Protecting slide-out awnings from snow load

Thank you everyone for your replies! I do have a propane service - installing on Monday. I'm happy about that. I've read stories about people having problems with awnings after a winter. So just for a bit of added insurance, so far I'm liking the idea of sliding an insulation panel between the slide and the awning. It def wouldn't hurt anything that I can think of and should even help to have the added insulation. Plus I still have two 4x8 sheets left over from the skirting! Win-win. I may even put a smaller version of the beach ball idea up there to save me from having to climb up and scrape snow off on a regular basis.

You guys are appreciated and this forum is da bomb!

Keepem' coming!

All the ones I ever had had extra fabric....

I was in Coffeyville Kansas in the winter of 2013, Nov and Dec, there was snow and subfreezing temps for 2 weeks plus got down to 4 degrees at night.
Prior to that freeze there was a small freeze for a couple of days where I had the the city water freeze up, even though I had a heated water hose, because just behind the city water fill was about 12 inches of unprotected and exposed water hose in the starter battery compartment. I also had the refrigerator stop working as it was to cold for it to function. This small freeze really helped me prepare for the longer and colder weather to come.

Here is how I made it where some did not including the campground shower house freezing up.

Heated water hose.
A trouble light, with a real light bulb (60 watt) in the battery compartment for the exposed water line.
Another light behind the refrigerator to keep it running.
A small heater in the sewer compartment on low.
Making sure that the sewer hose has no kinks to cause an ice dam.
Running a small drip using the hot water side because there is unprotected water lines there to.
Never turned the heat lower than 65 degrees, there was a lot of trips to the propane store. I also used a Mr Buddy heater but only when I was there or awake and I did open a vent in the roof to keep air flow going and moisture down.
Electric blanket at night.
Turned on the engine block heater and never turned it off this kept the Black tank from freezing as the tank is near the engine.

This what I did and your situation will be different and your skirting will help.

Also my awnings were destroyed by the weather and ice storm the weight of the snow and ice ripped them right off the motor home.
The awnings do have springs and extra material and will sag but once the hit bottom where there is no more give the weight will pull on the fabric next to the motor home and pull it from its track. You will need to brace them so that the snow will not build up next the the wall of the RV.

JimR

Don't forget to put vent pillows (insulated pillows) in you vent openings. You lose a lot of heat thru them. They also make some for the skylight over the shower. For windows you can use the bubble wrap and we have day/night shades and valances. I used a tension rod slid up under the valance and hung insulated curtains cut to length and hemmed which helps with the cold. I did not slit them down the middle but if I wanted them open, just slid them to one side on the rod, and pushed the day/night shade open. Any extra layers on the floor will help you feel warmer also. We spend a lot of time at our dinette booth so have an extra rug on the floor on top of the carpet. If your feet are warm it will help the rest of you feel warmer too. Get a cheap memory foam pad and put on your bed under your sheet - one without the cool gel (Walmart) . They absorb your body heat and keep you warm and toasty at night.