Adios, Awning

[jagnweiner]

Mylo-

It was a very windy day with a gusty cross-wind.  As I'm a newbie, I can't say whether you're just lucky you've never had a problem, but I will say the awning lock seems like cheap protection.

 

[Jim Godward]

OIC. I didn't know that could happen. Must be some serious wind. My roller (as i imagine everyone else's) just has spring tension to wind it up. There is a little lever I actuate with the awning rod to allow it to come out. Am I just lucky that mine hasn't "taken its leave of me", yet?

Mylo,

You just have not been in a strong enough wind.  Any of the awnings with the factory retention system as you described will fail in high winds.  The lock described earlier is a solution or as I and a few others have done, we installed a wind block.  On my MH I have a sheet of 1"X3" aluminum angle attached about 1" below the awning so there is an effective block to the wind coming up the side and preventing the awning from billowing/deploying.

 

[mylo]

Well, I thank you all for the knowledge. This forum, like the Harley Davidson forum I am on, will certainly cost me some money with all the modifications and other fun stuff - but this particular mod seems like a real cheap insurance policy to save potentially hundreds with a $50 part. Cheers!


Mylo

 

[Born2Travel]

OIC. I didn't know that could happen. Must be some serious wind. My roller (as i imagine everyone else's) just has spring tension to wind it up. There is a little lever I actuate with the awning rod to allow it to come out. Am I just lucky that mine hasn't "taken its leave of me", yet?


Mylo

Yep, you have been lucky. As mentioned, the arms are fine the roller brake doesn't always stay locked. I had secondary positive locks on my arms and felt very confident. Then I heard the pop...  Most of the awnings have the lock at the front end and nothing at the rear which is where mine had unfurled from (at first). The lock, I linked earlier, and installed fixed that glitch. Not having the $40 lock cost me $500 to replace the fabric. That was the do it yourself price.

 

[joester]

our awning got trashed in a dust storm while parked about 4 years ago. we actually were trying to save our Ez-up in the wind, when a strong gust came and ripped our rv awning and bent the heck out of the frame. 3 other rv's adjacent to ours went simultaneoulsly, one after another. we got a good deal and replaced both the 16' patio awning and the window awning at the same time.
on the upside, I can now take my awning down, set it up, and put it back up on the rv buttoned down and ready go - all by myself, which is nice.

 

[Maddie]

Forgive my ignorance, but how did you lose your awning? It wasn't open was it, because I thought they would retract if you turned on the engine. Maybe I'm naive.

 

[jagnweiner]

Maddie-

"Just Lou" explains it perfectly in reply #18.  The awning was retracted, but the wind catches under the fabric and the fabric unfurls. Because I was going 65 mph it became like a giant sail and ripped the whole assembly off the side of the RV.

And my awning is completely manual, so it doesn't do anything when the engine is turned on. But that didn't have anything to do with the problem, because the awning was in the stored position.

 

[Jim Dick]

Scott,

Do you use your patio awning often?? If not, you could just remove it completely. In the 13 years we have owned our coach, the awning has only been out less than a dozen times. I have often thought about removing it and not have to worry about an incident such as yours. Our window awnings are all we need to keep the sun/heat out and they provide protection in a rain storm so we don't have to close all the windows.

However, if you do use it often, then a replacement is in order.

 

[jagnweiner]

Jim-

I have thought about that.  Can't say yet if we will use the patio awning often.  We bought the coach in July while I was deployed overseas and have only used it once, the weekend I got back in October, before putting it away for the winter.  I did not use it during that trip because (1) it was cool so there was no need and (2) (ironically) I couldn't figure out how to get it open.  I messed around with it a little bit and may have actually unlatched it, causing the inadvertent release.

I may hold off a while before making that decision.  I also have a nice portable 4-legged shelter that I could use.  My only reservation is that we have our first big trip planned to the Utah parks for June, when it will likely be quite warm.  The windows under the patio awning do not have separate window awnings.  All the other windows do.

 

[Jim Godward]

  The windows under the patio awning do not have separate window awnings.  All the other windows do.

I still have my patio awning but I put a window awning under if because of not using the patio awning unless we were there and using it.  I have never regretted doing this and it is an idea for you to try before replacing the patio awning.  Just a thought.

 

[Jim Dick]

Scott,

This coach came with window awnings on all windows. My last coach I added them where they were missing. Very seldom do I need the big awning.

No need to make a quick decision but it's something to keep in mind. 

 

[ArdraF]

Maddie,

I don't believe I've ever seen an RV where the awning retracted when the engine was turned on.  If such a thing exists, I don't know about it.  One of the important reasons for a final walkaround before turning on the engine to leave is to make sure everything is stowed properly, such as awnings, slideouts, TV antennas, hoses, electrical cords, jacks/levelers, etc.

We too have awnings on every window.  We added them to previous coaches if they weren't already installed.  If you add them when the coach is new, they're all the same color!  :  We don't sit outside a lot so we don't use the patio awning much for shade while lounging, but I love having it in the summer in the desert southwest.  I put it out as soon as we get to our site so Jerry can have some shade while getting set up outside and also to help that side start to cool off a bit.  When we're lucky it helps shade the refrigerator from the the sun's angle.  Also, it's on the same side as our dining table so it helps keep the sun off the windows and we can have the shades open while eating.  Last but not least, at rallies it becomes a garage to help keep the tow car a little cooler.  ;D

ArdraF

 

[Maddie]

Gotcha, Scott, I just didn't know they could come off like that. That's why I like these forums!

Thank you for your service overseas, happy camping.