Is this the type of thing you've got Herby?
http://www.automotiveleisure.co.uk/Awnings.html ( scroll down the page and click on images to enlarge)

If it is then it looks a lot like the Soplair Sun Shade and I presume the side poles you refer to are used horizontally between the caravan and the top of the front poles and not vertically down the side of the van?.
On the Soplair there is a small welded flange plate at the top of each front pole with two holes approx 6mm drilled through them. There's a similar arrangement on the rear poles that hook into the caravan. The horizontal side poles are adjustable with a hook feature at each end which fits into the holes on the flange plates (you can just make out these poles if you zoom in on the photograph). Also, if you have a third pole then that is fitted the same way between the front poles.
Maybe that will help (if I've got the model right )
Randa

Zitat

---

Quote Herby :- Not divorced yet either!

---

.....but working on it...