Lesson Learnt

jim74

Member
Oct 23, 2012
71
20
8
port macquarie
on the weekend i puchased my new afk and 2 curved roof rafters. quite chuffed with my new purchase a went straight home to install the brackets and admire my handy work. halfway through the install nature called so i nipped off for 5 mins only to come back and find the wind had picked up to about 30klms an hour and my annex / Legs (i had out and not pegged down) and everything else attached to the annex was laying on top of the roof of the van. Lesson number 1 PEG DOWN THE ANNEX LEGS , end result 2 guide arms bent at 90degs, 2 cast mounting brackets snapped in half , 1 bracket on the end of the barrell bent, new customised scratches up the side of the van and 1 extremely cranky missus. needless to say not a happy camper:sad: van 15.12.12.jpgvan 15.12.12 003.jpgvan 15.12.12 002.jpgvan 15.12.12 001.jpgvan 15.12.12 004.jpg
 

Brad

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2012
2,645
722
113
Rowville, Victoria
Sorry to hear that Jim.
Same thing happened to my father. The awnings act like massive kites when not pegged down somehow.
 

macca

(aka maccayak)
Mar 20, 2012
1,660
832
113
Victoria
Jim, sorry to see what had happened. I was doing the same job yesterday and the wind came up. I had to pack it up for an hour until the wind dropped. Can you claim it on insurance?

Geoff
 

Burnsy

Well-Known Member
Mar 26, 2012
2,663
977
113
Newcastle
Oh bugger! I'm sure there were a few choice words said! :( hopefully you can get it fixed soon, especially if your going away these holidays.
 

Bushman

Forum Moderator
Staff member
Nov 9, 2010
3,060
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Wollondilly Shire NSW
Bugger, hope you can get that sorted so close to Christmas, saw one go when we were at lightning ridge a few months ago it was just a freck gust of wind on a claim fairly warm day
Apparently the most.claims on insurance for vans are awnings
 

Matty4

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2011
1,160
1,111
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Wandin North, Vic
What a bummer eh!!!
As others have said, insurance will get you a whole new awning, but it may not happen before Chrissy.

Best of luck with the repair.
 

chartrock

Forum Patriarch
Staff member
Sep 26, 2010
6,141
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Gold Coast Hinterland
Not a great start to Christmas, Jim especially with a new van. I'm sure insurance would cover it but as already said, not much chance before Christmas.
 

Thirstyviv

Member
Jan 8, 2012
70
10
8
Sydney
G'day Jim and I know how you feel that same thing happened to me with my dove a year ago before upgrading, to the Expanda however then I went to tidy it up the wind picked up again and smashed the end of the annex into my face splitting my lip and putting a gash into my face yeah it was a bad day
Anyway mate as the rest have said good luck with the fix through insurance and hopefully with it being close to Xmas the festive spirit will come out and you"ll get your wish.

Regards

Rob
 

mrhappi

Active Member
Oct 24, 2012
171
103
43
Ipswich
Crap luck Jim, but thanks for sharing because that sounds like a real trap for newbies like myself. Hope, as the others have said, that insurance takes care of it.
 

jim74

Member
Oct 23, 2012
71
20
8
port macquarie
the local Jayco dealer pulled me out of the crap with a few 2nd hand spares for $40 (funny thats about the right amount for a carton of beer) but im still to have a good look at the awning and barrel, thats the job for tomorow.
 

Pace

Well-Known Member
Sep 16, 2011
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melbourne
www.expandasdownunder.com
jim74, you'll be ok mate, should be a straight forward change out. i spent the same $40 on that carton last week for something that was lying around and no use to some one though got me out of the crap too. good luck. OH, what ever you do, dont undo the screw that looks as if it go internal to the spring, it'll then end up being a few more of the $40. lol. Pace.
 

relgate

Superstar
Staff member
Feb 2, 2012
2,946
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Sydney, NSW
Bad luck Jim, but as stated earlier, thanks for sharing as it is a good reminder for us all. Best of luck for the repair.