Awning

Ours is used all winter long.

While many of the negatives of owning a RV with awning are true. When there is a need to get out of the sun or rain. It is nice to have it available.

If we are just stopping for the night or a couple of days, we will probably NOT open our awning. We will usually use a 10 X 10 shelter over our picnic table so we have a bit of shade and that is it. If we are going to be parked for more than 2 days, then the awning is most likely out. Not necessary, but definitely appreciated......just like our bathroom.

Is it needed? It depends. If you sit outside all the time, yes. If you ever plan on selling it or trading it in, yes. If, like me, you prefer to control your environment with heat or A/C inside, no.
The wind unrolled my awning once while driving down an expressway. The lock is a joke. All it locks is the arms against the side of the RV. It doesn't keep the awning cylinder from turning. My low tech solution was to drill a couple of holes in the drip molding, insert plastic tie downs thru the holes and around the awning, and cinch them up tight. If the next owner wants to use the awning, a couple of snips with scissors and its ready to unfurl, whenever it chooses. :)

Love my Awning!
Use it all the time - Covers my Chairs, Grill, Bikes, Motorcycle, Etc...
I live in Florida so during rainy season I find it invaluable.

It doesn't feel like camping, just parking, when sitting outside with the awning stowed. Sitting inside is OK at night or in the morning for a while, but we can do that in the driveway or in the house. Prefer to cook and eat outside when practical. Would not own or rent an RV without an awning. Had an awning lock installed to prevent another unfurling while driving incident.

TyroneandGladys wrote:
When it is 100 plus outside and you have parked where the awning side is facing west it makes a huge difference in cooling the RV.

x2 and if you are parked the right way it makes good shade.

And its so pretty when its down lol

If you have the right awning it will get used a lot more. The awning on our old TT was a PITA to deploy and roll up, spring tensioned with not much room for error and a good breeze would send it flying out of control. On our new C we have an electric awning that deploys smoothly in 30 seconds and is much more robust than its predecessor.

Even if we are not sitting under it, which we often do, it will keep the coach much cooler especially in the mid day to late afternoon sun. Keep in mind we live in Arizona and do most of our camping out here in the western states. I would not own a rig without a good one like we now have.

They will stay cleaner and work better if you run them out on a regular basis and a little water and a brush/broom is all we have had to use to keep them both looking good. A little dry lube at the "joints" is a simple, regular maintenance moment that helps to keep them operating smoothly. :C

I couldn't imagine having a camper without one. In my 27 years of owning campers I can honestly say I have never spent a night with it not out except just a couple of times when severe weather was predicted. 90% of campers at the campgrounds we go to have their awnings out also.

We have had awnings for years, but rarely find a use for them. If that side is facing west, you may have an hour or two during the day where the sun is in a position where the awning is useful. We do pull ours out when we are in a warm climate and it is raining--that is the biggest value we find. That allows us to get our chairs out and read outside when it is raining.

I do most of our cooking outdoors...rain or shine so the awning is always out. I haven't seen very many campers that don't deploy their awnings but personal preference trumps what someone else thinks you should do every time.