Awning Crashed

[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.

[ewarnerusa]

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.

[chily3]

Also happened to us, lucky we could reattach it. Now no more up when we are not there.

[franktafl]

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?

[Evereddie]

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.

[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.

[franktafl]

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.

[lcv800]

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

[wildwest450]

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.

[franktafl]

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.

[wildwest450]

Originally Posted by wildwest450

it will may save your arms though.

What is wrong with you?

[wildwest450]

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.

[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?

[wildwest450]

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.

[lcv800]

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

[franktafl]

those deflappers are pretty cool.