manual vs electric awning?

rwjejits wrote:

Mile High wrote:

rwjejits wrote:
https://youtu.be/0vE-8-aU3cM

Those are pretty new awnings from Dometic. I can't imagine the stress they put on the upper joint on thatww camper.

I think the video is dated 2010. I prefer manual as well just thought it was pretty impressive.

Of course who knows what happened after they stopped filming :-)

And as they showed in the video, that wind was straight on. That may or may not be the angle of max stress. Either way it shows why you need to pull them in

"I agree, it took a beating. We have that style on our house and I over-rode the sensors and left the 23 ft out overnight only to find it busted to heck from a light snowfall."

I can understand that. They are able to dump excessive wind and water but I guess the snow sticks and won't dump out.

rwjejits wrote:

Mile High wrote:

rwjejits wrote:
https://youtu.be/0vE-8-aU3cM

Those are pretty new awnings from Dometic. I can't imagine the stress they put on the upper joint on thatww camper.

I think the video is dated 2010. I prefer manual as well just thought it was pretty impressive.

Of course who knows what happened after they stopped filming :-)

Wow, I didn't know they had been out that long. I remember seeing the Dometic armless at the RV show not too long ago and thought it was new. Kind of like the Girard design, and I notice Carefree has one now.

I agree, it took a beating :) We have that style on our house and I over-rode the sensors and left the 23 ft out overnight only to find it busted to heck from a light snowfall.

Mile High wrote:

rwjejits wrote:
https://youtu.be/0vE-8-aU3cM

Those are pretty new awnings from Dometic. I can't imagine the stress they put on the upper joint on thatww camper.

I think the video is dated 2010. I prefer manual as well just thought it was pretty impressive.

Of course who knows what happened after they stopped filming :-)

rwjejits wrote:
https://youtu.be/0vE-8-aU3cM

Those are pretty new awnings from Dometic. I can't imagine the stress they put on the upper joint on that camper.

I really like my old Zip Dee

We had manual awnings for many years. Now we have an electric awning. I wouldn't say I hate it, but I don't much like it. If you get one get it with the wind sensor that will roll it in when a storm rolls through, etc.. Those things are weak and not covered under warranty.

Ralph Cramden wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:

Mile High wrote:
You can always shut off the sensor and tie down an electric. I think they fair better than the manuals anyway, as they billow up against the pressure of the gas struts instead of flapping and pulling on the awning rail.

The armless ones would be a different story - I would not try to secure one of those to the ground.

Exactly; they billow out!
So now the awning is out, the wind blows, the awning billows, the arms collapse against the side of the coach (those gas shocks can only do so much), and you have 12' (/2=6') slapping the roof, tearing at the TV antenna, whacking the vents it can reach, and covering the fridge vent., THATS why you have to tie them down or you meet guys like me with a rope and a stake

No billowing here........I have left it out for weeks and it has taken a few storms including one with gusts over 40mph. I still wish I would of went with the manual though.

and that's why it's staked?

I've only ever had manual awnings, and I love the ability to tie it down if desired, disconnect the lower arms from the rig and set them up in "patio" mode if desired, etc. Friends have an electric awing; yes it is certainly easy to deploy/retract, but my manual one isn't difficult by any means, and gives me almost infinite adjustability. And in 30 years of manual awning use, the only problems/breakdowns I've ever had were of my own doing (clipped roof of house while parking). On the other hand, I quite often see posts like these about the electric ones: https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29343123.cfm
I'll stick with manual, although I do admit to being just a bit jealous watching my friend deploy/retract his with the press of a button!:)