Forum Discussion

EMD360's avatar
EMD360
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014

Need Awning Advice

I am reinstalling our awning fabric and can't seem to get the tension to work. Have the arms out and turned the cams on each side 6 times as required. Bolted them in and the awning just sits there. I rolled it up by hand with the lever on roll up, it clicked all the way up but when I moved the lever to unroll it just let the spring loose and rolled out all at once.
Could the springs be broken? It has been sitting almost a year in the garage. I didn't think the tension had to be set with the arms all the way vertical because I read about people setting the tension while winding the entire leg attached to the cam. I'm sure I'm winding it in the direction indicated on the cap ends.
What am I doing wrong?

7 Replies

  • Well, had to give up for now. My "clever" fix was not that clever. I cut off the top portion of the awning and thought I would use eternabond to tape the awning over the poly rope and reuse the bottom portion. I got it threaded on the RV just fine but I left it open in only a slight breeze and the tape tore right off. I guess it is just as well. Now I need to actually order new awning fabric but will wait until after our camping trips this summer. Thanks for the advice. Now I know how to get it done.
  • spadoctor wrote:
    Watch this Youtube video on the subject....excellent


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD0w1GoTzVk


    I watched a different video and this one was much more helpful. I thought the job could be done without taking off both arms.
    While I watched this I kept thinking that he was stepping on the top step of a short ladder. Finally he says he knows..funny.
    Listening to Brown Eyed Girl in the background and then his phone tips in the wind. But this guy has a can do attitude. Just be careful not to kill yourself. His vice grips even let go and you can see he forgot to put the cam on roll up mode.
    Thanks for the link!

    Awning replacement video
  • ronfisherman wrote:
    On page 7--you will find the recommended number of turns when awning is opened or closed. Please be careful doing this task.

    Thanks for the manual--very useful. The chart includes the number of turns for both vertical and extended position. It is double, or 12 turns instead of 6 for our awning.
  • Watch this Youtube video on the subject....excellent


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD0w1GoTzVk
  • On page 7 of THIS MANUAL you will find the recommended number of turns when awning is opened or closed. Please be careful doing this task.
  • Don't know for sure, but somewhere I heard 16 turns, not 6. Verify that before you accept it. I'm sure others will post.