Awning help needed!

[Wolfiefan]

So we've bought a used folding camper. Love it! BUT my youngest needed feeding at the point at which the helpful man was about to talk us through the awning. Twice we have put the awning up and twice it has nearly ended in divorce or me braining my DH with a pole. Once we broke a pole!
So please help!! It's an Isabella awning like a big caravan one. So zip it onto unit first or do poles first? The canvas is sooo heavy.

Please help or DH stands a real chance of being clubbed with a broken pole. We haven't yet tried to put it up in the wet either. That could just send me over the edge!

Our old awning was an isabella and we fed it through first. Putting up awnings without exception ends in near divorce x

Well you usually zip it on first, then get the furthest out poles in and half height to give you some support.
Why not watch a few you tube videos, out in the name if your awning, or the name of your camper and see if anything comes up.

Have you unzipped all the panels before attempting to put it up? Apply silicone spray to the track to make it glide in easily.

Sort out the poles - colour code with electrical tape once you know which is which to make it easier next time. Lay them out in the approx positions. Slide in the awning roof through the connecting channel.

Do one side together, get the poles in then work round to the far side. Once it's in place roughly get all the poles expanded & tensioning the canvas and then zip in the panels.

Put the poles in the best position to make it stable & even, then peg in firmly with rock pegs & mallet.

now add all the bunting, solar fairy lights etc

Open wine/beer and relax

Definitely thread through before poles. When we went camping as older kids my parents wisely made the awning a job for my brother and me.

My other awning advice comes courtesy of DD, when inspecting awnings (not attached to anything) in the camping shop.

"These tents are rubbish"