Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Video Of Sliding The Awning Welt Through The Awning Rail

To set up a vintage trailer awning quickly, have your  tent poles extended, tie-down lines unrolled, tent stakes and a hammer ready. Place everything in position on the ground about 8' out from the trailer. If setting up an arched awning, connect the shock pole sections and place them about three feet out from the trailer. Place the ladder at the far right of the trailer where the awning rail ends.
 Now you are ready to slide the awning welt into the c-channel awning rail.

Steps for setting up an arched awning alone :
1) Have adjustable height tent poles extended out on the ground in approximate location, with tip end about 8' out from trailer.
2)Have the tie-down lines, and tent stakes also in approximate position on the ground with a hammer ready.
3)Have your step ladder set up on the right end of the awning rail.
4)Get the shock poles put together and place them about three feet in front of the trailer.
5)Hold the weight of the awning in your left arm, with your right hand guide the awning welt along the c-channel awning rail. It takes both hands lifting and guiding and moving it along, from the ladder in one position.
6)With your left hand lift the weight and help pull the fabric along, as you slide the welt with the right hand.You may need to lift the fabric to keep the welt high enough to go into the awning rail. There are movies on my Blog and Facebook page.
7)Move the ladder out of the way.
8)Insert the tent pole tip into the right side grommet,keeping the pole tilted so you can slip the loop of the tie-down line over it. Straighten the pole and then go hammer in that one tie-down line. You do not need two lines on one pole. It will neutralize the tension.
9)With an arched awning, the tension to make it taut is from the shock poles, not the tie -down lines.
10)Now repeat process with other tent pole, tie-down line and tent stake. Repeat, you do not want them really tight.
11)This is how I set it up alone. Ready?
a)From the ground, insert the fatter end of the shock pole ( if one end has a metal connector)into the corner closest to the trailer. Make sure it goes in at an angle to the bottom.
b) At the opposite tent pole, tip the tent pole with your left hand, while using your right hand to inset the other end of the shock pole into the pocket. (This will be the narrowest end of the shock pole going in at an angle to the bottom of the pocket next to the grommet)
c)The shock pole will be drooping downward at this point. Re-straighten the tent pole.
d)Repeat process on other side.
e)Now move the ladder under the center of the awning.
f) Gently swing one shock pole up into the arched position over the tie. Secure lightly.
g) Gently swing other shock pole up into position crossing the first one. Tie poles together with strap.
h) You can try to adjust the poles some from the ladder, but I found it was much safer and easier to tap them with a broom handle from the ground.
i) There is a sweet spot, when they are arched just right. Once you have done it and can see the difference, you will know what to look for the next time.
j) The tie -down lines are to keep the wind from catching the awning. The awning will stand up by itself without tie-down lines. if there are two of you to set it up, I have some different instructions.
See if this helps.

Link to video