The wind was blowing parallel to the van from back to front.  It whipped the
awning pretty good but didn't bend anything.  A hard downward wind would do
damage to this awning without the poles you have.  How are the poles stored
in the compartment?  Mine is pretty tight on space after folding averything
up and inserting the support rods.
TEMiller

----- Original Message -----
From: "bueses" <bueses@earthlink.net>
To: "Tom Miller" <tmiller@VCMAILS.COM>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 4:06 PM
Subject: Re: just finished installing my shadyboy awning

>> I use the ropes that attach the outer corners of the awning to the
>> bumpers
>> and have had no problems, even in heavy winds with gusts up to 35 MPH.  I
>> don't need no stinkin' poles!
>
> I also attach the ropes on the corners to my bumpers, & w/o the poles it
> allows the awning to bend down in the wind & bend the brackets on the
> roof!!! Must be some serious winds to do that, but I only thought they
> were
> 30-40 mph when it happened at Buses By the Bridge 2 Januarys ago. Were you
> facing into the wind or w/ the wind in those 35 mph gusts?
>
> FWIW,
>
> Tom Buese
>
>