Awnings + strong wind

All depends on the direction of the wind and how the awning is being effected. Today the forecast is for 14 knots with probably higher gusts and it is blowing straight at the awning. I will be winding mine in even though I have storm straps out. I am very wary of putting too much strain on everything and as I am off out for most of the day, I will not be leaving it unattended.

peedee

I think there are to many variables to give a specific answer. In 2019 we were on a very exposed hillside in Devon around early springtime when a severe storm hit. It was so severe the van was rocking on it's steadies. We had an open fronted lightweight Sunncamp Swift on the caravan, but the side of the van was to the wind and the awning on the other side was fine. A year later on the same pitch, but pitched 90 degrees to our previous visit the same awning pulled out of the track on a not so windy evening.

 The moral is, if you know wind is a problem anticipate it how you pitch, if you are allowed to. This unfortunately is not always possible on a club site.

Colin

We have kept our full Ventura awning up in quite sever gales but use every guy-line possible including an over the roof storm strap and making sure the pegs are well in the ground. If your awning has one, make sure that the pegs are in the mud wall, These significantly help.

Additionally, when we can, we move the car in front of the awning to create a bit of a wind break. I strongly suggest that you don't try to put up or even take down an awning in strong winds unless you have a lot of help. You might find yourself in the next field 

It requires a bit more thought than just the wind speed to be honest. Seasoned campers will always have an idea of the expected weather, and try to be prepared for the unexpected as much as they can. It will depend on a few things, where are you staying, is the site sheltered, what type of awning you use, how are you pitched up, where is your awning in terms of wind direction, etc….

Some places are notorious for wind, take St Agnes Beacon Site, high up, exposed and taking the brunt of the UK’s prevailing SW winds. Awnings have ended up out to sea up there. Then take somewhere like Bromyard Downs, in a sheltered quarry, lots of things to break down that wind speed.

Cheaper porch awnings used to be notorious for ending up inside out, or being totally ripped off the side of caravans. While a good Isabella, well strapped down and using car to aid sheltering can take a lot more. 

On arrival, if winds are forecast (all hail that Smart phone) take a look at which direction the prevailing winds blow (trees, shrubs will give you an idea, they lean away from wind) and choose a pitch so that you can put your awning up so that the van gives it some protection. Put as little in the awning as you can if the forecast is poor, that way you can get it down quickly at the very first hint of trouble. Being prepared is the key. And never ever be tempted to leave your awning up if winds are forecast and you leave the van. I saw dozens of seasonal vans badly damaged, awnings shredded or tore away up at Hexham Racecourse Site one Autumn.

Cant help regarding blow up awnings, no experience of these, but others might give you some pointers. Our Isabella has withstood some quite severe winds down in Cornwall, but well tied down, sheltered and well prepared. We always took our porch awning down though.

As mentioned above, the Club’s rigid pitching regime doesn’t help in these circumstances, and some pitches are so exposed, awnings aren’t allowed. 

We have had sleepless nights in southern France when the mistral flared up - so both of us outside in the night in pyjamas roping the awning to the car, and lying awake for hours wondering which of the two would blow away. Back at home we decided we really didn’t need an awning, so put it in the shed and never bothered with it again. No more bundles of wet canvas.

There is nothing worse (OK there is but you know what I mean) than being awake listening to the gusts of wind on your awning and wondering is it going to hold.

Storm flaps can help, and we've even doubled them but it is still unnerving. As said above a various factors come into play, direction being important, but you did the right thing in taking it down.

You don't say if it's a pole or air awning? Since switching to air we've felt better as it won't do as much damage as an awning pole when the awning get wrapped around the whole caravan, which we've seen. Also I noticed that in the even of high winds some people just deflate the awning while leaving the pegs in and attached to the caravan and lash it very close to the caravan wall then simply inflate it again the next morning.

The  Mistral can be bad but at least you know which direction it’s coming from. We keep our Motorhome canopy up but with the awning facing South and storm straps fitted. We arrived at our usual site near the Rhône one year the day after a snap storm. About 75% of awnings/canopies we’re damaged. Be vigilant.

Just to give you an idea about what awnings can cope with - we have two air awnings - a Kampa 390 Grande and a lightweight Sunncamp Air 390.

Both have withstood 50 mph winds on quite a few occasions with no adverse effects other than they do tend to bend a bit in the gusts. However, as Corners says, with air awnings there is far less chance of damage to the van.

What I have found critical is having the correct pegs for the surface. We use those heavy plastic pegs on grass and they hold well although you do have to check that some aren't working loose. Hardstandings tend to be a bit more hit and miss though, dependent on how good the sub-surface is.

I remember of very first trip out with our last van - in winter - with a new Kampa awning which had those useless light, aluminium tent pegs.  The wind came in the middle of the night and we were outside at 2am, trying to rescue everything.  Thought we had given all that up when we finished yachting!

Interesting to note you have (or had in our case) the same awnings...and agree both have withstood winds and gust of 50mph....with better pegs !!!...Pleasantly surprised at that as we had just changed to Air awnings from our loved Isabella's.

Unfortunately our 390 Grande and a couple of others we know of...suffered, after rain, from severe water collection in the front top panel. Despite placing extra pads to lift the air beams (as suggested by Kampa) , water still collected in the top panel... Kampa were not really helpful and in the end...showing the dealer multiple photos of the 'bulge', 'a perfectly flat pitched awning' .... we agreed to exchange for the Kampa (now Dometic) Club Air Pro which is in the style of a conventional awning....

No more water bulging and does withstand strong winds...

"Unfortunately our 390 Grande and a couple of others we know of...suffered, after rain, from severe water collection in the front top panel. Despite placing extra pads to lift the air beams (as suggested by Kampa) , water still collected in the top panel... Kampa were not really helpful and in the end...showing the dealer multiple photos of the 'bulge', 'a perfectly flat pitched awning' .... we agreed to exchange for the Kampa (now Dometic) Club Air Pro which is in the style of a conventional awning...."

Surprised at that GTP because ours - and it must be over 4 years old, has the then 'new' twin pitch roof so that there's no chance of water collecting on it. Plus - when we had a problem with our very first Kampa awning - many years ago - our dealer got in touch with the Kampa Rep who arranged for a new one to be sent out to our site - by courier and it arrived the very next morning.  They couldn't have been more helpful - I am reluctant to say it but I wonder if this is the 'Dometic effect'!