our saggy awning

[Hazel in Sk]

Our older Trillium came with an oversized rubbery awning that is a couple of feet longer than the track. It sagged quite badly and gathered rain! I wondered if a ridge pole (like those on old canvas tents) might help. Hubby put on his thinking cap and came up with the one in the photos. The pole beside the camper fell down when the wind came up and hubby created a quick fix with some rope he had in his 'Might Come In Handy Sometime" box.

You can see that we also put Velcro around the awning 'frill' so we can attach the walls for our canopy as windbreaks or shade makers (depending on the weather). This we have found to improve our comfort level quite a bit.

Now I'm wondering what we could do so attaching the canopy bug screens will actually keep the bugs off - they come from under the camper! Maybe some Velcro along the camper with the bug screen zipper in front of the door?

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by Hazel in Sk

Now I'm wondering what we could do so attaching the canopy bug screens will actually keep the bugs off - they come from under the camper! Maybe some Velcro along the camper with the bug screen zipper in front of the door?

Many of the screen rooms come with a short "skirt" that attaches to the lower part of the trailer and goes to the ground. A few snaps is all it takes to hold it in place.

[Hazel in Sk]

Thanks for the feedback Roy. We don't have a screen room, just the Velcro topped walls and screens from an old canopy. Most people call them Easy Ups - but ours is actual a King Canopy.

[Philsie]

Hi Hazel.
Sorry I don't have any answer for your problem but I do have a problem of my own.
Does your canopy have a roller that attaches to the trailer or is it the old kind where the awning has a rope in it that slides into the groove? The reason I ask is we just bought a 4500 that came with an awning but I can't figure a way to attach the poles to the roller. I think something is missing or has been changed. If this is the same as your setup could you take pictures of how the poles attach on yours?
Thanks
Phil

[Hazel in Sk]

Our awning is the old rope in a groove type. Other than being saggy when wet it works fine (well we fixed that problem). Yours looks very confusing to me, I can't figure out how it is supposed to work. Hopefully someone who does know will join the conversation in a while and help you out.

[gage]

Originally Posted by Hazel in Sk

Our awning is the old rope in a groove type. Other than being saggy when wet it works fine (well we fixed that problem).

I too have a rope in a groove type awning and used to have a saggy problem when it would rain. I solved that problem with some fiberglass tent poles cut to length. I only put them in when I suspect it'll rain. I have a pocket sewn in the four corners and a velcro strap in the middle to hold them in place.

[Hazel in Sk]

That looks like a good fix gage. Did you have to sew 'holders' for the ends of the tent poles? We can't think of a way to do this on ours as it is a rubbery, plastic material. Poking sewing holes in it would make it perforated - tear on the dotted line!

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Hazel in Sk

That looks like a good fix gage. Did you have to sew 'holders' for the ends of the tent poles? We can't think of a way to do this on ours as it is a rubbery, plastic material. Poking sewing holes in it would make it perforated - tear on the dotted line!

Hazel you will find there are many different ways of waterproofing anything you sew. I have had to use it when repairing outdoor equipment such as pack or tent. One is a weather proofing Seam Tape such as this one. Just need a heat gun to apply.