Awning stability

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Kevin Means

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Joined
Aug 3, 2010
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5,164
Location
Hereford, Arizona
I have a manually operated A & E awning with an aluminum cover, which does a good job of protecting the awning from the elements. However, the aluminum cover also seems to be a great place for strong wind gusts to get underneath and try to unfurl the awning while driving down the road. I'm aware of awning locks (which I don't have), but my question is about other awning types, not mine.

We're going to be selling our coach soon and getting another that will have electric awnings. My questions are... while driving down the road, are the electric awnings found on newer motorhomes as susceptible to unfurling in gusty conditions as my type of awning is? Do those of you who have newer coaches with electric awnings still use awning locks?

Kev
 
Kevin, I don't know about very new awnings, but we have a Girard patio awning that is electric.  We've never had an issue with it billowing while driving - at least that we've been able to see.  It does have a cover on it.

We do have a small non-electric door awning that has two little arms that attach to the motorhome when opened.  Those two arms are held in place with velcro which has become less strong over the years.  They were vibrating against the paint so much that I now use velcro closures that wrap around the arms and keep them in place.  It stopped the vibration.

Last summer we had our first time when an awning wanted to open while driving.  We were traveling east in NM during a very strong wind and I could see the one window awning billowing out and trying to open even though we had slowed to about 35 mph.  I really don't know what we could have done to prevent it because it was the way the wind was blowing that particular day.  And that particular awning has no way to lock it or keep it closed with velcro.

We know of at least one instance where someone in a caravan had an awning billow out and it did some damage.  I don't think it was electric.  Usually when something happens to an electric awning it occurs when it's extended.  They're controlled by wind vanes on the roof called anenometers which are adjustable.  If not properly adjusted they might bring in the awnings with the slightest breeze or, the opposite, not bring it in when it should.  If there's a very sudden gust, that's usually when damage occurs because the anenometer doesn't have a chance to react and retract the awning.  We have one friend who had a brand new Marathon coach that had the sudden gust problem and it did a lot of paint damage.

We love the ease of the electric awning, but we never leave it out when we leave the motorhome.  Also, there are several different manufacturers of electric awnings so it depends on which one made it as to whether you can lock it in place.

ArdraF
 
Kevin our Dometic  A&E Weather Pro does not unfurl. The motor is in the forward section of the tube and provides a positive lock
 
I don't know if it will or not.  This motorhome has a 20 year old A&E, I think the original and the repair person that put in a new spring thought so too.  It has the aluminum cover and so far on 4 1000 miles trips nothing has happened.  I'm not saying it won't, but even with the old spring it didn't.  I'm crossing my fingers because I could sure see it causing damage.  Just to be safer, I tied a bungee cord around each upward strut.  Thinking about putting those electrical ties on it, too, we did on the other one, not very neat looking but I would rather be safe then sorry.
 
PatrioticStabilist said:
Just to be safer, I tied a bungee cord around each upward strut.  Thinking about putting those electrical ties on it, too,

Carolyn,

The strut is not the problem, it is the roller that you have to secure.  The rachet assembly in the roller can get worn and with the right wind conditions allow the tube to turn, unfurling the awning material.  Been there, done that ... twice before we figured it out and got it fixed.

Howard and Kelly
 
Yeah Howard's right. Until a few months ago I also thought that if I secured the uprights, the awning wouldn't unfurl. I almost found out the hard way that that's not correct. I now understand that the wind can get under the awning and overpower the mechanism that is supposed to keep it rolled up, even if the uprights are held firmly in place. Of course, then you basically have a parachute on the side of your RV that tears the entire awning off the RV. I was just wondering if the newer, electrically powered awnings were as susceptible to this problem. It sounds like, maybe not. Thanks.

Kev
 
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