Power awning horror story

[Burgy]

During our PDI the tech made it clear and plain that the power awning though cool, is a back step from the old spring loaded roll up.

Rain? Take it in.
Wind? Take it in?
Gonna be gone for a few hours? Take it in.
Wanna tile it so one side is a little lower? No.

So whats everyone's experience with these? Am I going to regret not getting a standard awning?

[TNTINC]

Do what you are told ! Do not take chances ! Also get anti-flap devices to keep it in check in case you do not do as you are instructed ! Just saying.

[Burgy]

Deflappers? What does it hook to, there's no bar running along the side.

[mark5w]

Rain- no problem unless it's accompanied by gusty wind
Heavy wind- roll it in
Gone for a few hours- depends on weather forecast
Tilt one side down- yes, you can do that depending on your awning model (and roll it up that way also)
Anti flap device- can't reach awning to install without ladder, plus if a storm comes up quickly, must remove quickly before you roll up awning.

[anaro]

Over on another forum I frequent, a member devised a way to keep the awning out. He created a bracket you screw on to the awning arm. Both a pole and a ratchet strap pole attach to the bracket. The idea is to have the pole prevent the wind from pushing the awning down and the straps keep the awning from flying up. Members there have had great success doing this and keeping their awnings out in somewhat windy weather (some have had it out up to 40 mph winds with success, I'm not that brave). We just did the install last week during the forest river factory rally. Our warranty manager said it would not void our warranty and the inventor really should patent the design.




In the travel position
IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/2dr8fnk.jpg[/IMG]


Another way of doing it.

This one used a bimeny (?) Tie down used on boat awnings and the cargo bars used in the bed of a truck to keep things from sliding. For awning tie down he used the kind that hooks to the awning track.

[ewbldavis]

Looks like alot to add to an already expensive awning...

One option if you order your unit is awning delete, then install old-school manual type. I think for the most part, you will be happy with power awning. My friends have one and generally, never any issues.

[allenr]

I like our power awning. I would never go back to the spring type. I always lower the awning so water runs off, and I don't leave the camper for any length of time without rolling it in. So, no problems. By the way, I learned this the hard way.

[Darrell]

Things to consider:
1) If you are gone - do you need the awning out?
2) If it raining too heavy for the awning - are you outside?
3) Overnight - if you are in bed do you need your awning out?
4) A lot of wind - even manual awnings are generally in.
I have a power awning now, I like it. I have never had any issues. I use a simple rule of thumb: If I need to be under it - it is out. Otherwise - retract it......

[anaro]

Originally Posted by ewbldavis

Looks like alot to add to an already expensive awning...

One option if you order your unit is awning delete, then install old-school manual type. I think for the most part, you will be happy with power awning. My friends have one and generally, never any issues.

It's actually quite simple. It is a 15 minute install process and only takes a couple of minutes to setup and take down.

[Dayle1]

Rain, both Dometic and Carefree have power awnings that can be tilted, I've used both. Dometic also has an auto dump feature, but I don't like the massive dump of water, preferring the steady run-off by tilting the awning.

Wind, high winds both manual and power awnings should be retracted. Yes both can be tied down, but fabric gets weaker with age and will tear. Moderate winds, a power awning is ez to retract to partially open to minimize impact.

Ease and speed of operation, the power awning wins hands down. No reason not to close the awning at night or when leaving the RV for even a short time.

Safety, I've never heard of a power awning un-rolling while driving.

Reliability, the one real negative. I've had a motor fail with the awning closed and it took some effort to replace. But a failure with the awning open requires immediate attention and resources to close the awning for travel.

[Tim D]

Originally Posted by Darrell

Things to consider:
1) If you are gone - do you need the awning out?
2) If it raining too heavy for the awning - are you outside?
3) Overnight - if you are in bed do you need your awning out?
4) A lot of wind - even manual awnings are generally in.
I have a power awning now, I like it. I have never had any issues. I use a simple rule of thumb: If I need to be under it - it is out. Otherwise - retract it......

X2... I agree. Takes no time and much less hassle to roll it in and out. I tilt mine but if it is raining hard enough "I" don't want to be outside I can roll it up from the door. I love it.

[Robb]

I wasn't too sure about our power awning when we bought our Sunset Trail Reserve, but after several months of use and sitting in it under some torrential downpours last week, I think I'll keep it! Really, the only thing that bothers me is how it "chatters" when pulling it back in. By the way, the auto dump feature works very well, but with the rain we experienced last week, it was just one big continuous dump. Kind of looked like a huge open-ended gutter.

[zrxkuma]

If you use the same spray lube for the slid outs on the awning tracks, it resolves the jerky movement

[gsbuick65]

Originally Posted by mark5w

Rain- no problem unless it's accompanied by gusty wind
Heavy wind- roll it in
Gone for a few hours- depends on weather forecast
Tilt one side down- yes, you can do that depending on your awning model (and roll it up that way also)
Anti flap device- can't reach awning to install without ladder, plus if a storm comes up quickly, must remove quickly before you roll up awning.

That reminds me I left mine out while we went out on the lake, storm came in, when I got back my awning was hanging [emoji20]

Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk

[Robert Kinson]

We always take ours in during wind and rain to be safe. I am nervous about the eccentric motion of the motor when bringing it in. I dont know how long the shaft or bearings will last, but we're in our 3rd season. So far so good. Only problems we've had is a lot of the LED's in the strip in the tube failed pretty quickly, and when we got home from Florida this spring, I put the awning out and the tube fell to the ground. Both screws had fallen out of one end on the trip. Glad it didn't fall during the trip. I recommend adding lock washers and thread locking type Loctite on the screws, because there isn't any.

[Crobyn]

When we got our trailer new back in 2013, the awning had a terrible wobble when rolling out and back in. After several trips to Lazy Days, a technician finally figured out that it needed to have 3 screws on each end going into the tube. It only had 2 from the factory, so it was like a 2 legged stool, it really couldn't stand up! With the 3 screws, the wobble is gone.

Also - if you adjust the settings to have one side a little higher than the other, the rain runs off without causing an issue. For high winds, you need to put it away to be on the safe side.

[Burgy]

At some point we'll get rain when I can stand under it and see how it does. So far we've only gotten rain at night, and I'd put it away before bed.

[johnwill]

Used ours in the rain works great but we pull it in when the wind comes. I was camping in Pine Creek at the Petticoat Junction camp ground in PA and it was a nice night. the guy next to us opened his up and they went to supper. with in a half hour a wicked fast mover came in pulled our tents up and canopies we had to hold them down. We watched that guys awning flip up and over his camper. Lets just say he wasn't a happy camper when he got back. From that point I make sure mine is in.

[Bert]

The only issue I had was the wires to the motor got pinched and shorted out. Other than that it works great. I agree with everyone if I'm not under it its in. I've seen too many awnings fly off in a mid afternoon Florida thunderstorm. I personally love it. You can't be the convenience of bringing it in and out with the touch of a button.

[Tim D]

Originally Posted by Bert

I agree with everyone if I'm not under it its in. I've seen too many awnings fly off in a mid afternoon Florida thunderstorm. I personally love it. You can't be the convenience of bringing it in and out with the touch of a button.

Me too! My Dad parked his in our yard once and left the awning out while we went to a restaurant to eat. Thunderstorm rolled in while we were there. Awning and tube was toast when we got home. Seen several others over the years that failed. Mine will come in when gone. It is only a push of a button.