Awning With Zipped Sides Modified By TVS

Dear All

Finally posting pictures on this and giving a road test.
In February I sent my Awning to Tent Valeting Service (TVS) In Farnworth nr Bolton.
Dandy awnings though fantastically resilient are somewhat heavy. If there is a couple of you and your reasonably active no problem or not a great one at least, or is it? Not everyone who uses alternative awnings does so because they're without a Dandy awning. I have the Green Un and old Dandys offer a realistic prospect for one person to erect the awning. Would modification make it possible for one person to erect a later Dandy awning.
Though Getting the job done in Feb I didn't split the awning to erect it at Woodhall as there was an abundance of help. Mike pointed out that I'd had zips fitted but it would have seemed a bit picky to keep everyone waiting 20mins while I zipped the bits off then worked out what I was doing. I did unzip the awning to put it away but didn't particularly think about the zips aiding this.
Dent in June was where I first made use of the sides been separate when it came to erecting. I needed momentary third person help to sort out the poles but no more than the amount of help you'd need need with the older style awnings. A realistic proposition for a single handed erection with just the slight amount of help it's reasonable to mug a complete stranger into.
The roof does seem to fall in on itself a bit but you can then choose to attach the sides. Conversely if it was windy you may to sort the roof then attach the sides.

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I didn't take any photos till I was breaking camp.
You will notice the clip on storm straps that I specified. The storm straps were specified as they seemed sensible if you were going to use the awning as a sun canopy. Also given our less than predictable weather storm straps are a good idea. I erred in setting up as the storm strap as I should have inclined it back towards the Dandy not forwards. As set up it pulls the awning off the end of the poles, note the guy line trying to pull the awning ends back onto the poles. As can be seen I am fond of storm straps the second one is up as it was blowing gales that weekend, the twist on the straps stops them flapping and drumming on the PVC. From previous experience the storms didn't bother me and I never thought twice about the Dandy or the awning's security.  

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I'd have to recognise that on the day I came to packing up I was knackered. I'd been ill for a couple of days and not actually realised what was wrong we me till late on the day I was packing up. It took me over 7 hours to pack up.
I think I have to recognising that I wouldn't have been capable of manhandling a full awning. Certainly not to the point where as you see I could happily stack the component parts but then again if it was in one piece I'd not need to stack the parts.
All in all I'm very happy with the zipped awning. It's done with two zips on each side one horizontal one vertical. the horizontal one runs front to back. Starting the zip at the front of the awning means you're not having to reach up to start the zip as you can drop the front on the poles. The sides will roll up to the poles and may become more convenient for a large aperture opening rather than rolling the front door up to the roof and far more convenient than any unclipping of the press-studs on the front. I think with a couple of more uses I'll be happier still. On reflection I might have got the vertical zip to start at the top. You may initially think that the problem would be having to make the zip up at above shoulder height, the reason why we have the horizontal zip starting at the front but the horizontal zip would be holding the pieces together and make a start easy for the vertical run. A vertical zip starting at the top would allow better use as a doorway. So perhaps that is an idea, or maybe I should have had both way opening zips running vertically. Not the end of the world, just a thought if you're thinking about this type of mod. The vertical zip is far better starting at the top or use a 2 way zip
The work cost £150 from TVS whether that seems expensive or not I'm unsure. TVS does have a reputation though, look up the Conway Owners Club and their default solution to any fabric repair seems to be TVS. That may well be as TVS specialise in Conway and have vast stocks from when Conway went bump / sold out to Pennine but I've never seen any criticism of TVS's work in all the jobs they have done. Just the opposite praise seeming to be the order of the day. Looking at the zips fitted I may have been somewhat disappointed that they were not thundering great metal YKK items or even quite as substantial as the original Dandy zips.

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Then again TVS's reputation is such that I'm not anticipating any issues, and again if there were issues given their reputation I'd expect it fixing. If you can get the same job done for £80 fair enough if your going to save £30 is it worth it for the peace of mind?

I was looking at the possibility of a sun canopy conversion with zip on Acrylic sides for the ultimate lightweight awning. I think that project has died a death but I'd be more than happy to send stuff to TVS again in fact I've got work on this dandy and the Green Un where the original zips need re stitching in.

Good report Kevin,shame you have given up on the light weight sides

Mike

No the lightweight sides was a project for another Dandy that was acquired where the idea was to take a sun canopy and add lightweight sides and front possibly looking at a zip on arrangement for the whole awning to the Dandy.
This would then be combined with gas struts to form the ultimate easy erect Dandy.
Alas I must have had my eyes closed upon viewing and bought poorly so this project is on the back burner.

Good review Mr Itch, some good thoughts and ideas.

Only 20 mins to work out what you're doing? I'd like to see that.

cazz wrote:Good review Mr Itch, some good thoughts and ideas.

Only 20 mins to work out what you're doing? I'd like to see that.

Don't say you're sorry when you mean every word.

Tow Itch wrote:

cazz wrote:Good review Mr Itch, some good thoughts and ideas.

Only 20 mins to work out what you're doing? I'd like to see that.

Don't say you're sorry when you mean every word.

Would it have be feasible to unzip the back as well using just a single zip at high level so that only the roof remains. This would allow both sides to be removed completely.

Alternatively it might be as cheap to buy a canopy consisting of a roof only.

Alternatively a pair of vertical zips each side allowing the side panels to roll up.

navver wrote:Would it have be feasible to unzip the back as well using just a single zip at high level so that only the roof remains. This would allow both sides to be removed completely.

Alternatively it might be as cheap to buy a canopy consisting of a roof only.

Alternatively a pair of vertical zips each side allowing the side panels to roll up.

If i understand you right mine is a single zip at the top taking the side and back out in one go.

Yes that's exactly what I mean. Does that work well? I didn't think you had a Dandy awning for yours as you were trying alternatives.

It works great making erection a lot easier,never tried it as a sun canopy though we are trying to get away from using it in the summer or short stays thats why we have a porch awning to play with.

mike

I'm considering having our awning done, I have both a Dandy sun canopy and awning but that also means two lots to store and two lots of poles then swapping over depending which we are taking ..... zips sound a lot easier I just never thought of it even though I've seen everyone else's and was already considering zip out sides on the awning without realising my suncanopy would then be surplus to requirements as I would have two in one Doh!

But you need the awning to store the awning in that you're not using.

Her ladyship wants a sun canopy, not an awning. But I get the feeling an awning will be useful at times and she may change her mind. Until we try we will not know what suits us best. Buying one with an awning and converting it will let us try all options.

I think zipping out the complete sides will look best but won't be so good for rolling the sides up by day and down at night. I guess one big zip will be cheaper too.

Helen wrote:I'm considering having our awning done, I have both a Dandy sun canopy and awning but that also means two lots to store and two lots of poles then swapping over depending which we are taking ..... zips sound a lot easier I just never thought of it even though I've seen everyone else's and was already considering zip out sides on the awning without realising my suncanopy would then be surplus to requirements as I would have two in one Doh!

Why do you swap and change? The poles aren't stored in a bag with the awning surely it's a matter of you having one surplus set of poles?
It's difficult discussing excess weight with yourself as I understand you like to have the kitchen sink but how much extra weight is the sun canopy? Take one set of poles with both sets of PVC and you have the option for either.

Wait for the next egit with an awning who has lost the poles and buy the awning cheap and sell on as a full awning.

Conversely weld on brackets to the end of the awning to accept another set of poles a la:

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[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Obviously yours would be more decarative as you had an original awning and sun canopy.

Then you could have the Dandy an awning and a sun canopy.

See you should have gone to 750Kg suspension.

Navver if you do it with zips you have both options.

Whatever you do be it single or multiple zip if converting the sewn on storm straps are a good idea I was just a numpty the first time I used them. They need to slightly pull the awning back towards the Dandy.

We don't swap poles around Kevin, one lot stays in the garage permanently as the other doe's both options ..... as for using both at once ..... don't you think I take enough stuff with me as it is I did consider it though but the weight of two sets of poles put me off

I think I've only ever seen one awning up for sale minus the poles ..... they're a pretty big item to leave somewhere and not notice.

This six is for sale now with a poleless awning.

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That looks good Tow Itch, the flexibility as well as the easier erection must be a big improvement.

I think that next weekend I must take the plunge and get into, for me, the whole new world of Dandy awnings. Our Designer didn't come with one so we used a stand-alone motorhome awning.

The Destiny was originally specified to have the acrylic awning (it has the zip fitted) but due to production difficulties it was actually supplied with the full PVC one.

I think there are original erection instructions in the documentation that came with the unit. I'll have a read this weekend and tackle it when we're away over the bank holiday.

I can't seem to find any photographs of a Riva Destiny with full awning to know what it should look like when it's up although I imagine it will be fairly obvious if it's not right

I'll be sure to take some to add to the gallery.

If you want to get an idea of what it's like, go to Filton and see the Brab Shed where they were going to build the Brabazon. They built all 14 Concordes in there at the same time.

I wonder what it will be like. The normal destiny awning is shorter than the destiny, about designer length. Yours is about 750mm longer again. Maybe it will be offset towards the rear.

I'm actually sitting on a train about to depart Bristol Parkway heading west, so I'll have a look out the window as we pass Filton

I might have to get a set of conservatory furniture to fill up the space in the awning - can strap it to the top of the trailer Beverly Hillbilly style

Yeah, I heard Bristol City were looking for a new stadium

The dimension awning goes right to the end. Being acrylic it's much lighter so can be big.

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peridot wrote:That looks good Tow Itch, the flexibility as well as the easier erection must be a big improvement.

I think that next weekend I must take the plunge and get into, for me, the whole new world of Dandy awnings. Our Designer didn't come with one so we used a stand-alone motorhome awning.

The Destiny was originally specified to have the acrylic awning (it has the zip fitted) but due to production difficulties it was actually supplied with the full PVC one.

I think there are original erection instructions in the documentation that came with the unit. I'll have a read this weekend and tackle it when we're away over the bank holiday.

I can't seem to find any photographs of a Riva Destiny with full awning to know what it should look like when it's up although I imagine it will be fairly obvious if it's not right

I'll be sure to take some to add to the gallery.

I've lost the thread on this. You have a late model Fibreglass Ended Highside? This has a PVC awning not an Acrylic one?
Does anyone have any idea how far across these go on these late Model Highsides. I've not seen one and the length shown of 472cm on the Riva website may or may not be right some of the dimensions on other features are a bit mixed up.
The biggest PVC awning I have seen so far was Endecay's. That is a PVC awning on the earlier ALL Alloy Highside which were apparently shorter than the full length like Lowside Destinys but Endecay's has an extension to the right hand side.



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The internal arrangement of the flaps errs somewhat in Endecay's initial erection so I'll link the thread [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Hope you have plenty of instructions. The easiest way to arrange the Dandy poles is this if it follows general convention:
The 3 roof poles that connect to joints are middle, left and right. These have the roof connecting U section on one end and a normal pole swaged end on the other.
The (2) intermediate roof poles connect the roof to the front of awning gable end spans. I said 2 but Endecay had 3 you will have ? These have the roof connecting U on one end and a C clip on the other.
The front uprights 3 off. These have plastic ends either plain or groundspike. The two end poles (Left and right) are swaged to fit the brackets the centre pole ends in a C clip.
The front gable end poles have both ends swaged. These poles are normally of unequal length the shorter by convention is on the left. (It has a bit left off)
The final two poles are the short plastic ended pieces that slip into the flaps to the back of the awning.

The easiest way to erect the awning is a assemble the frame with the front poles as low as possible. About 4' plus and roll the awning up the frame. Tie off the internal strings then unroll the awning.

If the Riva specs are right it's listed as 472cm of awning.
1) Hope your lass is game to lend a hand
2) I think you will be shopping for zips soon.

Nice one Tow Itch. I had found the instructions for the awning (a page of text and a diagram of the poles) but was puzzling over a couple of items. Logged on to ask some questions and you're ahead of the game with the answers already there before I'd asked

Yes it's the fiberglass ended Highside with PVC awning.

There are no dimensions provided but the general construction seems identical to Endecay's without the annex. I have 2 intermediate roof poles shown on the diagram.

The first bit I was unsure about was an instruction to attach elastics to the side board buttons - that sounds like the advice you gave Endecay regarding the side flaps going under the roof, so I'm clear on that. Then it talks about attaching a centre pole at the apex, which confused me as this isn't shown on the pole diagram, but is clearly the central 'C clip' pole you refer to so that's okay too.

I'll watch out for the length difference on the gable poles - that's not mentioned in the instructions.

Looking forward to trying it out over the bank holiday weekend. Due to work getting in the way of pleasure we won't get to site until fairly late on Friday so I'll leave it to Saturday morning (weather permitting). Mrs Peridot will be happy to help although her inevitable swearing may upset any neighbours we happen to have

I now have the frame instructions with my lovely new designer. The destiny gable poles are the same length both sides.

Destiny both 65.5".
Designer 63.5" 61.5"
Dart 59" 57"

Tow Itch wrote:

peridot wrote:That looks good Tow Itch, the flexibility as well as the easier erection must be a big improvement.

I think that next weekend I must take the plunge and get into, for me, the whole new world of Dandy awnings. Our Designer didn't come with one so we used a stand-alone motorhome awning.

The Destiny was originally specified to have the acrylic awning (it has the zip fitted) but due to production difficulties it was actually supplied with the full PVC one.

I think there are original erection instructions in the documentation that came with the unit. I'll have a read this weekend and tackle it when we're away over the bank holiday.

I can't seem to find any photographs of a Riva Destiny with full awning to know what it should look like when it's up although I imagine it will be fairly obvious if it's not right

I'll be sure to take some to add to the gallery.

I've lost the thread on this. You have a late model Fibreglass Ended Highside? This has a PVC awning not an Acrylic one?
Does anyone have any idea how far across these go on these late Model Highsides. I've not seen one and the length shown of 472cm on the Riva website may or may not be right some of the dimensions on other features are a bit mixed up.
The biggest PVC awning I have seen so far was Endecay's. That is a PVC awning on the earlier ALL Alloy Highside which were apparently shorter than the full length like Lowside Destinys but Endecay's has an extension to the right hand side.



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The internal arrangement of the flaps errs somewhat in Endecay's initial erection so I'll link the thread [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Hope you have plenty of instructions. The easiest way to arrange the Dandy poles is this if it follows general convention:
The 3 roof poles that connect to joints are middle, left and right. These have the roof connecting U section on one end and a normal pole swaged end on the other.
The (2) intermediate roof poles connect the roof to the front of awning gable end spans. I said 2 but Endecay had 3 you will have ? These have the roof connecting U on one end and a C clip on the other.
The front uprights 3 off. These have plastic ends either plain or groundspike. The two end poles (Left and right) are swaged to fit the brackets the centre pole ends in a C clip.
The front gable end poles have both ends swaged. These poles are normally of unequal length the shorter by convention is on the left. (It has a bit left off)
The final two poles are the short plastic ended pieces that slip into the flaps to the back of the awning.

The easiest way to erect the awning is a assemble the frame with the front poles as low as possible. About 4' plus and roll the awning up the frame. Tie off the internal strings then unroll the awning.

If the Riva specs are right it's listed as 472cm of awning.
1) Hope your lass is game to lend a hand
2) I think you will be shopping for zips soon.

Never seen a Dandy Awning with an annex before, is this a one off? Pete

I think a one off with Dandys means it's the only one you have seen.
How many one offs can we say we have seen so far:
Insulated walls with other than white inners.
Extended width beds on a Designer.
Early Highside Destiny with straight corners. i.e. not threepenny bit shaped.
All alloy Highsides with toilets.
This awning.