Electric Awning.....New user

gilldawg79 · 02-05-2012, 09:58 PM

Havent picked the trailer up yet, but it has an electric awning. Is there anything I need to know/do to it. I know there are mixed emotions on them, but it has one and I'll have a 2 year warranty on it, so I'll take my chances with it. It is an adjustable one, so that's good.

Thanks

clutch · 02-05-2012, 10:15 PM

I prefer a manual awning but our trailer came with the electric. It is handy and my wife can operate it with no problems. She really likes it.

dalenoel · 02-05-2012, 10:29 PM

I really like mine. It is not adjustable but I still tie it down. The only problem is the wind will flip it back up very easily so we put it in if wind is going to be a problem.

krsmitty · 02-06-2012, 06:46 AM

Do not like mine. It is not the adjustable type, to high in the air, hard to clean.

wiscampsin · 02-06-2012, 08:16 AM

Touch of a button convenience - yes. Harder to clean - yes. Like everything there are +'s and -'s. You really gotta watch the wind. Whenever we leave for more than a couple hours we roll ours in. Saw one once that a gust of wind got, not a pretty sight. Aluminum roll tube bent all to heck, fabric was flipped over on the roof, and one of the arms punched a hole in the fiberglass side. The guy took alot of pics for his insurance co. and hauled it all to the dumpster. If I had a choice when we bought our TT I would've gone with the regular awning. Ours is a steep pitch, not flat, so water runoff isn't a problem.

Seann45 · 02-06-2012, 11:08 AM

Lots of nice things about the electric awning... HOWEVER they break to easy.... mine shattered a gear inside.... we had to remove all of the awning material... velcro the arms up... and take it in for repairs... I had talked to Carefree of Colorado several times while getting it ready for transport... they said it was under warranty... HOWEVER when it got to the dealers Carefree claimed they knew nothing about it and did not warranty it.... Jayco did under customer satisfaction... next time it fails I will go with a DOMETIC manual awning.

Moving Target · 02-13-2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilldawg79

Havent picked the trailer up yet, but it has an electric awning. Is there anything I need to know/do to it. I know there are mixed emotions on them, but it has one and I'll have a 2 year warranty on it, so I'll take my chances with it. It is an adjustable one, so that's good.

Thanks

If you are gone from the TT for any length of time, roll it in. I gust of wind can definitely torque your awning.

I have the elec awning and while I like the idea of pushing a button to open and close it, I wish I had the manual one.

Kathie

Quahog · 02-13-2012, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moving Target

If you are gone from the TT for any length of time, roll it in. I gust of wind can definitely torque your awning.

I have the elec awning and while I like the idea of pushing a button to open and close it, I wish I had the manual one.

Kathie

Can you tilt an electric awning to allow rain to run off?

rbrumfield · 02-13-2012, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahog

Can you tilt an electric awning to allow rain to run off?

If they are adjustable like the one on my previous TT you could slope it by 3 notches. If it is not adjustable like the one on the current fiver you cannot slope it.

Quahog · 02-13-2012, 03:45 PM

Thanks rbrumfield... another thing I always wondered about was whether or not you could change the slope on them. Went to the RV Show in Houston this week and practically every Jayco I saw had electric awnings!

**norty1** · 02-13-2012, 04:52 PM

You can't change the slope on mine, it will tilt automatically if water pools in it. We have the same emotions about it as others. Like the convenience, but never leave it extended when away and bring it in all but 3 ft if the wind is blowing during rain.

It is a fragile little bugger and I have had several panics when a gust would come up. Easy to get in though. We have stopped hanging stuff on the awning and my head thanks me all the time, No more cracked noggin on the rails.

rbrumfield · 02-13-2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

You can't change the slope on mine, it will tilt automatically if water pools in it. We have the same emotions about it as others. Like the convenience, but never leave it extended when away and bring it in all but 3 ft if the wind is blowing during rain.

It is a fragile little bugger and I have had several panics when a gust would come up. Easy to get in though. We have stopped hanging stuff on the awning and my head thanks me all the time, No more cracked noggin on the rails.

Both of my electrics have had the auto-dump feature but only one had the ability to tilt the angle of the awning. The auto-dump feature was inoperative on the TT awning when I had it sloped by the adjustable arms according to the manual that came with that particular awning.

Westerncanuck · 02-28-2012, 11:07 PM

I have the electric one and it has the auto dump rain feature that allows the awning to tilt down to drain. I can also adjust the angle if needed. Our dealer also recommended to retract it slightly to take out the slack

RaveOn · 02-29-2012, 08:39 AM

In terms of the wind it really doesn't matter if it is manual or electric as you should't leave it to flap in the breeze as damage will occur no matter which type. My last manual awning flipped over as the wind picked up while out fishing so I don't beleive a true statement can be made that only electric awnings are affected by wind. Like anything else, if a bit of care is taken the electric should serve you well.

Just my $0.02

RaveOn!

**norty1** · 02-29-2012, 10:46 AM

Having never had a electric awning we had mixed emotions about it. My wife loved it right off because it was something she could do easily. I was worried that it would be toast first time we had a blow.

After being on the road for a few weeks in all kinds of weather, We both like it more and more. At night, I bring it in enough that the dew does not get on the steps. It is so easy to open and close that I prefer it now and was mixed before.

No more lights and junk hanging off the awning.

Seann45 · 02-29-2012, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahog

Can you tilt an electric awning to allow rain to run off?

You dont need to they auto dump

dg1971 · 02-29-2012, 12:13 PM

First outing in my 5er in 2008, we had light rain...after a while the awning went into dump mode and I first thought it had ripped. Talk about a surprise. Used the rest of the wet day reading up on all my owners manuals looking for other unknown surprises that may await us.

SDV1975 · 02-29-2012, 02:21 PM

My 2 cents: Only have owned 1 camper, has an electric awning, with the auto-dump. Could not adjust the angle. The way it's constructed, I banged my head on the arms plenty. So I started hanging something as a reminder when I was walking by. When I tried to roll up the awning in a hurry, and forgot what was hanging, I nearly broke the gears (fortunately realized what was happening).

My local Jayco dealer has informed me that for new models, Jayco is going away from the non-adjustable electric units and going with an adjustable electric version. So I'm hoping my new 314 BDS relieves me of cracking my head

mjwills · 03-08-2012, 07:44 PM

SDV1975 -I just picked up my 314BDS. I have not used it yet, but I think the awning is the adjustable electric version. The electric part puts it in and out and there are height adjustment selections on each side pole.

cheetahflip · 03-08-2012, 10:38 PM

Has anyone ever actually had to use a drill battery etc on the emergency contacts to retract the awning?

You may also like: