magnetic tape to hold an awning?

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cesi

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I've had a though but I'm not sure if it will work so just throwing it out there to see what you guys think...

im kitting a discovery 2 out for a road trip around Europe and on the roof facing rearwards over the boot I'm putting a awning on to cover us while we cook and get changed...

i was going to install a roof rack as i have the E model and don't even have the standard rails but i was thinking that maybe sticking along the length of the awning a strip of magnetic tape or a magnetic bar so that i can just pop it on the roof when needed and store under the bed in the back of the car when its not, that way when we are in cities and stuff its out of sight.
 
the only issue would be if you had any dirt under it when you "stuck" against the panel it could rub and damage the paint.

yourll also need a pretty strong magnetic bar (the tape is rubbish and not strong enough) the bar will be solid.. and heavy...

you could have small neodymn magnetic discs though sewn into the awning in pockets. This sort of method is used to hold tank bags onto motorcycles etc etc and is pretty strong.
 
strong for a direct pull, yes, but if you have it overlapping the roof, and the pull is not directly inline with the magnets they will still slide, and easily scratch the roof (is the roof steel on a D2??)
The sheer force on a magnet is weak, any force other than in the direction of the magnets poles is pretty week, even on neos.
 
Owning a caravan and having an awning, a magnet wouldn't hold in place. When there's a gust of wind, you wouldn't believe how much pressure is generated inside an awning. It'll just rip off.
If your willing to, buy a proper awning rail, paint it in your car colour and screw it to the car. Don't know if this is even possible. But you can be the Guinea pig if you want. :)
Mike
 
I've got one of these for when we're out with the scouts or off on our jollys.

Terrain Awning - Expedition Camping Vehicle Awning ideal for Roof Tent, Easy Fit | eBay

£34 off ebay and no mag strips, either clamps onto the rain gutter or if you don't have one of them, suckers do the job.

Taking it to France to hang off the back/side of the Mondeo estate so's we can have a bit of shade when having a sarnie/brew or shaking the sand off the kids!!
 
I've got a decent isn old garden awning that you wind open i was going to use, and i agree permenantly fitting it is more secure but putting holes in the roof was not what i wanted to do unless its was for a roof rack. I'm thinking then it would be best to just put a roof rack on a secure it to that? at least that way there is no extra holes!

and mike you right, i didn't even think about the gusts of wind thanks for letting me know it wouldn't work before i went ahead and did it!
 
We have a Caravanstore Zip awning on the side of the trailer.

In a freak storm in Holland in June, the awning was picked up and flung over the roof, coming down on top and smashing a hole in the roof, just missing the solar panels.

Admittedly it was unusually strong gusts of wind, but the awning was well pegged down.

I'd not use magnets for such a thing, but the roof is steel and you could fix stainless eye plates like these to it with either decent pop rivets or nutserts:

6MM Oblong Pad Eye Plate 304 Grade Stainless Steel - Staple Hook Loop | eBay

Peter
 
I quite agree that there is no way magnets will work, but there is a simple, cheap way that doesn't involve a roof rack or making holes.

1. Make sure the roof part of the awning extends as far forward as the B pillar. If it is a commercial awning with an insert to run inside an awning rail, then you can get a strip of soft channel on fabric to extend it, or add a width of fabric.

2. Attach a strip of strapping with a tightening ratchett (the sort of thing you use to strap luggage to a rack, similar to the HD ones recovery vehicles use to strap down a car).

3. Open the front doors. Put the awning in place and pass the strap through the vehicle via the open doors. Tension with the ratchet.

4. Peg out the awning.

And Robert is your mother's brother!

I'm not sure my explanation is the clearest, but you should be able to work it out!
 
Oldfogey said:
I quite agree that there is no way magnets will work, but there is a simple, cheap way that doesn't involve a roof rack or making holes.

1. Make sure the roof part of the awning extends as far forward as the B pillar. If it is a commercial awning with an insert to run inside an awning rail, then you can get a strip of soft channel on fabric to extend it, or add a width of fabric.

2. Attach a strip of strapping with a tightening ratchett (the sort of thing you use to strap luggage to a rack, similar to the HD ones recovery vehicles use to strap down a car).

3. Open the front doors. Put the awning in place and pass the strap through the vehicle via the open doors. Tension with the ratchet.

4. Peg out the awning.

And Robert is your mother's brother!

I'm not sure my explanation is the clearest, but you should be able to work it out!
Click to expand...

i understood don't worry! :) thats sounds like a really good alternative but my awning looks a little like the photo below and the metal bar itself need securing down otherwise it will damage the roof at the first sign of wind!
 

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Old fogy has given you some thing to think about there

get ya awning out and have a play around
you could hock the ends of the ratchet strap to the sills and up over the roof
or to the wheel archs to pull it forward

Take some pictures coz we like looking at other peoples set ups :D
 
im not setting it up till a couple of months yet because i need to get the car to France first (my dad and his workshop are out there) but as soon as i do ill upload some pictures :)
 
I used a standard Tarp on the Disco with a couple of pieces of caravan 'S' channel simply clipped into the gutter.

On the 90 I now use Book binders 'cos the channel is different!

I'll put some pics up later .. ;)
 
Paul D said:
I used a standard Tarp on the Disco with a couple of pieces of caravan 'S' channel simply clipped into the gutter.

On the 90 I now use Book binders 'cos the channel is different!

I'll put some pics up later .. ;)
Click to expand...

photo's would be great! caravan 'S' channel? anyone with to enlighten me on what this is ?
 
Sorry mate, it's this I use ..

Caravan Awning Figure Of 8 Channel Kit Driveaway Kits Awning Accessories Awnings

This is it on the Disco, I just grabbed a piece of spare nylon tarp, but it shows how it attaches, just drape the tarp over the gutter and clip the channel over. 3 pieces makes a full length of the Disco gutter! In the field I use a couple of poles and bungee cord as guylines so it's just a case of clipping on, setting poles and pegging in.







For the 90 which has a different gutter I use book binders like these but slightly larger .. PAVO A4 3mm Slide Binders - White (Pack of 100): Amazon.co.uk: Office Products ... I dunno the actual size as I get them FOC from school .. ;)
 
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