Double trouble on a windy day drive

[uchu]

Well, today was the day to bring George back from storage to our house. It was really windy, with gusts of almost 60 km/h.

Unfortunately, while taking the cover out the locking pin from the awning got in the Down position, and of course, while driving it got loose and the awning came down fast and furious (thankfully in the middle of an empty rural road, with no vehicles or people on the area where the contraption hit the road). Had to figure out a way to remove the torn canvas and mangled metal frame, but I managed.

Because bad things always come in pairs, while I was trying to get the roller inside the rig, so to not leave the remnants of the awning on the side of the road, I accidentally put too much pressure on the open passenger's side sliding window, and the glass broke to pieces. Great!

So, this is my plan. To replace the almost impossible to get spare sliding window pane of glass, I am planning to remove the one from the driver's side, use it to make a template, and order a replacement at a local auto glass store (it's a single pane).

As for the awning...Any ideas? I guess I can order a generic replacement, but I have no idea if it will fit George. Maybe junkyards? I guess the odds of finding a fitting, functional one is low.

 

[Boat Bum]

Sorry brother, I feel your pain.

 

[RNS1]

You can get entire awning kits from amazon, e-trailer, dealers. Sure are others also with an internet search.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Awnings are sold by size (length) and type (manual, electric, etc). They are all "generic".

 

[8Muddypaws]

Aren't crosswinds fun?

Been there, done that. We lost an awning going through Suisun, Ca just north of the Benicia Bridge. Definitely not a rural road! Hundreds of pissed off California drivers whizzing by at 20 over the speed limit complicated our efforts to secure what was left of our awning.

Replacing the awning was probably the least painful part of the experience.

You'd think that would have taught me a lesson about driving in high wind. But Nooooooo! Driving west along the Columbia River Gorge against gusts of up to 70 MPH we were barely able to hit 40 in our little class C.

In those years I was a windsurfing addict and sought out windy places. I am now recovered, mostly due to age.

 

[John From Detroit]

Aren't crosswinds fun?

Been there, done that. We lost an awning going through Suisun, Ca just north of the Benicia Bridge. Definitely not a rural road! Hundreds of pissed off California drivers whizzing by at 20 over the speed limit complicated our efforts to secure what was left of our awning.

Replacing the awning was probably the least painful part of the experience.

You'd think that would have taught me a lesson about driving in high wind. But Nooooooo! Driving west along the Columbia River Gorge against gusts of up to 70 MPH we were barely able to hit 40 in our little class C.

In those years I was a windsurfing addict and sought out windy places. I am now recovered, mostly due to age.

I got lucky when that happened to me a few yards from a "Scenic Lookout Parking area" Pulled off out of traffic.