Building my Adventure Van (2011 NCV3)
- Thread starter Geek
- Start date
Geek -
A few questions about the awning:
i want to put a shade source on our van but am worried about the practicality of the Faema due to the first two questions above (in addition to the cost).
great build and thanks in advance for the response!
A few questions about the awning:
- how long does it take to deploy?
- i assume you don't leave it up at night (wind...)?
- would you put one on your next van?
i want to put a shade source on our van but am worried about the practicality of the Faema due to the first two questions above (in addition to the cost).
great build and thanks in advance for the response!
rudely butting in, and answering from our experience:
* about 30 seconds
* if the wind is light or non-existent, yes. otherwise we put it away (30 seconds)
* absolutely, although I might pay out even more for the even longer version
Geek
New member
+1
Deploys super quick.
It does NOT like wind and is way too flimsy for anything more than a breeze.
I'd buy it again - it was great the other night when the sun was coming in the windows - cooled things down nicely... but I put it away before I went to bed. That said.. if someone made a robust awning that you could actually put out when it is more than a gentle breeze - I'd seriously consider it instead.
Deploys super quick.
It does NOT like wind and is way too flimsy for anything more than a breeze.
I'd buy it again - it was great the other night when the sun was coming in the windows - cooled things down nicely... but I put it away before I went to bed. That said.. if someone made a robust awning that you could actually put out when it is more than a gentle breeze - I'd seriously consider it instead.
what geek said, extended by: it is remarkable how useless the awning is for keeping stuff dry. it is absolutely WONDERFUL to sit outside under it during a sudden, brief torrential downpour at calf creek in utah on a summer evening. but the idea that stuff under it will stay dry during an evening of light rain + light wind: it just doesn't work. Things have to be substantially under the van for that to work. Everything outside will still get wet.
and like geek, we use ours just as often for shade as for rain protection, probably more so in fact.
and like geek, we use ours just as often for shade as for rain protection, probably more so in fact.
Does staking the poles down to the ground with guy wires make any difference? Out here in eastern WA, we get plenty of wind, but would still like to have the awning out. Seems like there's very few times where its actually 'still' around here.
Our experience is that staking it definitely stops "large scale" movements, but it doesn't stop the flapping around of the awning itself. It is the flapping that can get a bit distracting sometimes. i've thought about some system to put a piece of broad cloth tape across the middle of the awning and then be able to attach small weights to the ends to reduce the flapping, but haven't figured anything out yet.
Badroadcamper
Precision engineer
The flapping can be stopped with this smart item witch can be clipped onto the awning edge and attached to a guy line:
http://www.campingpriser.dk/shop/crocodile-peggy-4182p.html
It´s a Danish homepage, but a foreign trademark, so it should be possible to find in the US.
http://www.campingpriser.dk/shop/crocodile-peggy-4182p.html
It´s a Danish homepage, but a foreign trademark, so it should be possible to find in the US.
GeorgeRa
2013 Sprinter DIY 144WB, Portland OR
Badroadcamper
Precision engineer
Yes, I use it on my Fiamma F 45, and you can adjust how hard it locks, by turning the eccentric around on the treads.
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LooseRocks
Active member
I was digging through your thread looking at your swivel fix. What was your final solution to that?
rogueriderer
New member
I also would like to know about the swivels. I'm ready to buy a set and would love a solid recommendation.
Geek
New member
rhollen: the plastidip is holding up great! The cool thing is though that it is super easy to fix if it needs repair (although it hasn't thus far)
Re: Swivels: I really can't recommend the swivels I have.
Sure they work but they are hard to pivot and they keep losing e-clips.
I would not buy them again
(although having pivots is awesome so I'd resource something else).
Re: Swivels: I really can't recommend the swivels I have.
Sure they work but they are hard to pivot and they keep losing e-clips.
I would not buy them again
(although having pivots is awesome so I'd resource something else).
crotchedmountain
New member
New user with a new build I am about to start. I have a question about insulation, would you use refectix again? would you add any additional insulation?
Thanks-appreciate you documenting your build.
Thanks-appreciate you documenting your build.
