When I put my Heavy caravan awning in the Yeti, I like to have it just in front of the rear axle.

This entails removing the three rear passenger seats, and they are Heavy! is there a knack

that might make it easier.

It seems that it ultimately comes down to sheer grunt once the catches have been released.  With the outer seats, it helps if you can take some of the weight by pivoting them up on to a knee - a direct lift is asking for back trouble.  Reduce the risk of bodywork and trim scratches by putting a blanket (or whatever) over the door sill

could always undo the middle first and pull it out via the boot and then slide the sides in and do the same.

It seems that it ultimately comes down to sheer grunt once the catches have been released.  With the outer seats, it helps if you can take some of the weight by pivoting them up on to a knee - a direct lift is asking for back trouble.  Reduce the risk of bodywork and trim scratches by putting a blanket (or whatever) over the door sill

What he said!

I've done it 7 times now, 5 in pre-FL and 2 in FL and that's the method I use.

 

Fred

Why not put the awning on top of the rear seats, that way you will still have a usable rear of the car and the awning will be higher up and easier to pull out?

Ian

could always undo the middle first and pull it out via the boot and then slide the sides in and do the same.

 

I had a go today to see how easy / difficult it was. My choice would be through the boot as it seems to be less likely to scratch any paintwork. It does rely on the boot being empty though, so maybe it will depend on the circumstances at the time you need to remove them. Middle seat first is lighter than the other two, and this gives more room to get a grip on the outers which can be dragged over the boot carpet without any damage.

??  from my limited experience I thought the idea was to keep the weight in front of the Caravan axle NOT the car axle, but perhaps I'm wrong

??  from my limited experience I thought the idea was to keep the weight in front of the Caravan axle NOT the car axle, but perhaps I'm wrong

 

I've been trying to fathom that one out. 

I guess that the caravan has a low load limit and putting a large awning in the van would overload it. Certainly in all our 'vans we've just put the awning over the axle and them moved in (mostly forward) to get the nose weight right. We now only use a lightweight porch awning and that sits between the front seats of the 'van.

Perhaps we could have an explanation?

Gosh! I'd never thought of them as particularly heavy. Years of calving cows and throwing bales around I suppose.(66 years young!)

Perhaps moving the weight to the car keeps a better 85% ratio of caravan to car. Definately better to have a heavier car than a caravan.

I had a go today to see how easy / difficult it was. My choice would be through the boot as it seems to be less likely to scratch any paintwork. It does rely on the boot being empty though, so maybe it will depend on the circumstances at the time you need to remove them. Middle seat first is lighter than the other two, and this gives more room to get a grip on the outers which can be dragged over the boot carpet without any damage.

Unless you have arms that are 3 foot long you will risk a hernia trying to lift them from the boot.   It's a bit fiddly from the passenger doors but safer and less likely to damage yourself.

 

Fred

I've been trying to fathom that one out. 

I guess that the caravan has a low load limit and putting a large awning in the van would overload it. Certainly in all our 'vans we've just put the awning over the axle and them moved in (mostly forward) to get the nose weight right. We now only use a lightweight porch awning and that sits between the front seats of the 'van.

Perhaps we could have an explanation?

Perhaps to increase the 'van payload?

 

Fred

Why not put the awning on top of the rear seats, that way you will still have a usable rear of the car and the awning will be higher up and easier to pull out?

Ian

I know exactly what you mean but It has Leather Seats, various sharp poles and knobbly bits could wreak havoc

plus the sheer weight reduction is worth while.

I've been trying to fathom that one out. 

I guess that the caravan has a low load limit and putting a large awning in the van would overload it. Certainly in all our 'vans we've just put the awning over the axle and them moved in (mostly forward) to get the nose weight right. We now only use a lightweight porch awning and that sits between the front seats of the 'van.

Perhaps we could have an explanation?

Yes the caravan has a low load limit and a fairly high noseweight (Bailey Orion 400/2)

Keeping the load low, between the cars axles gives a very stable drive.

The rest of the paraphernalia rides in the Orion just behind the axle.

Berth  2

MiRO  959 kg

Payload  129 kg

MTPLM  1076 kg

 

Blimey, how heavy is your awning?

What nose weight are you using? My Bailey Ranger 460/4 seems very happy at 75kg (ish)

I use a set of bathroom scales and a piece of wood under the ball hitch on the caravan to get a nose weight between 65 to 70 kg, I wouldn't be taking the rear seats out as that will increase the weight of the car vs the caravan so making the combination more stable.

 

Ian