Canopy split

[BeachyBird]

Hi sorry if this has already been covered but couldn't find anything through search....
Whilst on holiday we had the sun canopy out during the day 35 deg and over night it was totally calm no wind the following morning it had split(come apart along the seam) about 3 inches. Has anybody else had this problem and could some one explain why they have a seam in them.
Thanks

 

[snowy55]

I've read on here before about this happening. Worth a warranty claim if you can.

 

[BeachyBird]

Thanks snowy55 for your quick response typically I have just found the other threads on this subject now.

 

[larrylamb]

Think Briwy had the same issue.

 

[leightonjthomas]

Same here. Split in 40 degrees heat last summer. They had to replace the whole awning. When it came back the new one had a split of about 1 cm in the same place. Ridiculous design.

 

[WelshGas]

Same here. Split in 40 degrees heat last summer. They had to replace the whole awning. When it came back the new one had a split of about 1 cm in the same place. Ridiculous design.

Might seem like a ridiculous design but there is obviously a reason behind it. The company that make them for VW obviously have their reasons and obviously do not have too many failures otherwise they would change it. They are the ones paying out for the replacement, not VW.

 

[leightonjthomas]

There seem to have been one or two other design faults that were allowed to run but (obviously) I bow to your superior knowledge.

 

[WelshGas]

There seem to have been one or two other design faults that were allowed to run but (obviously) I bow to your superior knowledge.

No, not superior knowledge, just a common sense approach to how things work. VW contract a firm to provide a product - an awning in this case. If it fails for any reason under warranty then VW replace it and charge the company who were contracted. If there were too many returns then the company would lose the contract or have to make design changes. Omnistor are one of the largest awning manufacturers making awnings for many companies so I presume they do not have many returns for this problem otherwise they would either change the design or be out of business. There must be a reason for them making the awning this way, but I don't know what it is.
Maybe you should take the matter up with the company and point out the design flaw.

 

[briwy]

Yes we did Carl.
Best thing to do is get it replaced under warranty, then get rid of it and fit a Fiamma. Much superior product.

 

[notlob]

Same happened to us. I spoke to a Fiamma supplier and he just laughed and said it must be a roll end which was my initial thoughts. I agree with above, swap under warranty then get rid. I was checking out the Fiamma on my brothers van the other day. Far better design.

 

[Mark Langdown]

Hi sorry if this has already been covered but couldn't find anything through search....
Whilst on holiday we had the sun canopy out during the day 35 deg and over night it was totally calm no wind the following morning it had split(come apart along the seam) about 3 inches. Has anybody else had this problem and could some one explain why they have a seam in them.
Thanks

Hi BeachyBird

My Cali is a 2015. First time I rolled out the awning I found a slit of about 30mm along the seam that on mine was about 2/3 back (fully extended) from the front. Looking at it on the left hand side. The canopy has a welded seam and the very straight cut ran one side.

Took it to VW and they replaced it under warranty.

Along with: -
Faulty tap switch
Failed bed base ram
Split rubber grommets on cooker guards
Stitching coming away on rear bench seat
New head lining from leaking oil from failed bed base ram
And a complete reset of head unit after it failed to switch on so had no sat nav, radio or reversing camera.

Think mine was a Friday afternoon build!

 

[Howard 66]

Hi BeachyBird

My Cali is a 2015. First time I rolled out the awning I found a slit of about 30mm along the seam that on mine was about 2/3 back (fully extended) from the front. Looking at it on the left hand side. The canopy has a welded seam and the very straight cut ran one side.

Took it to VW and they replaced it under warranty.

Along with: -
Faulty tap switch
Failed bed base ram
Split rubber grommets on cooker guards
Stitching coming away on rear bench seat
New head lining from leaking oil from failed bed base ram
And a complete reset of head unit after it failed to switch on so had no sat nav, radio or reversing camera.

Think mine was a Friday afternoon build!

Just sat here in France following a 36 degree heatwave watching mine split for the third time in 3 summers! Had it replaced twice. Looking forward to yet another grilling by dealer about why this keeps happening.

 

[leightonjthomas]

That is a real pain. Mine survived The Dordogne this year but the temperature never reached 30 degrees while we were there. I still haven't heard an explanation as to why there should be a join there at all so, despite Welsh Gas's lecture, it still seems to me to be a design fault that hasn't yet been addressed, either by VW or Omnistor.

 

[T6 CFO]

Not very good if it keeps happening. I presume they have not got there act together and sorted it and still two piece on the T6?


Mike

 

[Howard 66]

Yes it is frustrating. We've changed the gas cylinder less than the awning! We have opened it so that it doesn't expose the seam but it means we're unable to use our Brandrup side awning panels. Does anyone know if they fit on a Fiamma awning? You can see where I'm going with this.

 

[Stuart]

Not very good if it keeps happening. I presume they have not got there act together and sorted it and still two piece on the T6?


Mike

It happened to me last week in France (35c) so it's still an issue on the T6 :-(

 

[T6 CFO]

It happened to me last week in France (35c) so it's still an issue on the T6 :-(

Thanks.


Mike

 

[MattBW]

I have heard that someone bought an awning direct from fiamma and not VW weirdly it has no seam in it to split... The reason was probably designed to a VW set cost... it seems only the Cali one has te seam in it.

 

[Velma's Dad]

I have heard that someone bought an awning direct from fiamma and not VW weirdly it has no seam in it to split... The reason was probably designed to a VW set cost... it seems only the Cali one has te seam in it.

Now I'm confused guys, I thought the VW works-supplied awning on the Cali was actually manufactured by Omnistor/Thule, not Fiamma? (Just going by an earlier post by Leighton, and Briwy saying "get rid of it and fit a Fiamma" etc - apols if I've misunderstood).

 

[WelshGas]

Now I'm confused guys, I thought the VW works-supplied awning on the Cali was actually manufactured by Omnistor/Thule, not Fiamma? (Just going by an earlier post by Leighton, and Briwy saying "get rid of it and fit a Fiamma" etc - apols if I've misunderstood).

You haven't misunderstood. Fiamma do make an awning that fits the California but is not the one supplied by VW. That is made by Omnistor/Thule.

 

[Bigted]

I can confirm that the Fiammia F45s that fits the California has no seam in the fabric - I have on fitted to my van. Fiammia make a fitting kit for the Cali that allow you to use the same fitting points as the OEM awning.

 

[Hayden]

Hi sorry if this has already been covered but couldn't find anything through search....
Whilst on holiday we had the sun canopy out during the day 35 deg and over night it was totally calm no wind the following morning it had split(come apart along the seam) about 3 inches. Has anybody else had this problem and could some one explain why they have a seam in them.
Thanks

Hi there
I have just returned from Switzerland and the same has happened to my awning , a quick email and picture of the affected bit an hey presto dealer has ordered new one and is being fitted on the 28th under warranty . Hats of to Carrs of Exeter

 

[MattBW]

I have heard that someone bought an awning direct from fiamma and not VW weirdly it has no seam in it to split... The reason was probably designed to a VW set cost... it seems only the Cali one has te seam in it.

Sorry that should have read "Thule", apologies, the Cali awning when not bought through VW has no seam from all accounts. Which seems to suggest they are providing a slightly different unit to VW with that weaker design?

I have a fiamma and it doesn't have a seam but of course its a different unit.

 

[BeachyBird]

As many of you above have quoted we are also having ours replaced under warranty tomorrow at Listers Droitwich, must say can't fault the lads in the service dept they are brill and they have 2 specialist Cali technicians that have a lot of knowledge of Cali's well worth a visit if you live in Worcestershire area and need anything.

 

[James Malone]

As many of you above have quoted we are also having ours replaced under warranty tomorrow at Listers Droitwich, must say can't fault the lads in the service dept they are brill and they have 2 specialist Cali technicians that have a lot of knowledge of Cali's well worth a visit if you live in Worcestershire area and need anything.

Hi BeachyBird,

Just returned from France. Whilst there, we noticed the awning seperating along the seam. Each day the split proessively got worse. The temperature we predict was in excess of 30°C. The Ocean is only 3 months old, obviously under warranty so it will need replacing. Could you please provide an update on the service provided to you regarding the replacement of the awning by Listers, Droitwich, Worcester as we need to find a competent dealer to carry out the work.

Many thanks,
Jim.
Birmingham