|
09-05-2017, 03:41 PM
|
#1
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Rossville
Posts: 24
Georgia
|
Awning Crashed
So the other morning I went out to go to work and I noticed that I had left the awning out the previous night. Well unfortunately we got a fair amount of wind and rain throughout the night. It was on the ground, I had extended it out the day before because we had some rains come through a few days earlier and i wanted it to dry out a bit.
Fortunately I called insurance and I will be getting a new awning installed on my camper on the 18th of September, I only have to pay the deductible!
I am looking forward to seeing the new awning on the camper.
__________________
__________________
2007 28' Dutchman Travel Trailer 28GSL Sold
|
|
|
09-05-2017, 05:22 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 606
Montana
|
I left our awning out and unattended one time. Of course wind came up and wrecked one of the arms. $400+ mistake, now I'm paranoid about leaving the awning out in the slightest wind.
__________________
__________________
2012 Aspen Trail 2710BH | 470 watts of solar on the roof | 2x6V GC batteries | 1500 watt PSW inverter | Micro Air on A/C | so far strictly boondocking
|
|
|
09-05-2017, 06:28 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 573
California
|
Also happened to us, lucky we could reattach it. Now no more up when we are not there.
__________________
Mike & Emily-Sacramento, CA
Our 4th trailer (2016 Aspen Trail 1900RB)
2018 F150 STX 2.7 Eco Boost
|
|
|
09-06-2017, 12:42 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,073
Florida
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by happy_camper
So the other morning I went out to go to work and I noticed that I had left the awning out the previous night. Well unfortunately we got a fair amount of wind and rain throughout the night. It was on the ground, I had extended it out the day before because we had some rains come through a few days earlier and i wanted it to dry out a bit.
Fortunately I called insurance and I will be getting a new awning installed on my camper on the 18th of September, I only have to pay the deductible!
I am looking forward to seeing the new awning on the camper.
|
Did you have your awning attached with hold downs?
|
|
|
09-06-2017, 02:15 PM
|
#5
|
Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Triad
Posts: 20
North Carolina
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl
Did you have your awning attached with hold downs?
|
Like Old Coot specials? They work great. Must not have, there would have been no damage.
|
|
|
09-06-2017, 07:43 PM
|
#6
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Rossville
Posts: 24
Georgia
|
Nope no hold downs attached it was just setup off the camper. I am not sure if that would have helped or not by the way that the main beam buckled.
__________________
2007 28' Dutchman Travel Trailer 28GSL Sold
|
|
|
09-06-2017, 08:45 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,073
Florida
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by happy_camper
Nope no hold downs attached it was just setup off the camper. I am not sure if that would have helped or not by the way that the main beam buckled.
|
We camp in the mountains mostly and the wind whips (REALLY WHIPS). I left the awning out one night and could hear it flapping. Always wondered if tying it down worked.
|
|
|
09-07-2017, 10:15 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Roselle
Posts: 1,292
Illinois
|
I always tie down, but still get nervous when wind gets over 15 mph or so. Lost one awning which was bad enough, but the bent arm scratched the full paint body. That was expensive and cost more! Lost the rear deck awning in a quick micoburst. Nothing would have helped that one, but I strap that down now also.
Rusty
__________________
2015 Black F-350 Platinum Diesel Dually Crew Cab
2019 Riverstone Legacy 38MB (Full Paint/All Options)
2015 Voltage 3990 (Full Paint, All Options) Sold 6/18
2005 Harley Ultra Classic w/too many miles
|
|
|
09-07-2017, 10:59 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl
We camp in the mountains mostly and the wind whips (REALLY WHIPS). I left the awning out one night and could hear it flapping. Always wondered if tying it down worked.
|
It will until a wind gust just tears the awning away from the camper, it will may save your arms though. I just roll mine in when it gets bad, it seems to be a solid plan so far.
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
|
|
|
09-08-2017, 09:28 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,073
Florida
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildwest450
It will until a wind gust just tears the awning away from the camper, it will may save your arms though. I just roll mine in when it gets bad, it seems to be a solid plan so far.
|
yeah, i usually roll mine up since the "flapping" but wondered if I tied it down that would work. have to rely on the experience of many.
|
|
|
09-08-2017, 01:27 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildwest450
it will may save your arms though.
|
What is wrong with you?
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
|
|
|
09-08-2017, 01:32 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl
yeah, i usually roll mine up since the "flapping" but wondered if I tied it down that would work. have to rely on the experience of many.
|
It will definitely help "flapping" in a moderate wind, but those electric awnings are designed to flex some through the arms. When you tie them down you transfer all the stress directly to the awning material, which will eventually tear.
I would say if you leave your camper a lot or aren't prone to being a worry wart, tie them down. $250 for just the awning material is a lot cheaper than new arms and a scratched up camper.
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
|
|
|
09-08-2017, 03:26 PM
|
#13
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Rossville
Posts: 24
Georgia
|
lots of good information here that I didn't know before. I used to just make sure to roll it up, until I forgot. So with the style of awning I have where you can take the support legs off the camper and stake them in, is that how you would tie it down or just leave those attached and then use ratchet straps to tie down to anchors or both?
__________________
2007 28' Dutchman Travel Trailer 28GSL Sold
|
|
|
09-08-2017, 05:24 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by happy_camper
lots of good information here that I didn't know before. I used to just make sure to roll it up, until I forgot. So with the style of awning I have where you can take the support legs off the camper and stake them in, is that how you would tie it down or just leave those attached and then use ratchet straps to tie down to anchors or both?
|
That's how I setup my old manual awning, stake down the legs and I used 2 de-flappers on it. That thing could take a lot of wind.
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
|
|
|
09-09-2017, 10:34 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Roselle
Posts: 1,292
Illinois
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by happy_camper
lots of good information here that I didn't know before. I used to just make sure to roll it up, until I forgot. So with the style of awning I have where you can take the support legs off the camper and stake them in, is that how you would tie it down or just leave those attached and then use ratchet straps to tie down to anchors or both?
|
For years, I would set my mother's awning up (style like yours) and leave it up all season, and she never lost it. I used the de-flappers and also ran a strap with two springs (one on either end) over the length of the awning, attached to those twist in dog stakes. Then two more straps at either end of the arms into the ground. I believe the springs are essential to keep a little flexibility.
Rusty
__________________
2015 Black F-350 Platinum Diesel Dually Crew Cab
2019 Riverstone Legacy 38MB (Full Paint/All Options)
2015 Voltage 3990 (Full Paint, All Options) Sold 6/18
2005 Harley Ultra Classic w/too many miles
|
|
|
09-09-2017, 12:05 PM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,073
Florida
|
those deflappers are pretty cool.
__________________
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|