Awning Trouble

[Orbison]

I am having trouble with my awning jerking and making load noise as it opens and closes. I lubricate it and it will run smooth for one to two times and then it's back to jerking again. It gets to the point that I am afraid it is going to brake something. What is the best lubricant for the awning track? I have used slide lubricant and WD40 Silicone lubricant.

[Jagiven]

I use Tri-Flow, it is bit expensive. When mine starts to get jerky, I too clean the tracks and lube them up. Usually I am good for about a season.

I saw a video recently posted on here, that states that we open our awnings incorrectly. Not sure how much I believe it, and plan to speak with a couple of our design engineers and suppliers. But if it is correct, your jerking action could be the struts. According to the video, it says open the awning a foot or two. Stop, let it rest for a moment, then continue. It says that the gas in the struts need time to equalibrate. Now I work for a major company, and I am involved in designing and building custom machines for internal use. We use struts on covers all the time, and I have never heard of this.

[Grumpy]

The struts need to be lubed too, so they may be the cause of your noise.

[Orbison]

Thank you both. I will try that Tri-Flow. Also, I always lube the struts when I lube the channels. It sounds like the noise is coming from the channel and slide at the RV when it is sliding up and down.

[Boooker]

x2 on the strut lubrication. stopped my noise and jerking immediately. extended and retracted nearly 24 times since and no noise or hesitation at all.

[Tunce the traveler]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

The struts need to be lubed too, so they may be the cause of your noise.

Yes, I also lube those strut rods twice a season along with the door strut.