Retract your awning , all the time, every time, and at bedtime

[DamonBecky]

We were at Lake Charles State Park, lakeside site, awning out for sun shade. Power awning, long, nice to sit under. Checked weather prediction for night, calm and mild. About 2 a.m. a loud noise woke me, I got up, looked out the window, saw nothing of note, no winds or rain. Figured a pinecone fell on roof. Next morning took dog out and awning was on ground, one end torn off camper, warped and twisted arms. Was the devil to get down, had to get assist from park staff.
Learned lesson. Repaired by insurance but w $250 deductible.
Always bring awning in now, but sometimes leave it out about 4 feet if raining, to have dry steps. NEVER leave it out farther than that in any windy weather, or during rain of any kind.

 

[Bayoutalker]

The mechanical awnings could take stronger winds but were harder to open and close and took more time. These new electric ones are more convenient but are easier to damage with wind. I'm not sure which is a better option.

 

[Parcany]

When wife and I used to go up to the white mountains for 4 months I went on the Wildcat website and followed directions on awning struts. I built them and once we go up for the 4 months the awning came out and never went back in for the 4 months that we were there. We had wind, rain snow and hail, nothing ever happened to our awing. We had a power awing. we may have just go lucky. Other people that did not have the struts had all kinds of problems.

 

[Bayoutalker]

When wife and I used to go up to the white mountains for 4 months I went on the Wildcat website and followed directions on awning struts. I built them and once we go up for the 4 months the awning came out and never went back in for the 4 months that we were there. We had wind, rain snow and hail, nothing ever happened to our awing. We had a power awing. we may have just go lucky. Other people that did not have the struts had all kinds of problems.

I'd like to see that myself.

 

[MichaelO]

I’ve only camped in my Jayco twice since I got it three weeks ago, but while I’m camping I leave my awning out all the time I’m there. Of course I’m not camping in a open campground when I go, but on a heavily wooded piece of private property. We don’t normally get much wind down close to the ground there. My brother and parents leave there’s our all the time while up there and have never had any problems. I can guarantee that if I know were going to have any storms coming through I’ll be rolling that sucker up right away.

My previous trailer, a 1978 prowler, didn’t have an awning, but I could tell it at one time had two, one on each side of the trailer.

 

[Bayoutalker]

I’ve only camped in my Jayco twice since I got it three weeks ago, but while I’m camping I leave my awning out all the time I’m there. Of course I’m not camping in a open campground when I go, but on a heavily wooded piece of private property. We don’t normally get much wind down close to the ground there. My brother and parents leave there’s our all the time while up there and have never had any problems. I can guarantee that if I know were going to have any storms coming through I’ll be rolling that sucker up right away.

My previous trailer, a 1978 prowler, didn’t have an awning, but I could tell it at one time had two, one on each side of the trailer.

If you have an electric one be safe and pull it in if you are not going to be around or going to bed. What would it need to be out for anyway and it's easy enough to roll it up. If it's a mechanical one they can take a bit more if setup correctly but to be safe I'd pull it in if I was leaving the area. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Bandit12]

When wife and I used to go up to the white mountains for 4 months I went on the Wildcat website and followed directions on awning struts. I built them and once we go up for the 4 months the awning came out and never went back in for the 4 months that we were there. We had wind, rain snow and hail, nothing ever happened to our awing. We had a power awing. we may have just go lucky. Other people that did not have the struts had all kinds of problems.

Can you provide a link to the struts you are talking about? I'd like to see those myself.

 

[Parcany]

Ok These struts that I made were made about 9-10 years ago. I looked last night and this morning on the Wildcat forum and could not find them. If anybody goes on that forum the struts that I built are made out of a 10 foot piece of 2 inch PVC pipe, and a 10 foot section of 1 1/2 inch pvc. Both cut into 5 foot peices. With end caps fpr the 2 inch pipe and 2 each hitch pins. Hope that it helps. Sorry that I could not be better help.

 

[Parcany]

Ok just went on Jayco and this is what I found. Almost the same. post was 09-07-2014

 

[michael.g]

Here's a working link: https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f34/power-awning-tie-down-22265.html

-Michael

 

[Parcany]

Thank you very much.

 

[DocBrown-JAY]

The mechanical awnings could take stronger winds but were harder to open and close and took more time. These new electric ones are more convenient but are easier to damage with wind. I'm not sure which is a better option.

Given what I've read and seen for myself with the failure rates of the electric awnings, I'll take a mechanical one any day.

That said I'm not sure you can even get a mechanical awning on a new unit.

 

[Bayoutalker]

Given what I've read and seen for myself with the failure rates of the electric awnings, I'll take a mechanical one any day.



That said I'm not sure you can even get a mechanical awning on a new unit.

I would rather have a mechanical one too. I've not been overly impressed by this one but it is easy to roll out and back.

 

[Bayoutalker]

Here's a working link: https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f34/power-awning-tie-down-22265.html

-Michael

Thanks for the link but I don't think I'll make a set. More junk to carry and still have to strap it to the ground. I guess you could just peg them to the ground and omit the straps. I've seen them just tied to the ground without the supports and they seem to work fine.

 

[MontanaRick]

We got our first trailer with an awning (195R a little over a year ago and only deployed it once. We are pretty much always away hiking or whatever during the days. Tried to put it out once during dinner, and by that time the sun was too low for it to do any good.

I did wish I had it several years ago while camping at Chaco Canyon. It was so hot (well into the 90s+), we hiked from sunrise to around 11, then after 6 until sundown. No hookups, so no AC, and everyone was looking for any available shade mid-day. An awning would have been nice (or even a breath of wind).

Our awning was also a biggest warranty claim, as it just didn't work about 2 weeks after purchase when I was testing things out before a trip. Dealer was great about taking care of it (bad motor they said).

 

[JFlightRisk]

Thanks for the link but I don't think I'll make a set. More junk to carry and still have to strap it to the ground. I guess you could just peg them to the ground and omit the straps. I've seen them just tied to the ground without the supports and they seem to work fine.

Ours gets strapped down to those nail style pegs, as part of setting up....every time. We use a couple of the HF 1" orange ratchet straps. (I think they were on sale for $7 for four of 'em). Loop it over the roller, hook it to itself, and give it about 3 or 4 clicks after it snugs up. No other supports (although it looks like a cool idea!)

 

[Mike223]

ALWAYS roll it in when you leave. Last time out we had a "pop" up wind and rain storm. When it was over, I could see a $300,000 unit with its awing on top of it and a small TT the awing was completely gone. Never can be to safe.
Mike