manual vs electric awning?

I did not change mine as it came with the electric awning. I never had a manual one, but I can see why you would want to change. I often see people fighting with those manual awnings trying to get them put out and sometimes taking two people to get them out. I push a button and that's it. If I had a manual one, I'd probably end up never using it.

We replaced our manual with a carefree electric. DW could not put out or retract the manual.

two people, something is wrong, like all rusted inside, or they forgot to lossen the awning arm locks

it takes me less than (2) minutes to deploy my awning

i did put in new springs, 2015

IMO manual ones are more sturdy and less prone to problems
i think most damage is 'operator error' situations

MrWizard wrote:
two people, something is wrong, like all rusted inside, or they forgot to lossen the awning arm locks

it takes me less than (2) minutes to deploy my awning

i did put in new springs, 2015

IMO manual ones are more sturdy and less prone to problems
i think most damage is 'operator error' situations

I have to hold the button down for probably 15 seconds. And on far more than one occasion I've seen people fighting with manual awnings.

Our Carefree elec awning on newer RV works but we sure miss the manual. Elec makes good shade at noon. Our Elec isn't adjustable enough like out old manual was. But sure do like just having to mash a button for it to go out or in.

Having my first electric after many years of manual I have found pros and cons with both. I am using the elec more than I ever did the manual. Just because ease of deploying, do not like elect for the fact it can not be adjusted for rain and sun like the manual can. I do think the manuals are made to withstand many more years of use and abuse than the elect.

Stay with the manual. When we ordered our 2017 Rockwood at first I requested the manual awning. I called back a week later and changed it to the electric. In hindsight I sure wish I would of stayed with the manual. During the first season I replaced a drive motor and one of the gas shocks. That's in addition to spending $ to modify it with poles so it can be tied down like the manual awning in carport condition as well as being able to use deflappers.

There are electric awnings and then there are really well made, expensive electric awnings...Girard, although they are often on Ebay for $3000. If I was dumb enough to order a new DP it would have a Girard main awning. They are fully adjustable and can be put out a foot or two, or all 10'.

I looked into it for my coach but never got much further than the thinking stage. Ran up against not knowing if there is adequate structural support on the coach walls for the mounting hardware. Hanging a 18' the awning off nothing more than fiberglass and thin plywood was a concern regarding long term use. The cost didn't help either to replace something that was operating as intended.

Having had both and presently electric, I would think hard about another electric of any brand. We camp at the beach all the time where there is almost always an onshore breeze. If there is a sun screen on it, the ends are staked. If awning only, I have a complete kit of straps, stakes, etc.. I HAVE to strap down the awning once deployed 99% of the time, an exercise easily twice the time of deploying a manual. Before the electric we would set up camp, pull out the awning, and there it would stay for the week unless there was a gale churned up. There is a LOT to be said for those verticals poles latched back to the coach, vs. nothing .

Oh yeah, we've met several pretty nice people at the beach doing emergency rescues of out of control, unsecured awnings, the latest at Pala Casino pulling a Carefree back into place when the owner wasn't around.

Wind sensors? A joke