“Wonderwieletjie”. Text and photos by: Frans Pretorious.

The advent of the “Wonderwieletjie” dates back more than about 20 or 30 odd years. I had one, but I found that it tended to come out of the extrusion of the caravan too often. Perhaps the extrusion on the caravan was a bit on the wide side, or I overworked the poor thing! So, as a result I created, or should I say, I invented my own version of the method of getting my rally tent up all by myself!

I bought a standard single wheel pulley from local hardware shop, a length of rope, and made up a hook out of 5mm galvanized rod, and, siedaar!!!, my own invention of the “wonderwieletjie”. Then by simply drilling a 6mm hole through the extrusion, about 2mm from the side of the van as shown in the first photo, I was able to attach the pulley to the side of the van, and remove it again once the awning was up and in place.

Here, in the second photo, I show the rope more clearly for getting the rally tents rope through the caravans’ tent extrusion. This way I can move over to the awning and if necessary help it along. I am able to pull the rope with one hand, whilst the other hand is guiding the awning in the caravans’ tent extrusion.

While I put up the awning, mommy can sit back and enjoy a Martini cocktail! This is a sure fire recipe for keeping the peace!


It is more difficult to organize a peace than to win a war; but the fruits of victory will be lost if the peace is not organized.
Aristotle.