Guest Post: How To Put Up An Awning Without Getting A Divorce

How to put up an awning without ending up in a divorce court

Famously nicknamed ‘the divorce in a bag’, a caravan awning can test the mettle of even the healthiest relationships. Putting one up can be fiddly and patience-testing. No wonder then that for some stressed out couples, it’s ‘til death – or ‘til an awning argument – do us part.

However, as with many things in marriage and in life, clear communication is the key to a successful outcome. And in this case, it’s worth taking a deep breath and persisting as, when it comes to putting up a caravan awning, that second pair of hands is really helpful.

So, to save both your awning and your relationship from tearing at the seams, we’ve put together this handy guide that breaks down the process into simple steps.

What to do before you put up your awning

There are several things you can do before you even start to put up your awning that could save you grief down the line. For example:

• Familiarise yourself with the process – every awning is different, so be sure to read your awning’s manual or watch a video so you know what you’re aiming for from the outset. This will give you clear guidance on the order of steps – and what the end result should look like. Practice makes perfect, so having a trial run before you set off may save you both time and tears on the campsite.
• Check your pitch carefully – look for anything sharp on the ground that could rip your awning. On some caravan sites, your pitch size may be limited to certain boundary, so also check that your awning meets any given specifications.
• Inspect your caravan’s awning channel – you should sand down anything sharp that could tear the material and clear out any debris that has gathered in the channel.
• Check the weather – you’ll want calm conditions for your first attempt. Doomed, perhaps, are the marriages of those who embark upon this tricky task in high winds and pouring rain.

Six simple steps to putting up an awning

Pull up your sleeves and remember your vows; you’re about to take the plunge together.

Here are the six straightforward steps to awning success.

1. Thread the awning through the channel

Starting at the back of your caravan, ease your awning into the channel. To avoid falling into an argument at the first hurdle, the best technique is to have one person feeding the awning in and the other guiding it along the channel, so agree who does what in advance. If you feel you’re having to force the awning into the channel, stop – it might be blocked or need lubrication, so be sure to check and take appropriate action.

2. Position your awning and poles

Not all awnings will be the full length of your caravan, so make sure yours is in the right place before you go for the next stage of putting up your frame. If you have a porch awning, for example, you probably don’t want it to cover windows, ventilation panels or service hatches. Once it’s in place, sort your poles and place them roughly where they’re needed so they’re close to hand.

3. Put up the frame

The simplest course of action here is to start in the middle and work outwards. Add the mountings for the poles to the side of the caravan if needed. Attach your centre roof pole to your caravan and then connect it to the centre leg pole, adjusting it to the correct height. Repeat this process for the rest of the frame as you exchange sweet nothings and calm words of encouragement (or curse your partner under your breath).

4. Peg out the corners

Zip up any doors. Then, starting at opposite corners, work your way around the base, pegging it out as evenly as you can. Use a mallet to drive the pegs securely into the ground. Depending on your frustration levels, it might help to imagine it’s your spouse’s head.

5. Tension your awning

Aside from any tension and resentment that’s built up through this process, awnings need tension to ensure they stand strong. Use guy ropes and straps to get it taught and securely into position – ideally, you don’t want it sagging or being pulled at wonky angles.

6. Make the finishing touches

With the outer shell of your awning now in place, peg out your groundsheet and attach your draught skirt to keep the weather out and the love in. Divorce avoided, survey your handiwork with pride and settle in for a pleasant, sheltered caravan holiday thankful that there’s no dishwasher to stack – unless you have a very fancy caravan.

7. Get hitched… to great caravan insurance

While awnings may not be the simplest of set-ups, they certainly repay the effort and can make a big difference to your caravan holiday.

Of course, as well as involving an investment of time, some also cost a pretty penny, so you don’t want to have to shell out for a new one should it break in a storm, or head off in a high wind, never to be seen again.

To protect your beloved awning and your pocket, you may want to get it covered under your caravan insurance policy. With InsureMy, you can compare quotes from our panel of trusted insurers quickly and easily, with hundreds of add-ons to choose from – awnings included. Get yourself a great deal with our lowest price guarantee.

So, just as your awning covers you beautifully, we can cover your awning.

LoveRosiee
xxx

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