Awnings

[lcv800]

After spending over two weeks on the road, I've discovered that unless I'm doing something wrong, the awnings on my Voltage 3990 seem to be worthless. Being so high up, and no apparent way to lower them, they don't block any of the sun. I know you can buy the sunshades that slide onto the roll, but they have to taken off every time you roll up the awning, which is no easy feat since they are 10' off the ground. Plus, being so tall, they are sensitive to the wind and anything over 10-12 mph, I have to roll them in. Am I missing an adjustment, or can I buy a modification that will allow me to tilt them down or is it something I have to live with? Thanks,
Rusty

[Moto4play]

I feel the same way and have been looking for something that will drop down 2'-3' to block some of the sun. I just came across this and it is made by the same company that makes our Awnings. I like the fact the top 2' stays on the awning even when retracted. you can zip the rest of it on when needed. seems easy enough!

EZ ZipBlocker - Carefree of Colorado

[Moto4play]

Little less expensive on Amazon-

http://www.amazon.com/Carefree-70190...dp/B00MI3OEFY?

[Pirate]

If you look at the awning hardware, the bottom piece that follows the track...and look along that piece you will see a silver button and on the outer piece a row of holes.

On a ladder you can press the silver button and move up to the last hole.

That dropped the outer end of the awning about 2 feet...helped put the windows in the shade.

Pirate

[Thom]

Originally Posted by Pirate

If you look at the awning hardware, the bottom piece that follows the track...and look along that piece you will see a silver button and on the outer piece a row of holes.

On a ladder you can press the silver button and move up to the last hole.

That dropped the outer end of the awning about 2 feet...helped put the windows in the shade.

Pirate

I agree with Rusty, the main awning bearly comes out far enough to cover the galley slide on my 3950, let alone provide usable shade for any patio chair sitting. Don' t ask me how I feel about the "half awning" over the rear deck.
Pirate, thanks for the tip, but do you have to set it back to factory settings before retracting in that position or will it roll up flush with wall like that? I knew you could adjust them for auto rain dump but havent tried to retract it like that.

[sundancer 87]

The only problem with Pirate's suggestion is, if you adjust the arm heights you override the automatic dump action of the awning. If it rains the awning will fill with water and then you'll have a problem.
I'm not sure if the adjustment alters the way the awnings release with wind gusts but I do know about water dumping. That's an 500 dollar plus repair for just one arm. Then there's the problem of getting the awning retracted, secured and transported to the local RV infirmary.

[sundancer 87]

If you adjust the arm you lose the ability to automatically dump rain water. It's a 500 dollar plus repair for one arm if it gets torn loose from the wall due to water weight. Then there's the problem of retracting the awning for transport to the local infirmary. That's for minimal damages to the arm. The wall will get gouged from the broken arm and the other arm may be damaged as well.

[ATCguy]

See page 4 of the document below for how to adjust the awning.

If adjust to at least the 3rd position on both side, rainwater will run off of the awning, and not pool in the center... so auto-dumping isn't an issue.

http://www.e-carefree.com/documentat...s%20Manual.pdf

[Pirate]

Funny, when I adjusted the awning arm to the last point, it tips the awning down and...having been in so pouring rains a couple of weeks ago in Montana...the water runs off the front of the awning and doesn't seem to puddle as bad as with the front of the awning all the way up.

I dunno, works for me!

Pirate

[Moogal78]

I can tell you from experience that if the awning is set with one end lower than the other, and the rain is falling faster than it can drain naturally, the auto-dump feature will still work, and do so without causing any damage. I've had mine set with the rear arms 3 holes lower than the front for about a year. The literature stated that with no more than three hole difference the awning can be retracted. I've probably retracted each awning over 100 times, and had some SERIOUS rain down here that has activated the auto dump. The only thing I've noticed is the last wrap of material wrinkles as it's rolled up (since the arms aren't the same exact distance). Hope this helps someone.

[azdryheat]

I just spent most of July in the rain. With the buttons in the lowest holes your awning will be in the highest position, top holes gets you the lowest awning position. As an example: I move the forward slider so the button is in the 3rd hole from the top and the rear slider button is in the top hole. That way my awing is at the lowest point with an incline to dump rain. Also works to thwart the wind depending on its direction. And as long as you're no more than a couple of holes apart you can role the thing up with no problem. You just gotta get out there and play with the thing.

[sundancer 87]

Ok OK, mine may have been defective. All I know is it rained and didn't dump, tore loose from the wall and nearly fell to the ground.


I spent more than two hours retracting it, little by little and finally getting it rolled up and secured to the hauler with rope thrown over the roof and tied off to the front landing gear.
Sweat job going to Tulsa to have it repaired, I was very concerned I'd leave the whole thing on the roadway.
So I may be a little cautious regarding adjusting them. I like the sun anyway so some stray sunshine is welcome on my body.

[ATCguy]

While we're on the subject of awnings... and since the original question seems to have been answered... I've got another one:

Has anyone ever had one of these awnings installed on the 'street-side' (that is, the driver's side) of their rig?

On my 3200, I've got a 17' main awning, and a smaller 7' awning on the 'curb side'... and they do an adequate job of keeping the sun off of the body of the RV.

On the other side of the RV are my 2 slide-outs: a main slide out for the living room, and a smaller one for the bedroom's wardrobe. I've had slide-toppers installed to help with the debris, but they don't do much for keeping the sun from warming up that side of the RV.

I'm out here on the AZ-NV-CA border, and it's been over 110 degrees everyday since I arrived. Last night at 10:15pm, it was still 104!!




The 3 AC units have been keeping up pretty well to keep things somewhat cool, but we all know the issues with the ducted main AC. The main room... the one with the largest AC... is the hottest in the RV. The Bedroom AC keeps it cool... the garage AC keeps it cool. But the main room is hot... and I become more & more convinced that an awning, which I could extend over the thin-walled slide out, would keep things cooler.

I've gotta do more research, but was just wondering if anyone else had already done this? No use in reinventing the wheel if so.

[wahoonc]

I have not seen it done on a regular RV, but I have seen many an Airstream with a half width awning on the "off side". It makes a noticeable difference on them. With the height of the Voltage I don't know how well it would work.

Aaron

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by ATCguy

While we're on the subject of awnings... and since the original question seems to have been answered... I've got another one:

Has anyone ever had one of these awnings installed on the 'street-side' (that is, the driver's side) of their rig?

On my 3200, I've got a 17' main awning, and a smaller 7' awning on the 'curb side'... and they do an adequate job of keeping the sun off of the body of the RV.

On the other side of the RV are my 2 slide-outs: a main slide out for the living room, and a smaller one for the bedroom's wardrobe. I've had slide-toppers installed to help with the debris, but they don't do much for keeping the sun from warming up that side of the RV.

I'm out here on the AZ-NV-CA border, and it's been over 110 degrees everyday since I arrived. Last night at 10:15pm, it was still 104!!




The 3 AC units have been keeping up pretty well to keep things somewhat cool, but we all know the issues with the ducted main AC. The main room... the one with the largest AC... is the hottest in the RV. The Bedroom AC keeps it cool... the garage AC keeps it cool. But the main room is hot... and I become more & more convinced that an awning, which I could extend over the thin-walled slide out, would keep things cooler.

I've gotta do more research, but was just wondering if anyone else had already done this? No use in reinventing the wheel if so.

Somewhat chilly day in Bullhead I'd say. I was in school up there one year with 118 degrees, couldn't get the car door open because of the heat so therefore couldn't go across the river to the casino for a per diem meal.
Hope you find something to shade the living room window box, it's and it's cold and it can't be because of poor insulation

[RVNevada]

Guys, you can adjust, but if your Rig is one that has a Slide on the right side like my 3895, the rear one you can adjust all the way down, the front one because of the Slide, you can only adjust a couple holes down, or it rubs to much on the Slide....I went the way of the sun screen and put 2 together, the one that is attached to the Awning, I have just rolled it up in the Awning, so far so good, the 2nd one is attached to the first one by snaps that I added (a lot of work)..You have to tie it down, because it moves with a little wind, but its nice when its in the 90's and your out sitting watching TV, The picture there, The Awning isn't all the way out, (Due to the roof of my Garage) After pulling the Awning out before tie, its about 6ft of sitting area away from the TV

[RVNevada]

I found one with it out

[sundancer 87]

I adjusted many years ago when the ambient temperature inside my house was 90 most of the year. I had one A/C in the bedroom but I didn't get that until many years later.
I can tolerate the heat but the cold will take awhile for me. I've only been out of the Sonoran Desert for about two years now.

[Pirate]

sundancer,

Well...I can take the cold pretty easily...just add another layer...and I don't need many from years of working at Power Plants...

But dang...that 117 yesterday in Yuma was jus too much!!! Finally got down to 97 degrees about 1 AM when the wind came up and blew like crazy...no rain...but lots of swirling pieces of leaves!!

Got up early an left for San Diego....they say its hot...but with the breeze off the ocean...feels pretty good!!!

Pirate

[arlan in arizona]

Originally Posted by ATCguy

While we're on the subject of awnings... and since the original question seems to have been answered... I've got another one:

Has anyone ever had one of these awnings installed on the 'street-side' (that is, the driver's side) of their rig?

On my 3200, I've got a 17' main awning, and a smaller 7' awning on the 'curb side'... and they do an adequate job of keeping the sun off of the body of the RV.

On the other side of the RV are my 2 slide-outs: a main slide out for the living room, and a smaller one for the bedroom's wardrobe. I've had slide-toppers installed to help with the debris, but they don't do much for keeping the sun from warming up that side of the RV.

I'm out here on the AZ-NV-CA border, and it's been over 110 degrees everyday since I arrived. Last night at 10:15pm, it was still 104!!




The 3 AC units have been keeping up pretty well to keep things somewhat cool, but we all know the issues with the ducted main AC. The main room... the one with the largest AC... is the hottest in the RV. The Bedroom AC keeps it cool... the garage AC keeps it cool. But the main room is hot... and I become more & more convinced that an awning, which I could extend over the thin-walled slide out, would keep things cooler.

I've gotta do more research, but was just wondering if anyone else had already done this? No use in reinventing the wheel if so.

You had to have seen my post on these.



They make a huge difference on the inside temperature. I imagine slide toppers would help a bit more but I can't afford anymore weight.

I the summer time I try to park with the front of the rig pointed north so I have sun on the living side only in the morning.

In the winter I try to park with the front pointed west so the living side is in the shade most of the day.


Tom, also your mention of main living area being the hottest. You are so correct But a few strategically located fans make a world of difference.

Arlan