My wife wants an awning

Bav said:
Obviously, with an air awning, as soon as you start to deflate it, the whole thing just ends up in a heap on the ground. So, I'm wondering if using a couple of legs (from a sun canopy) to prop-up the awning and maintain it's height will aid with avoiding the tube collapsing and twisting, thus, aid full deflation.

Thoughts?
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Would the bride be more comfortable in your rear bulkhead bit?
 
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Bav said:
Obviously, with an air awning, as soon as you start to deflate it, the whole thing just ends up in a heap on the ground. So, I'm wondering if using a couple of legs (from a sun canopy) to prop-up the awning and maintain it's height will aid with avoiding the tube collapsing and twisting, thus, aid full deflation.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
On a serious note, I think that could be tougher than normal, someone would need to be in the tent keeping them upright..? Then it's getting them out and you'll probably be left with the same dilemma. With only the two of you, can't you use the back seat with the seatbelts wrapped around it? Our big drive away job goes on the back seat or the floor if we have the nipper with us...
 
This is how I deflate my air awning (4 beam, single inflation point Vango Agora):
I zip up all the windows and doors.
I take out all the awning ground pegs except the farthest rearward corner, leaving the footprint pegs in place.
I then deflate the awning, purely by valve so that it collapses, but leave it attached to the vans Multirail.
I then pull it back off the Multirail and then drag it forward again, square it up so it’s all within the footprint including the tunnel.
At this point, I might temporarily use pegs to keep it in place depending upon wind.
I then use the pump to deflate as much as I can, before closing the valve.
Now I selectively remove the last of the pegs as required to enable my folding:
I fold one side into the centre and then the other side into the centre, before folding the side again into a full length quarter.
I then fold the length forward, slightly less than half way.
Starting at the fold, I then roll it up forwards as tight as I can. It tends to slip forward slightly, which is why I fold slightly less than half way.
Then I tie it off with two ties, put it in its oversize bag, ensuring I’ve got it into the bottom of the bag properly. This bit matters.
Then finally I use the bag straps, bit by bit, to further compress the whole thing before zipping the bag.
No drama and no rolling about all over it.
 
EAN said:
This is how I deflate my air awning (4 beam, single inflation point Vango Agora):
I zip up all the windows and doors.
I take out all the awning ground pegs except the farthest rearward corner, leaving the footprint pegs in place.
I then deflate the awning, purely by valve so that it collapses, but leave it attached to the vans Multirail.
I then pull it back off the Multirail and then drag it forward again, square it up so it’s all within the footprint including the tunnel.
At this point, I might temporarily use pegs to keep it in place depending upon wind.
I then use the pump to deflate as much as I can, before closing the valve.
Now I selectively remove the last of the pegs as required to enable my folding:
I fold one side into the centre and then the other side into the centre, before folding the side again into a full length quarter.
I then fold the length forward, slightly less than half way.
Starting at the fold, I then roll it up forwards as tight as I can. It tends to slip forward slightly, which is why I fold slightly less than half way.
Then I tie it off with two ties, put it in its oversize bag, ensuring I’ve got it into the bottom of the bag properly. This bit matters.
Then finally I use the bag straps, bit by bit, to further compress the whole thing before zipping the bag.
No drama and no rolling about all over it.
Click to expand...
Fun sponge you are!!
 
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Bav said:
Obviously, with an air awning, as soon as you start to deflate it, the whole thing just ends up in a heap on the ground. So, I'm wondering if using a couple of legs (from a sun canopy) to prop-up the awning and maintain it's height will aid with avoiding the tube collapsing and twisting, thus, aid full deflation.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Get a poled awning:slow rofl:
 
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cgtmiles said:
Get a poled awning:slow rofl:
Click to expand...
As mentioned elsewhere, if I had my time again, I'd choose a Jalooca twin (or even a triple) zone - a doddle to erect and pack due to the built-in poles that just fold & unfold.
 
EAN said:
This is how I deflate my air awning (4 beam, single inflation point Vango Agora):
I zip up all the windows and doors.
I take out all the awning ground pegs except the farthest rearward corner, leaving the footprint pegs in place.
I then deflate the awning, purely by valve so that it collapses, but leave it attached to the vans Multirail.
I then pull it back off the Multirail and then drag it forward again, square it up so it’s all within the footprint including the tunnel.
At this point, I might temporarily use pegs to keep it in place depending upon wind.
I then use the pump to deflate as much as I can, before closing the valve.
Now I selectively remove the last of the pegs as required to enable my folding:
I fold one side into the centre and then the other side into the centre, before folding the side again into a full length quarter.
I then fold the length forward, slightly less than half way.
Starting at the fold, I then roll it up forwards as tight as I can. It tends to slip forward slightly, which is why I fold slightly less than half way.
Then I tie it off with two ties, put it in its oversize bag, ensuring I’ve got it into the bottom of the bag properly. This bit matters.
Then finally I use the bag straps, bit by bit, to further compress the whole thing before zipping the bag.
No drama and no rolling about all over it.
Click to expand...
If I ignore the air remaining in the tube, there's no drama to get it into the bag - it's just the packed size is too big for the boot, as discussed above. I need that air out for the tailgate to comfortably close, hence the effort (and comedy factor) of rolling around trying to squeeze the last of the air out.
 
Bav said:
If I ignore the air remaining in the tube, there's no drama to get it into the bag - it's just the packed size is too big for the boot, as discussed above. I need that air out for the tailgate to comfortably close, hence the effort (and comedy factor) of rolling around trying to squeeze the last of the air out.
Click to expand...
I wonder if a couple of decent ratchet straps (i.e. better than the bag ones) would aid you in compressing the bag volume enough once you’ve packed it in? Just an idea.
 
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EAN said:
I wonder if a couple of decent ratchet straps (i.e. better than the bag ones) would aid you in compressing the bag volume enough once you’ve packed it in? Just an idea.
Click to expand...
I suspect that, once it's packed down, it'll be difficult to force the air out with compression alone, simply because the air can migrate down any/all of the 4 legs, only one of which has a valve. Having said that, I'm prepared to give any idea a shot... including risking getting my canopy poles lost in the middle of the bloody thing!!! :rofl:
 
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T6Plumber said:
I love how a thread titled 'My Wife Wants An Awning’ has garnered 130 odd comments spread over 7 pages :laugh:

This Forum man :slow rofl:
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Awning choice is not to a subject to be taken lightly!

#HaveVanWillNatter. :cool:
 
Bav said:
I suspect that, once it's packed down, it'll be difficult to force the air out with compression alone, simply because the air can migrate down any/all of the 4 legs, only one of which has a valve. Having said that, I'm prepared to give any idea a shot... including risking getting my canopy poles lost in the middle of the bloody thing!!! :rofl:
Click to expand...
If it’s like mine, I expect there will be air within the folds, that isn’t the air beams themselves that can be dispersed with a bit of compression.
 
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EAN said:
If it’s like mine, I expect there will be air within the folds, that isn’t the air beams themselves that can be dispersed with a bit of compression.
Click to expand...
Good point - air in the folds is certainly ripe for removing with compression.
 
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