electric controled awnings

dougrainer wrote:

Diplomat Don wrote:
"nemo45".....There will always be that one in a million that it doesn't kneel and dump water, but it doesn't mean the statement isn't true. They're designed to dump water and do so probably 99% of the time.

"dougrainer" Yes they do billow and react to the wind to a certain degree, but I bet a manual awning will would still be standing in winds that would billow an automatic and blow it over the roof.

MY statement was from watching and observing AND 34 years experience as a Technician. The Manual awning arms actually make the awning MORE rigid and more prone to making the awning a parachute and keeping the wind inside. I see less wind damage on awnings now and most awnings NOW (past 10 years) are electric. The electric can give more as the arms are flexible. The Electric are designed to HOPEFULLY shed water, but depending on the SLOPE of the awning, that makes it a crapshoot. NEVER rely on the Wind/motion sensor. NEVER rely on the Shed feature. Doug

One in a million, huh? It happened to a friend of mine in south Texas last winter also. He had to put the aluminum braces under his awning too. I don't think a heavy down poor is a one in a million event. And my statement is made from over 50 years of camping experience and observation. I didn't mean they weren't designed to dump just that they don't always do it. So, the point is, don't depend on it happening.

The manual awning have more slope then some electric awnings. I have a manual awning and I can slope it quite a bit. When we were in South Carolina it rained a lot and I had my awning out and sloped to where the water was no problem.

But I have seen some newer coaches that have four slides and the awning is above the slide. Which means that when they extend the awning it goes straight out with no slope at all. Very poor design by the engineering department. The awning should have been attached to the slide itself in order for that awning to do its job of giving shade. As it is they hardly get any shade what so ever. I have met many RVers that complain about their electric awnings that are over the slides.

As to the OP wanting to know whether to tie down an electric awning. I would say NO. Most electric awnings are made out of real flimsy material, and like some have stated in the forum, IF a gust of wind was to hit, it would bend the medal rods. Best to just roll it in with a push of a button.

We really like our awning. It is manual, but I like the slope you can put on it, or you can detach it from the bottom and make it like a patio applying some stakes to it.

Diplomat Don wrote:
"nemo45".....There will always be that one in a million that it doesn't kneel and dump water, but it doesn't mean the statement isn't true. They're designed to dump water and do so probably 99% of the time.

"dougrainer" Yes they do billow and react to the wind to a certain degree, but I bet a manual awning will would still be standing in winds that would billow an automatic and blow it over the roof.

MY statement was from watching and observing AND 34 years experience as a Technician. The Manual awning arms actually make the awning MORE rigid and more prone to making the awning a parachute and keeping the wind inside. I see less wind damage on awnings now and most awnings NOW (past 10 years) are electric. The electric can give more as the arms are flexible. The Electric are designed to HOPEFULLY shed water, but depending on the SLOPE of the awning, that makes it a crapshoot. NEVER rely on the Wind/motion sensor. NEVER rely on the Shed feature. Doug

PackerBacker wrote:

Executive wrote:
The only reason the warning is given is for those awnings such as the Girard that have an anemometer that moves the awning in when the wind kicks up. If you are positive yours does not have that feature, don't worry about securing it as you have in the past. That said, it probably is not a good idea in 50+mph winds/gusts....just sayin....Dennis

Off topic but Dennis, I just noticed in your signature photo that both you and Debi are 'formally dressed', do you always wear a tie & jacket when camping? :E. :C :B

... Eric

We were wearing shorts and Huaraches!!!!....:B:B:B....Dennis

"nemo45".....There will always be that one in a million that it doesn't kneel and dump water, but it doesn't mean the statement isn't true. They're designed to dump water and do so probably 99% of the time.

"dougrainer" Yes they do billow and react to the wind to a certain degree, but I bet a manual awning will would still be standing in winds that would billow an automatic and blow it over the roof.

racerchaser wrote:
1. Typically, rain will not pool on an electric awning as they have an ability to 'Kneel" at one end with the weight of water.
2. Awning manufacturers tell you not to tie down your awning for the same reason ladder maker put so many decals on their product.
3. If you use common sense there should be no problem.
4. If you have a problem, see #3.

That's not true. I've had it pool on mine, and it was so heavy that it bent the roller on the awning so much that it would not retract. I had to replace the awning. The awning hardware was ok. It can rain so hard that even the "kneel" mechanism will not remove it fast enough to stop it from pooling. I'm here to tell you it can happen.

willald wrote:
I think the main reason they don't recommend tying down an electric awning, is that power awnings just are not designed to stand up to heavy winds. By tying them down, it would lead one to think it could stand up to heavy winds, when it really cannot.

That, and I bet the concern is that you'd forget it was tied down, and when a storm comes up, you'd just casually push the button to roll the awning up (forgetting that you tied it down). If you do that when its tied down.....Welll, that would be bad news.

Power awnings are meant to be rolled up when heavy winds and storms come along, bottom line. I actually prefer that approach over tying it down, because reality is that if a bad wind or storm comes along, it will rip up ANY awning, electric or manual, tied down or not.


That said, if you want to tie it down, knock yourself out. Just be ready to untie it quickly and roll it up, when a storm comes along.

Yea, if you forget it's tied down and hit the switch, you may turn your MH over on it's side. :B

I have anemometer on my RV, (electrical awning) and if I didn't I would never tie my awning down due to wind. Seems like everywhere I camp the wind comes up sooner or later and I don't underestimate Mother Nature. I retract it at night and I never leave it down when I'm gone, even when I know I'll be back in a few minutes.

1. Typically, rain will not pool on an electric awning as they have an ability to 'Kneel" at one end with the weight of water.
2. Awning manufacturers tell you not to tie down your awning for the same reason ladder maker put so many decals on their product.
3. If you use common sense there should be no problem.
4. If you have a problem, see #3.

If your awning has plenty of slope, it can take a lot more then those awning that stick straight out over a slide. Those are worthless and bad engineering. But getting back to the OP, I never would tie down an electric awning. Just make it a habit to never leave for long periods of time with the awning out. Roll it in, and check the weather reports. If it says to expect winds exceeding 25 mph, roll it in.

Like somebody mentioned that sensors will not protect your awning from a sudden gust of wind. I saw a high end Beaver coach in Las Vegas that had an auto roll back system on it. The wind hit so fast it did not have time to retract and bent it all up.