Looking for Visor Tie-down Solutions

CincyKid

Yep, just back from a 320S Boondock weekend and found several things to post.  This one seems to belong in this category.  Have a Visor XL on my T@B but the wind kept blowing it up vertical - the two strings that came with it that were tied off to the trailer could not hold it in place.  I would say the winds were 10 mph or so.  Anyone else have a smart looking solution to this problem?  So far my best idea would be to get two milk jugs full of water and use these as weights to tie the stays to these.  Milk jugs full of water would weight 8 lbs a piece and have handles, but would look less than 'smart' INHO.  Am planning to replace those two small strings with paracord for additional strength as well.

BigGrover

I had the same issue with my 400 visor, went the jug route.  If I camp somewhere that I can use them I bought two large screw in stakes to use instead.

atlasb

I use 2, 8 ft painter poles with clips on the end to hook into the visor at the top end of the guy lines.  I use 2,  5 gallon plastic buckets filled with water that have Gama seal spin on lids to anchor the guy lines to.  This has worked well for us!  Had it in some fairly strong wind and it did not move.  I carry our water filter and holder in one of the buckets when traveling.  The buckets come in handy for other uses also.  No need to use stakes for the guy lines this way.

ColoradoJon

I've seen posts from others that attach the guy wires to tent stakes pounded into the ground.  Water jugs or sand bags are a good idea, too

pthomas745

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/6602/t-b-visor-tips-and-tricks

CincyKid

Thank you all for those ideas, found two spiral ground stakes with cords for $10 at Menards.  Will use two one gallon milk jugs with water if there is cement or gravel, although I am wonder if those will be heavy enough.

Verna

@CincyKid, one gallon is only 8 lbs + or -.  My 4 gallon jugs are 32 lbs + or - . Mine held up to a thunderstorm with 30+ mph winds. The visor stayed up and in place. If you are concerned with storage space, try the collapsible water jugs. 

ChrisandAlexis

@CincyKid, we have been using the 1 gallon water jugs filled with water to anchor the visor down and I did see one time that the jug was lifted 3 feet in the air when a gust of wind came up and lifted the visor.

CincyKid

OK, so larger jug makes best sense.  Thanks @ChrisandAlexis

jkjenn

 I used a big heavy rock once and it was lifted and. I have nice little bob boo (smaller than a quarter) on my T@b. I wont use the weight method, any longer, as a result. If I cannot use either my stakes or the keder rail, the sunshade will come down.

CincyKid

bob boo?

BigGrover

How big and heavy?  The rock must have weight less than 10 lbs.

rfuss928

The DM Clamshell does no have the lower keder rail so I added a couple of eye-screws on the bottom of the T@B where I wanted the guy lines to attach.  The lines anchor points cannot move and I think this helps stabilize the set-up in windy conditions.  I have used these for both the original visor and the newer visor XL.  Sometimes I have also added a spring clamp on the keder rail at the ends of the visor to keep it from shifting position.

CincyKid

Another good idea requiring less setup and storage of jugs.  Decisions decisions....

Mouseketab

I don't have a lower keder rail and just stake them out. I also replaced the black cord with paracord. (Mainly to change the black to white, so I see it better, but it is stronger).

BigGrover

Rfuss, can you post a pic of the spring clamp for me.  

Thanks

rfuss928

BigGrover said:

Rfuss, can you post a pic of the spring clamp for me.  

Thanks

https://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Spring-Clamp-Ergonomic-Handle/dp/B01KAIYGFG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1527021019&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=spring+clamp&th=1

BigGrover

Thanks, I was trying to figure a way to stop it from sliding.

CincyKid

I found my solution for $10 at a local Menards Hardware Store.  They sell a Camco Awning Stabilizer Kit that includes two spiral stakes, ropes, and rope friction adjustors (to set the rope length and tightness).  Since it is a Camco item you can probably buy it at many stores/on-line locations.  Last week while up at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park it was very windy and the kit worked perfectly.  I did twist the stakes into the grass which was easy.  If I had been on asphalt or gravel it would been much more difficult to get the stakes into the ground.  Here is a graphic of the kit ...

Tabaz

Seems like every time the wind is strong enough to blow the visor over the roof, I wind up with at least one cracked fiberglass pole section. Will start to always secure to the ground instead of the Keder rail from now on.

Homebodyatheart

I ran into this a week ago. In the wee hours before sunrise during nonstop winds  I removed the lower keder pieces from the rail, ran the lines through the closest stabilizer and jack and reattached them. That kept it from flipping, but I had other issues with the fiberglass rod coming out of the pocket on the front end, and all the way out of the sleeve at the rear by about two feet. I'm rather proud of my craftiness at 3:15am! When I got up for the day I switched out to ratchet straps I had purchased on @Verna 's advice way back when. That, and hooking those to the rear jack and front stabilizer worked well. And yes, my black electrical tape came in handy to splint the somewhat shattered fiberglass pole once I took it out of the sleeve. I might do this on all of them before my next trip!

BirdieJane

I replaced the fiberglass rod with aluminum ones from amazon. A big improvement, no more split firberglass.

Freshaire

@BirdieJane, do you have a link to the aluminum rod?  Thanks.

Homebodyatheart

@BirdieJane how long when assembled is the rod you ordered? Thanks!

BirdieJane

https://www.amazon.com/Weanas-Aluminum-Tent-Replacement-Accessories/dp/B07BW183Z8?th=1&psc=1
Our tralier is being used by some friends as a spare bedroom right now. So can’t measure. You select the length you need when ordering. I got two sets just Incase. But so far so good it’s been a year and no problems.

Freshaire

@BirdieJane, thanks for the link!  Sounds like a good replacement and a reasonable price too.

Tabaz

Just measured my XL Visor poles.  221.5" rubber tip to rubber tip.

CincyKid

@Tabaz Thanks for the measurement, that works out to 18 feet 5.25 inches.  The link above shows options for 11'3", 12'2", 12'10", 14'2", 16'3", and 20'.    Only the 20' rod is long enough.  For the 20' pole there are 15 sections at 17-3/8" per section.  To get to 18'5.25" you would have to remove one full section and 1-3/8" from another section (which I assume could be cut off one end). 

You'd have to cut the elastic cord at one end, remove the one section, trim a second section, and then re-tie the cord to the end cap that has the hole to re-tie the cord.  Seems do-able.  The cost is $34.99 for two poles since they are intended for tents.  Like the video segment by Tabaz shows just below use a squeeze clamp to pull the shock cord through and grip it to get sufficient length to run through the shortened segment to re-tie the shock cord knot.  The video also recommends using a flame to cut cord end to melt the fibers to make it run through the pole section easier.

Tabaz

Very easy to do per this video from Paha Que:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5dauv_Gmo0&index=2&list=PLLflq-Dcds7294G_CZXGPUQlsY8PEXkEI

BirdieJane

You guys are so resourceful, I had to add 1 1/4 additional sections. It left me with plenty of replacement’s. But I have not needed them

pthomas745

I've rebuilt a couple of fiberglass poles, and it isn't hard.  Just need three hands!