Useful Tips to Prevent Damage to your Caravan Awning

If you are reading this, then there is a good chance that you have a caravan awning with you already. For those who have just bought a new caravan awning, congratulations for the new accessory. I am sure that you would love the homely comfort and the convenience that it will provide. No matter where you go in your caravan, you will always have your personal space with you when you set up camp. What can be more comfortable than having your own personal space during a road trip?

Buying the awning is just the initial step. You need to take good care of the caravan awning for ensuring long term usage and preventing damage which would require additional investment to be made for repairs. Check out the following useful tips that will help you to prevent damage to the caravan awning and help you to get the most out of it.

Practice Setting Up the Awning at Your Home

Practicing setting up the caravan awning at home is the best way to get used to it. When trying it out at home, you are in your comfort zone and if you run into trouble, you will be able to get help. This isn’t the case if you are on the road. Help may or may not be available. Learning how to setup a caravan awning the right way will be beneficial for you and it will also help you in avoiding problems. This prove to be very useful if you have just bought a new awning.

Get Help If You Are Not Able to Set Up the Awning Yourself

You should not be reluctant to ask for help. If you are not able to get the job done yourself, you should ask for help from your neighbors and friends. This is way better than fumbling around during a road trip and facing embarrassment in front of seasoned caravanners. I am sure you wouldn’t want this to happen.

Check the Wind’s Direction When You Camp

If you decide to put up in a caravan park, then ask the site owner about the direction of the prevailing winds. This will help you to position the awning appropriately such that it is protected in case the wind speed increases. Don’t depend completely on the site owner for the wind speed and direction. It is possible that these factors may change without prior intimation. Use a wind sock just as a precautionary measure.

Stay Tuned to Weather Forecasts

Stay tuned to the daily weather forecasts and make sure that you take the necessary precautions to prevent damages to the caravan awning. If it is likely to get windy, take the awning down. There could be other weather conditions that might affect the area where you are camped. It is better to be prepared than risking damage to the caravan and its accessories.

Remove the Awning Early to Prevent Moisture

Make sure that you remove the awning during the afternoon or a day before you intend to leave. This will prevent moisture from developing on the awning. Since the awning’s fabric needs to be dried naturally, you would have to wait for it to dry completely before moving on. If the awning’s fabric isn’t dry before you roll it up and put it away, there is a good chance that mildew will form and it will damage the fabric. Just plan your things properly and you should be able to avoid running into problems.

Get Your Caravan Awning Insured

Make sure that you have the right insurance policy that not only provides cover for your caravan but also for the awning. Not all caravan insurance policies cover awnings, so consult with the insurance company and get the right policy. This will help you to mitigate losses if incurred.