RV Awning

We keep ours strapped down and it still only takes about 5 min. to retract
it. Never go away leaving it out. Almost lost it in a thunder storm in
Virginia. Thanks to a great neighbor was able to get it off the roof and
back in place with absolutely no damage-a miracle, for sure.

Wind is an awnings worst enemy! If you will have extreme winds &/or severe thunderstorms I'd pull it in. You can tie down an awning but in the chance that an anchor comes loose or the fabric starts to whip too much it can indeed be damaged tethered or not.

We've seen many awnings left out that ended up ripped off, twisted back over the top of the RV, swing sideways taking out a window...so, it's really up to you...how often do you wish to replace it? How happy will you be if it damages the side of your RV?

I left my awning out last summer when we went sight seeing. Summer thunderstorm blew thru and filled it up with water (didn't drop a corner when I set up also). The awning didn't rip off the coach but the 16' roller tube now has a bit of a bow in it. Going to be a real pain and expensive to replace. I keep a closer watch on the weather now that I learned the hard way.

I rented my MH to a friend once and only once. He left the awning out while he was away for a couple of days. What a mess. So YES. do bring the awning in when leaving and when going to bed. It is no fun being outside in pouring rain at 3 am in your pajamas.
I also saw an airstream whose awning was out and we got a sudden windstorm. No warning. The wind ballooned the awning as though it was the main sail on a clipper. The awning did not get ripped off. Instead it flipped the airstream on it's side.
The best advice for RVers....Always think of Murphy's Law.:B

Found handle at Wal Mart in Rv section

And if it rains while its opened or down, should i always wait for it to dry before reeling it back in again, as well??

IN my part of the country if you waited for the awning to be dry before rolling up you wouldn't need wheels on your RV.

You can close it up wet. Just open it up when not windy and it will dry quickly. We ALWAYS close ours when it is windy or unattended. Can't afford to get it ripped off the camper. Some friends went out in their boat and a wind came up and ripped their awning off the fifth wheel.

I install a pair of De-flappers on each end, sun screen slide into the roller, and run tie down ropes to each end of the rollers. It's out now and been out since January when we set up here in Florida. Have not put it back up like a lot of the others who have there's open and tied down.

It takes a whole 5 minutes to retract awning.......and a couple hours to replace IF the side of RV hasn't been damaged




Going FT entails a few extra steps......

Retract awning if leaving, when going to bed
Turning off water source when leaving
Checking power pedestal PRIOR to hooking up
Leveling RV prior to operating fridge
Checking batteries water levels/state of charge

dougrainer wrote:
People with your attitude usually come to me to replace the awning once it
1. Rips loose in a hi wind
2. Collapses from water build up and this ruins the arms and the tube/fabric
3. Wind sensors ARE NOT A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO RETRACTING AN AWNING. A HI wind can rip an awning loose way before a wind sensor can activate and retract the awning. Awnings with wind sensors will not honor a warranty if the Wind sensor cannot retract in time or fails to operate at all. Doug

A little story(true) Our dealership used to set up motorhomes at Good Sam rallies years ago. We set up 6 motorhomes at a Waco, Texas Fairground, extended the awnings and then went to lunch for 90 minutes. When we got back most of the awnings were destroyed by a freak wind gust that came thru the Fairground. So, you NEVER know what the weather will do.

I totally agree. Larry