Awning extending while driving

Did you have to get the cab deodorized? Congratulations on keeping it under control with that big sail flapping in the breeze!

Had the same thing happen on a trailer years ago.

The awning had just been installed at an RV repair place who said they knew all about them. I had only gotten about two blocks from the place when it happened so I retracted it and went back.

Turned out this one was the only one they had ever installed and they had wired the auto retract wrong.

I eventually had the auto retract disabled as it isn't worth a hoot.

Just guessing but if you have a Carefree Eclipse Awning manufactured around 2008 it only had on flat side on the motor drive. This is a known problem and should have been a national recall due to the dangerous situation it can cause. My awning also fully deployed this spring while driving down the Oregon coast highway. I was lucky to have room to pull over and manually roll it up, tie it in place and finish my trip. Carefree did replace the motor assembly and drive cap under their 4 year warranty since even though my coach is an 08 I did not buy it until 2010. Anyone with a Carefree Eclipse awning manufactured around 2008 needs to check for the drive shaft. If you only have one flat side replace the motor assembly or at least drill the cap and install a pin. This is a very dangerous situation which could cause an accident or even death.

we have lost 2 awnings due to high winds, both on Deception Pass Bridge. The last was off the Newmar, 21' long and when it deployed open it nearly rolled us over in the middle of the main span, fortunately it ripped and relieved the pressure and the coach righted its self. but we had scuff marks half way up the tires.

I'm still trying to get the seat clean. I don't believe the pucker mark will ever be removed.

Iam sorry..but this is the funniest d*** thing Ive heard of....H*8 it can happen to me...I cant imagine the panic.....
going down a back road to a isolated lake campground thru an older residential area...my MH was higher than all the utility lines to the adjacent houses....and I tore all of them out...electric, cable tv, phone....It was in the after
noon so we got turned around and got the hell out of there..
their fault for low lines....

If you have an electric awning you should have a positive OFF switch for it. If your dealer/builder didn't do it you should.
Lots of stray remote signals out there to cause problems in our electronic world. Murphy lurks around every corner.

Failing all the above...wear your tinfoil hat while underway...:) :)

roundown8366 wrote:
While driving about 40 mph my main awning began to open. It is a electric Carefree of Colorado, about 20 feet in length. It completely extened.

Got the rig pulled over, hit no trees, road signs or anything including cars or people. Pure luck.

Biggest hassle was getting its secure enough to drive home. About 130 miles including freeways.

Insurance covered it minus dedctable. Repair shop said they never heard of electric awning being extended while moving. Guess I am making history.

Had to hire a proctologist to have my ultra comfort, fully (almost) adjustable seat removed and repared.

Nobody hurt, minimum damage, just one more RV story to talk about around the old campfire.

Dean

Check with the manufacturer of the awning. There is a recall or service bulletin on the awning motor. The issue pertains to exactly what you experienced. The awning opens automatically without a warning. The motor needs replacement. I had this accomplished on my RV.

I'm having to get the motor replaced on mine next week. Luckily, it didn't extend all the way out cause I noticed it immediately and got off the road. Mine is a new coach too.

Interesting that repair shop never heard of this before. My Carefree started extending on the highway a couple of years ago. Managed to pull over and get it back up and tired. Called mobile repair at the next CG, and they said over the phone they knew the problem. Sent two men out to repair. The awning motor has a square metal drive axle that drives a plastic connector on the end of the awning. Plastic cap rounds out and freewheels. Service techs "pinned" cap to drive shaft and no problems since. This past week end another Carefree owner had the same problem at the CG we were staying at, so it's not that unusual.

I need to look at mine.... pin it if it needs it.

I had occassion to lose a manual awning climbing out of the columbia gorge a few years ago, not something i wish to ever repeat.