Ok. I’ve “met” my power awning enough times

[OttawaBob]

Hi

Just bought a Jayco x23f. Love it so far...except...

I have bumped my head in the lower strut of the power awning more than once. I feel that the strut is too low and in a bad place. Is there any way to raise this head hitting hazard before I sport another bump on my noggin? Here is my unit with the awning fully deployed showing the rascal.

[Marcm157]

Seems like a pretty silly design flaw. I don't see any immediate fix based on the picture...

[Kim Gass]

Me either. And have had a few encounters. I think I will find the orange electrical tape
It's a horrid design.

[Macaw]

I have seen people use those Styrofoam pool noodles and put it around the lower supports.

[Subaru297]

Wrap a pool noodle around it or hang some ribbon from it. I don't see any way to fix it other than a whole new awning.

[jloco]

I use pool noodles on the corners of my slide outs. They are another 'danger zone' if you accidentally catch a sharp corner.

[Jagiven]

I made a couple small "S" hooks from a coat hanger, then I hang a small windsock or wind chime from the low spot. I see those items and walk around. With this setup I can roll up the awning with still hanging.

[jmactootall]

we use 2 metal drink holders that stick about 4 inches in the ground. Tie a piece of parachute cord between them and hang a towel. Blocks me and other people from hitting head. On concrete the folding table is put there.

[NewBlackDak]

We put a split orange pool noodle on ours. Everyone sees it now, and it's doesn't hurt much even if you do.


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[bankr63]

I don't think I would say it is a design flaw; more like a limitation. I've yet to see a power awning that doesn't have some kind of scissor extension arms, and I find the CofC awning to be pretty sturdy and well designed. These CofC awnings only present a problem on the Jay Feather line because of the low-slung Torflex suspension; on most of the other trailer lines they are much higher in the air and out of the way because of the taller suspension and frame.

For my noggin saver, I actually use 3 short sections of interlocking pool noodles bungeed to the arms. This provides a nice cushy bounce if you accidentally hit the arm. I also try to position a camp table to reduce foot traffic under the arms.

At 6'3" tall I have as big a problem getting out of the short little TT door without hitting my head as I do with these arms.

[dewey02]

I've never really understood the attraction of power awnings in the first place.
Is it really so difficult to pull down and put up an awning by yourself? It takes all of about 1 minute. It is just another thing to go wrong...which judging by the posts in this forum, lots of things do go wrong. I see far fewer posts about people having problems with their manual awnings, or complaining about them.

[ifallsguy]

Remember to remove those solar eclipse glasses before exiting your camper.


Have you contacted the awning maker to see if they have a suggestion?

[bankr63]

Originally Posted by dewey02

I've never really understood the attraction of power awnings in the first place.
Is it really so difficult to pull down and put up an awning by yourself? It takes all of about 1 minute. It is just another thing to go wrong...which judging by the posts in this forum, lots of things do go wrong. I see far fewer posts about people having problems with their manual awnings, or complaining about them.

Don't most manual awnings also have an A arm that you can walk into? The only awnings I have seen that don't have this problem are the manual awnings generally found on pups with the corner poles; and after 8 years of gymnastics getting the poles installed, I was ready for the power awning on our HTT.

Manual wind awnings also have their own set of problems, like letting go of the strap accidentally, or losing the strap in the roll, or misplacing the pull pole.

[dewey02]

Originally Posted by bankr63

Don't most manual awnings also have an A arm that you can walk into? The only awnings I have seen that don't have this problem are the manual awnings generally found on pups with the corner poles; and after 8 years of gymnastics getting the poles installed, I was ready for the power awning on our HTT.

Manual wind awnings also have their own set of problems, like letting go of the strap accidentally, or losing the strap in the roll, or misplacing the pull pole.

Well yes, of course they have something you can walk into, although I've never heard someone complain about doing so. You can also walk into the side of your camper but most folks don't do that either. Having a bar completely across is a bit different than having a single low point on a bar where you can hock your head. And losing the strap in the roll or misplacing the pull pole sound like very minor things compared to failures that can cost hundreds of dollars.

[jloco]

The old manual awnings were way more sturdy than the newer power awnings.


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[PonyExpress]

sounds like the BBQ forum im on. Comes up on a regular basis.

"fat side up or down"?

Power or manual awning?

its a never ending story.

[jaycojay]

Originally Posted by dewey02

I've never really understood the attraction of power awnings in the first place.
Is it really so difficult to pull down and put up an awning by yourself? It takes all of about 1 minute. It is just another thing to go wrong...which judging by the posts in this forum, lots of things do go wrong. I see far fewer posts about people having problems with their manual awnings, or complaining about them.

What i do like about the power awning is how much tighter the awning rolls up, eliminating water seepage after a hard rain when it is rolled up.... now i dont have to open it after a rain to dry it out. Now, theone thing i can say is, i have a 2017 SLX, my brother has a 2018 SLX, with the new awning with the speakers... when you compare the two awnings, the new edition just seems like a cheaper awning!

[oldbat]

The power awning has a learning curve, and we have dents in our foreheads to prove it. Our work-around was to put up barriers, since we didn't seem to learn to duck. On quick trips, we hang a bright wind chime at the lowest point and have an folding aluminum bench that we put under the awning arm near the door. I can sit on it to take my shoes off. If we're staying for a while, we set up our outside kitchen near the door. We usually set up a screen house under the awning, so the rear awning arm isn't a problem. I actually preferred the manual awning on our previous hybrid, but just pushing a button is OK too.

[navymommy]

I hang a bright beach towel on it. Every time I don't, blam! Another bandaid for my hubby' s collection.

[norty1]

Makes no difference to me. I walked into both the manual and electric.

Both left a dent in my head.