Do I NEED a drive away awning kit?

[Gazbibelots1860]

I wonder if anyone can give me their opinion, can’t work it out from online info and searching the forum. We’ve just got a drive away awning for our Cali (Galli poled). I used it once already and just fed it into the wind out awning channel by winding it out a touch. But then I watched a Kampa YT video where they attached an awning to a Cali this way but they used a ladle strip kit, I just can’t see the point in this or am I missing something?

Just wondering if I need the kit and if so what the benefit are.

I will say the one annoying thing about using the method I tried out was you have to hold the awning away from the sliding door when you open and close so it doesn’t catch too much, maybe it solves this issue?!

Thanks

 

[Dodge1311]

You need one if you want to “drive away” . Can’t drive away without the kit.

 

[Sad]

This helps to explain in a generic fashion. As Dodge says, it's about being able to detatch from the drive away and use the van, then reattach once you get back

 

[pchmlk]

I watched someone trying to re-dock to their driveway awning last year and it looked more stressful and relationship taxing than trying to moor a boat.

 

[dspuk]

I mean technically, you could "drive away" if someone stood outside and held the strip while you pulled away, and you would need a steady hand coming back in, but it would be much easier to get a drive away kador strip.

Just pull it out and the awning disconnects and when coming back you just line yourself back up (we use pegs set when we leave to the middle of the wheel sidewalls) and then reattach the strip.

 

[Gazbibelots1860]

Ah thank you!! I’ve got it! I just could not work it out. This explains why I find it so difficult to drive away and reattach back to the awning! @pchmlk it may have well been us that you were watching as you describe what happened so well

I’m buying one!