someone had mentioned before, use the poles to get the height required to flip it over!!
Good luck tonight JCC!!!
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I have a question for those that leave the awning on, do you flip it over before you collapse the main tent or after, not having done it myself yet I am just wondering.
Flip before then make it has flat as possible by stretching it to all corners, It can be a pain if it is really windy though but doable. To flip over the high pitch section of the tent like I mentioned above i use the poles as an extension of my arms. This makes it a lot easier
Rich
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Yep, flipped over before collapsing poles.
Like Humbolt & GU Rich, I use an awning pole to push it up. Starting with the apex & working my way along, then pulling it from the other side.
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Just checking, you never know that is all I might have left tomorrow to live in. ;D
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We leave the awning zipped on and flip it over the tent when packing up (before collapsing the tent). If staying more than 1 night we put the annex up. If annex is not put up, the awaning is left on the roof. we use occa straps to ttie it down over the roof.
Mal
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I always take ours off. We have a "tropical" roof over our main tent that is built in to stand up when we open the tent out. Tried it in the back yard a few times to see what it would work like if left on, but no matter what, it was a real pain in the arse to leave on & pack away. We have a Lifestyle camper, so it's pretty high to the ridge line & flipping (read that as wrestling) the awning over to pack it away, well I'm glad I didn't film it. Then, because we have the 12 ft tent as well, it just weighed too much to try to pack up. With this size camper it's easier to leave off and attach as needed.
We are the same Lifestyle camper, tropical roof and 12 ft of canvas only takes 2 min to put it on or take it off.
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Our CT also came from the factory with it on. The gable folds nicely over the main tent allowing it to fold up perfectly... They are even built with a strap which you can leave attached just for this purpose of folding the annex across the roof... Also with it fitting the main tent nicely you would be hard pushed to notice it there unless you were looking for it...
Another nice option....
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Another vote for left on and flipped over when packing up before closing tent section.
TJ
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Yep. We always leave ours attached as well and always put the awning up even on overnight stays, usually only takes an extra five minutes to erect. Putting the annex walls up is a different matter though and can take quite a lot longer, especially after a couple of coldies.
Cheers
Robbo ;D
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We leave it zipped on. If we don't set it up it just lays over the roof anf I tie it down to stop it blowing in the wind.
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Yep, leav it on and fold in with the tent. Mind you, its an Oztent 6, so just a 'pocket handkerchief' really!
For an over night I prefer to just leave it on top unless it looks like rain. Like being outdoors.
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Oh good, so it's not just me then! ;D
Like others, I use one of the poles to pull the centre up and over the main tent when packing up, and the "gable" of the awning pulls down neat over the other end. Only real issue is it makes folding up the tent slightly more origami to get it all in neat, but gotta be better than going to the hassle of zipping it on/off.
Side walls get put on for longer than 1-nighters, and outside wall never so far.
Cheers,
Cam
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We also leave ours attached, it is much easier than attaching it every time.
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Attatched: Main awning ... yes all the time ... Side awning ... no but it's easier to get on and off (not as high). Throw it over the top using poles, ensure it sits straight-ish, close the lid! Still stacks of room on the bed to put things. We use it for weekenders and like it. Instant shade is great.
Kit_e
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Ours comes off. We have a Lifestyle with the Tropical Roof as well, so can't leave it on but as has been said before, it is 5 minutes max to get out and zip on.
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We always take ours off. Don't always put up the annexe, definetly not for overnight stops. We have a modcon overlander. If we left the annexe on, we would not get our cover on, it is a push stud and velcro variety, and sometimes is a PITA, but we never get dust or moisture inside the trailer.
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Tried both ways and found it quicker to zip off. Use an upright pole through the zipper eye to push the zip all the way over, 30 seconds to zip on and off. Being a little vertically challenged we found it awkward to leave it folded back.
:cheers: Cracka
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ACTUALLY, at present we are set up at Bagots Point, 9 mile beach, Dolphin Sands , 4 klm north of Swansea in Tassie. We currently have the full annexe set up, walls and all, as the roof on it's own acted like a kite. We arrive back from sightseeing yesterday to a flattened annexe. The first day the high tide caught us out and we had 6 inches of water through the soft floor, we had to shift to higher ground, much to the amusement of the tourtists. I would give my eye teeth to not have to dismantle the whole kit and kaboodle in the am. We are shifting up to St Helens area, after 4 nights here. We have beautiful views over the hazards and coles bay in frecinet national park.
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Lucky you - east coast of Tassie is God's country! Spent most summer holidays at Binalong Bay as a kid, and go back often. Hope you're getting stuck into the seafood over there - think I had the best seafood bisque ever in Bicheno at a hokey little motel's restaurant... :D
p.s. Don't set up camp where there's lots of little shells and seaweed next time.... ;D 8)
Have fun, say hi to all my cousins
Tassie Cam
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We have ours awning on all the time and leave it folded back on top of the main tent for an overnighter.
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To flip my awning over I use the poles from the awning as extensions with the pointy end still through the eyelets then walk around the side of the tent to fold it back.
Rich
Same here Rich..I also leave ours on. Some times the wind can be a pain so it has to be secured some how to stop it flipping over but I
d rather do that than zip it on and off. it only takes 10 mins to set up 4 poles when needed...
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ACTUALLY, at present we are set up at Bagots Point, 9 mile beach, Dolphin Sands , 4 klm north of Swansea in Tassie. We currently have the full annexe set up, walls and all, as the roof on it's own acted like a kite. We arrive back from sightseeing yesterday to a flattened annexe. The first day the high tide caught us out and we had 6 inches of water through the soft floor, we had to shift to higher ground, much to the amusement of the tourtists. I would give my eye teeth to not have to dismantle the whole kit and kaboodle in the am. We are shifting up to St Helens area, after 4 nights here. We have beautiful views over the hazards and coles bay in frecinet national park.
A little of topic here but, another good camp ground is Deep Creek campground in the Mt William Nat Park. although I camped at Stumpys 3, i also had my awning flattened by the high winds there at the start of december last year.
rich
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We leave our Trackabout awning on all the time. Fold it across the roof for packing up. When we are on the road we have it tied down with a rope so it doesn't blow down during overnight stops. We also don't usually use pegs for these quick setups. A tressle table across the far end and a couple of bags on the near end to keep the floor spread out.
Cheers
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Using the longest poles to flip the awning over the top of the tent is a great idea. Used the CT about 3 times I realised I was doing it all wrong.
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Still off topic, but hey, what the heck. We did drove up into Mt William Nat Park, but were camped back at the village green at Waterhouse point. Yesterday we shifted from Dolphin Sands and are now at Swimcart beach at Binalong, north of St Helens. Awesome. And I know :worthles:, have got to get around to a lot of things, far too relaxed.............
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I leave my anex on all the time,as I break down the camper I tie a rope to the centre pole hole hole of the anex and throw the rope over the main tent and that makes it easy to pull the anex across the roof. I leave the rope attatched and pack up. When I'm setting up the next time, fold out the tent area , set it up , throw the rope over the top and pull the anex across the roof to set it up. cheers duggie
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Can a hard floor leave its annex on?
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Taking it one step further, now I'm wondering whether I can leave the side walls attached too - I'm thinking if I leave them zipped to the awning, and just unzip the side where they attach to the main tent, I can fold the awning back then the sides over that, if you get me?! I use the side walls most longer stays, so will save time if it works.
Will give it a go next time out - you'll hear nothing if it doesn't work.... ;D
Cheers,
Origami Cam