RE: Canopy ? Tricks & Tips for Windy Conditions!

[Joe Gleason]

 
Canopy ? Tricks & Tips for Windy Conditions!
 
 When we pulled into our last spot, for a variety of reasons the right place to face the awning was towards the open ocean.  I knew setting up that was risky ? as your wind can come up quick from that local!
 
 So?
 We set it off on a bit of an angle? Tilted what I thought would be the leading edge down to the wind..
 
 First night ? wind came up with out a warning and flung the whole mess up and over.  Luckily only minor bending!
 
 The next day I looked around to see what others where doing!..
 
 They had their awning poles much lower ? so the wind had a harder time getting under.
 
 It would seem ? To low and the wind will push down ? to high and it will get under ? The right angle looks like 30 Deg? with a lower lead the a likely side wind?
 
 I used table cloth clips to hold the pole ? to fasten to stop flapping? and hung the one of the kids bike on a bungee cord to hold it down!  This held up to some very strong (30 knot) head winds!
 
 If you tie it down, with out the right angle you?ll cause some real stress?
 
 Also saw people use 1 gallon water jugs! ?
 
 I didn?t stake it, as the ground I was on (crushed shells) didn?t want to see to hold the stakes and I don?t like the ropes?
 
 The hanging bike had me very worried? Felt like it could be flung up, over and through with real ?Dangerous? side effects?
 
 

[Trlrboy]

 Joe Gleason
Hanging a bicycle on it?  1 gallon water jugs?  This was a joke, right?
 
 Ever think of just rolling it up?

[jawilson]

 Trlrboy
I can t vouch for the bicycle part, but the gallon jugs are definitely a popular way to hold the awning down. Have seen it myself.

[garym053]

 Joe Gleason
I woud use a couple of long stakes, the kind they sell for sandy soil up to 3 feet long, and run a rope or two up and over the canopy from stake to stake. This has held in winds that were strong enough to undo the canvas from the door frame in our pop-up on the coast of Maine! Otherwise, I would roll it and store it! Things hanging from it can get flung with extra velocity! Remeber the old sling and stones from David and Goliath?

[Giffster]

 Joe Gleason
If it s windy, besides staking, etc. I use bungie cords attached to a tree.  The canopy " gives"  alittle.  Made it through a big storm with no probs.
 
 Cheers

[tlhdoc]

 Joe Gleason
I would stake it down with long stakes like garym suggested.  I would use 18 inch stakes and use 2 or 3 for each corner.  If it is windy the awning needs to be secured, they are not made to free stand in the wind.  You could also tie the awning to a tree or picnic table when the wind is up.

[gr8grandpa]

 Joe Gleason
I use a strap with a spring on it that goes over the top and to a stake on each side. I got it at Wal-mart.