Been camping for many years and we're on our 3rd camper. My prior two campers had awnings that slide and lock in place. Our current Sunset Trail has a power 15' awning that self-lowers to let water off of it. There is no way to lock it in place that I can see.
For the 1st time we've signed a seasonal agreement and I'd like to be able to secure the awning so that it doesn't go up and down all the time. Certainly will pull the awning in during windy storms. Does anyone have experience with this? Any poles or ideas to lock this type of awning so that it doesn't bend in the middle to self-lower?
I have had the mechanism fail TWICE at the point where the gas strut joins the flimsy alloy 'U' channel.
Both times Campingworld fixed it under warranty, but my opinion is this is a design flaw when used on the larger canopies like mine.
I have absolutely no confidence in it anymore and suspect it is only a matter of time before it fails again.
Last time, when it failed, the asymmetric load partially tore out the main 'U' channel that is screwed to the side of the coach.
In the authors lower photo you can actually see the channel bending where the upper end of the gas strut connects with a rivet through a hole whose diameter is more or less one third of the width of the channel....yerrrrk.
I have photos of the damage if you want to see them PM me.
I have had the mechanism fail TWICE at the point where the gas strut joins the flimsy alloy 'U' channel.
Both times Campingworld fixed it under warranty, but my opinion is this is a design flaw when used on the larger canopies like mine.
I have absolutely no confidence in it anymore and suspect it is only a matter of time before it fails again.
Last time, when it failed, the asymmetric load partially tore out the main 'U' channel that is screwed to the side of the coach.
In the authors lower photo you can actually see the channel bending where the upper end of the gas strut connects with a rivet through a hole whose diameter is more or less one third of the width of the channel....yerrrrk.
I have photos of the damage if you want to see them PM me.
I am looking at my photos and my camper. I do not see anything bending or distorting in any way.
thanks for the advice on the tie downs. I have spare 1 inch ratcheting tie downs and one spiral spike. When I get to my winter home, I'll get two Camco 42532 7" Awning Springs from Amazon.com, $2.69 each (https://www.amazon.com/Camco-42532-7...1606800&sr=8-1) and a another spiral spike and I'll be set to go!
And here is the awning I had installed to replace the original. There is a friction lock on the bottom arm that locks it into place. It will still allow movement under enough pressure. Spreads the load over a larger area, rather than all on the shock.
My bad, but on my laptop, in your lower photos, the 'U' channel where the gas lift pivots looks to be under high stress, and indeed I see a bow in it, but if you say it's straight then I apologize.
Mine looked identical to that immediately before it failed without warning, TWICE, TWO TIMES....... No wind, no rain, no debris, just bang crash wallop.
Attached below are three photos of the failure point.