Electric Awning - any problems? - Page 2

HamsG2 · 01-06-2010, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by healthi

If ya find that Carefree does come up with a set of arms to convert the flat pitch to adjustable, please post the info. I'm hoping that they will at some point......

Ok Yall,

Here's what I got back from Carefree via email...

"You can keep your rollertube and fabric and purchase either Travel'r Steep Pitch or Eclipsearms. The Travel'r is a set pitch awning (can not be adjusted), whichthere are two versions, Flat (comes straight out from RV and Steep(requires 14.5" above the door). "

Sincerely, Laura McCauley
Customer Service
Carefree of Colorado
2145 W. 6th Ave. Broomfield, CO 80020
Have a Carefree Day!

Still may want to give them a phone call to confirm...

Regards, Hamshog

chas111 · 10-24-2010, 09:00 PM

Does anyone clamp down one side of the bracket so it creates a "lean to one side" for water to drain?

usmc616 · 10-24-2010, 09:53 PM

I was camping on a windy day and retracted my electric awning. Later on I went for a walk with my 4 year old. Every TT with an electric awning had them retracted, all except one. The owner was tending to his BBQ and I inquired about his setup. He purchased an electric awning tie down kit from his dealer. He had straps tied to both ends of his awning and they were anchored to the ground with an in line spring.

He told me he usually makes one side tighter to give him a tilt for rain runpoff and when it gets windy he tightens both ends. He said he has used it for 2 years and no problems.

The next day when the wind picked up I went to his site and his awning was just as steady as any manual awning I saw.

Derek700 · 10-25-2010, 10:01 AM

Just curious what the "dump feature" is on the electric awnings? The tip we were told about was to extend the awning and then pull the arm down about 1-2" and drill a small hole in the track that is attached the the trailer. You then pull the arm down and put in a pin. This creates a small droop in the awning fabric to allow water to run off. Of course you need to pull the pin before retracting the awning.

usmc616 · 10-25-2010, 12:09 PM

I am told the dump feature is an additional piston on one side of the awning so if the awning material starts to fill with water it then will be dumped off to that side.

Jon Jenkins · 10-25-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usmc616

I am told the dump feature is an additional piston on one side of the awning so if the awning material starts to fill with water it then will be dumped off to that side.

Exactly, we have had two TTs with the electric awning and been in some torrential downpours. Once about 15lbs (If I remember correctly) gets on the awning, the shock absorber gives and all the water runs off one end. Just don't be standing under that end when it does

. Has worked flawlessly for us. You can try it out. Go to the end with the shock (like the liftgate shocks on vehicles), grab the awning and pull down.
Jayco did have a bad batch of motors come thru in 2010s at least, don't know if affected other years. The motor just slowly gives out. They replace for free and are aware some units got them. (got our 19H) .
Anyway, with the TT comes a "bypass" kit if your TT battery it toast or switch gone bad. It has some cables and instructions how to retract the awning using the TV battery.
We haven't had the "not enought shade" issue. For one I beleive the 19H isn't too tall. We've only been out once in our 314.....not that is tall, so we may run into that issue later. If so, Home Depot here I come

We love the E-awning and had a buddy who always had manual and was not wanting the "fancy" stuff, but bought a used TT with one on it and loves it now.
Happy Camping.

1mtnman · 10-26-2010, 09:08 AM

I am surprised to see as many good reports about the Carefree electric awning.
I for one thing it is a POS and have had nothing but problems with it. I understand there are some modification to the electric awning of today which allow the pitch to be changed but in my opinion my 2009 model is almost entirely useless.
The motor went out this past summer while the awning was partially extended. It took 3 of us to roll the awning back to the retracted position. There is no way to lock it after the motor goes out so it unfolded on the way down the canyon going home. Fortunately i had a supply of rope which allowed me to tie to unfolded awning to the TT and by driving very slowly i was able to get the TT home. My warranty was almost up so had a hell of a time getting Jayco and Carefree to fix it under the warranty.
I would be very skeptical about getting another unless it is one that has been modified to accomplish some of the capabilities of the manual awnings.

troy76 · 03-09-2011, 05:26 PM

In order to allow you to add some pitch for water runoff, you can replace the arms with kit OV25APHW from Carefree. Its the arms only, you use your original canvas top and roller end. You cant buy direct from Carefree, I found it for $700 online when I Googled Carefree OV25APHW. But $700 seems quite steep to me. Think I'll try to find a different way of doing it.

bulldogs116 · 03-09-2011, 07:24 PM

I just bought 2011 jayco G2 33rlds. I was sorta bummed when I learned on this site that you could not pitch your electric awning. In addition, the dealer was not informed and stated same.

I came home rolled out the awning and I like the ease of it. had a manual one that I did't mind to much on my motorhome. I could leave it attached or post it up depending on my surroundings.

Needless to say I READ my Carefree manual because I was looking at my Awning one day and saw holes along the arms. Like the ones on my manual Awning. Well after reading the CAREFREE owners manual it gives you instructions on how YOU CAN pitch your awning down from the flat awning. I simply pushed in the buttons and slid the arms down. You can even pitch it to one side for water drainage to one side. It only advises you don't go more than 3 pin holes difference.

The best part is you can roll it up pitched you dont have to move the awning to flat to roll up. I like the awning now and am sure glad I didn't have it removed.

GOOD LUCK>>>> Hope this help you...

Topflight · 03-09-2011, 08:58 PM

Bulldogs,
You luck dog, you got the adjustable pitch awning. :hihi: The 2010's got the fixed pitch. I'm still considering springing the $700+ for new arms.

clutch · 03-09-2011, 11:41 PM

Bulldogs, I just noticed the same thing on our awning yesterday. Now I just have to adjust it and slide in the sun screen and we will be set.

bbhoth · 03-10-2011, 07:29 AM

what is the part number on the 20 Ft sunscreen from Carefree?

Denise · 03-10-2011, 12:05 PM

Here is what our 16' Patty O Shade Sunblocker looks like on our 20' flat pitched electric awning. No need to remove when retracting the awning; it rolls up right inside the awning. I don't know that part number, but we picked ours up at a Camping World in Sep '09.

Seann45 · 03-10-2011, 03:15 PM

Darn things wont always retract Healthi... Wind was coming up here .. went out to retract it the motor spun but the awning did not move... took 5 of us to push the awing back to the retracted position but of course the fabric was still out... then , as luck would have it found a little bit of space between the awning arms and the RV to get some zip ties through to keep the arms in place... the fabric is now torn... Carefree says they will cover it... BUT what a hassle loading up everything to head in for service work... from my SoCal snowbird spot...
When I phoned the factory they listed a whole pile of things that could go wrong with the electric awning trying to trouble shoot what was wrong with mine
Seann
A bad day camping is STILL better than a good day at w*rk

Denise · 03-10-2011, 03:26 PM

That would sooooo suck Seann! I hope ours never fails like that when we need it most.

Here's something we did see.... a gust of breeze blow through our neighbors campsite and the non-motor end of the flat pitched elec awning flew up and over onto the roof. Motorized end stayed straight out; the awning simply twisted. The climbed up the back ladder to the roof and pushed the back end of the awning back out. They were lucky as the awning retracted and extended with no apparent damage.

Topflight · 03-10-2011, 03:37 PM

bbhoth, I just ordered a 10' Sunblocker for our 13' awning from RV Direct.
Lowest price I could find ($93.92 + 15.75 shipping). Their part number is 5181085. Ships via UPS and should be here before our first camping trip.

I hope you can find a 20' for a decent price.

clutch · 03-10-2011, 10:04 PM

Today I adjusted the height of our awning. It is easy if the awning is rolled up. Simply push the lock button and slide the arm up. As menioned already there are 6 detent holes and when the awning is up flat it is in the bottom mark. I moved ours up two and it is a lot better. Tomorow I plan to move it one more space and slide in the sun screen. The screen is the only thing we kept from our Montana and we never had an oppertunity to use it so it will get broke in tomorow.

clutch · 03-10-2011, 10:08 PM

I am sure glad I found this site. Without it I would have never learned about how to adjust the awning and would not have known that it is ok to leave the sun screen on. Member ship was worth every penny-----wait it was totally FREE.

Ranger431 · 03-11-2011, 12:10 PM

This isn't the best picture, but was taken on an earlier trip in our 32BHDS. Just a quick overnighter in a new (at the time) rig - camp looks pretty bare

I have had TTs with both the manual and eletric awnings, and I love this electric one.

Hanging lights is no problem. I use the "T" shaped tabs - the top of the "T" is a little peice of plastic that slides into the roller of the awning. The vertical peice is a little velco strap. When you take the lights off you just roll the straps right up - very easy. And can still be rolled up very easy in a storm.

Another nice part of the electric is not having to walk around the arms - probably my favorite part.

Mine has more of a slant to it than some of the others I have seen. I put it all the way out and retract the "roller" about 1/4 or 1/2 rotation to keep it taunt, and the water rolls right off.

All in all a very good awning.

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bbhoth · 03-11-2011, 12:31 PM

Hey since Carefree wants crazy money for the upgraded arms that are adjustable, what about drilling your own holes and using removable pins to make your own adjustments.

Will one of you with the 2011 awning measure the distance of the six holes on the arm, and post some pictures, I would be willing to test this out and post my results.

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