How to Stop Wind Noise from Your Caravan Awning

Awnings are an essential accessory for many caravan owners. While they do bring plenty of benefits, one notable downside is that they suffer from wind noise. The constant flapping sound can get quite annoying and many caravanners aren’t sure how to address this problem. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can stop wind noise from your caravan awning and protect it from getting damaged.

1. Use de-flappers to reinforce the awning

If you own a manually operated caravan awning, you can use de-flappers to add extra strength and reinforcement when the awning is extended. The clamps help minimise flapping or whipping of the fabric while also protecting it from wear and tear. They’re pretty cheap and do a great job of reducing wind noise from your caravan awning.

2. Use a tie-down kit

A tie-down kit is used to secure the awning to the ground. While tie-down kits work alright on their own, using them in combination with awning clamps ensures a sturdy and wind-resistant awning. Using a tie-down kit gives the caravan awning more stability, thus making it tolerant towards sudden gusts and high-speed winds.

3. Stow the awning for travel

Before travelling, you want to stow the awning and not let it hang loosely on the side of your vehicle. Doing so will help preserve the condition of the awning fabric and avoid unnecessary wind noise. Use bungee straps or clamps to firmly secure the awning.

4. Adjust awning tension

Sometimes the reason for a noisy awning is a lack of tension. If the awning tension isn’t tight enough, the fabric can get caught in the wind and flap easily. Poor awning tension can also cause other problems like water pooling in the fabric. Always double-check the tension and make sure the awning is pulled to the correct tightness to avoid damage.

5. Buy replacement fabric

Like anything, awning fabric has a lifespan. In some cases, it’s better to replace the fabric itself as exposure to the elements can lead to serious wear and tear. Awning fabric also gets stretched over time which contributes to excess wind noise and flapping. Buy high-quality replacement fabric so you don’t have to worry about it stretching too much over time.

With proper care and a bit of planning, you can greatly reduce the amount of noise your caravan awning makes.

How to protect your caravan awning from high winds

Awnings are vulnerable to high winds, regardless of how durable the awning fabric is. Even if the forecast shows medium-strength winds, we suggest you take your awning down to avoid damage as a torn awning can cause serious damage to your caravan should it come loose. You can prepare against moderate winds by buying an awning storm strap that hooks over the awning and is pegged in at the sides to hold the awning down.

Still, even the best forecasters cannot predict the weather 100% accurately. The best thing you can do is prepare for inclement weather so that your caravan awning is safe and protected. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:

• Use good quality awning pegs. Hammer them solidly into the ground and utilise every pegging point available. A 45-degree angle provides the best resistance against high winds and will keep your awning anchored tight.

• Buy well-fitting storm straps for your awning as the fitment is key to achieving excellent wind resistance.

Pitch the poles as tight as possible.

• Try to park your caravan in a location that shelters you from the wind. Large buildings and rock formations can reduce the impact of high winds and limit the damage done to your caravan awning. Avoid parking in an open area where the winds can slam right at your caravan.

• Do not tow your caravan during high winds, especially on motorways and exposed roads as it can contribute to swaying and the risk of it blowing over completely is very dangerous.

• In the event of very strong winds, it’s best that you find alternative accommodation and secure your caravan by weighing it down with heavy objects in the centre so that it doesn’t get blown over.

You can also tie your caravan to the ground using storm straps and heavy-duty screw-in ground pegs. If you plan on securing your vehicle this way, make sure that you use foam or fabric in between the strap and your can. This will act as a cushion and prevent damage to your caravan’s exterior as a result of the constant friction.