Was looking at a TT we thought we might like. but when we came back out it not only had a TINY awning, it was electric. Which is pretty much a deal breaker for me. Salesman said. but it is so much stronger than a manual awning. I said HUH??????. I told him I could carport my awning, and it would take a really strong wind, while tied down. he asked. You don't roll it up when it rains??? I ask why would I do that. Isn't that what it is for, to sit under when it rains?? He says, Because it will pool water. I told him, NOT if you tilt it. He then said. You can't tilt it enough to let the rain runoff. at that point, I knew he didn't know much about camping. I explained that IF I had to take it down every time it rained, or at night, or every time I left the TT, I wouldn't have one. I explained, that unless there is a really, really, bad storm. The awning goes out at setup, and only comes down when we break camp. He asked you never lost an awning? No I have not. Then he asked like I was new at this. how long have you been camping? I told him 30+ years. and a tiny wimpy electric awning is a deal breaker.

Just the way the market is going I think. Most new models have them.I have a manual but sure wouldn't pass up a trailer I like just because it had and electric awning!

I have reserved feelings on our new one. It is electric, which like you I don't like, but it is the strongest one I have ever seen. If the motor doesn't fail, I'll be a happy camper. If it does conk out, there is a plug that comes out and some how or other it can be manually closed. What I don't like is the fact that even if I am plugged into 120 volts it still has to have a 12volt battery hooked up.Keeping my finger crossed !jack L

Terryallan wrote:He then said. You can't tilt it enough to let the rain runoff.You know the make / model of awning? I ask because I can tilt the Dometic 9100 power awning on my Coachmen at either end ... not quite as much as my previous Dometic 8500 manual awning but it certainly tilts enough that rainwater during even the heaviest downpour will easily run off. No issues at all with mine. :)

SoundGuy wrote:Terryallan wrote:He then said. You can't tilt it enough to let the rain runoff.You know the make / model of awning? I ask because I can tilt the Dometic 9100 power awning on my Coachmen at either end ... not quite as much as my previous Dometic 8500 manual awning but it certainly tilts enough that rainwater during even the heaviest downpour will easily run off. No issues at all with mine. :)He was trying to tell me... "I" couldn't tilt mine enough to let the rain run off.

You were probably camping before the salesman was out of diapers. And I also line our manual 16' awning. We roll it out, put the legs on the ground, and stake it down. Stays out, Unless there is a high probabity of big winds.

Awning on new TT. | Good Sam Community

SoundGuy
Explorer
Mar 11, 2017
ScottG wrote:
I have a manual but sure wouldn't pass up a trailer I like just because it had and electric awning!

Terryallan wrote:
For us. the way WE camp. It is a deal breaker.

If the trailer otherwise meets your needs there's no need to give it a pass because it has a power awning ... just make it part of the deal that the dealer will replace it with a manual awning of your choice. I did just that myself, agreeing to buy a KZ Spree which had a horrible Carefree of Colorado power awning IF he agreed to replace it with a Dometic 8500 manual awning. This he did, no cost to me.

Carefree of Colorado Power Awning w/Zero Tilt

Dometic 8500 Manual Awning w/Plenty of Tilt

Had that camper 6 years, used the Dometic awning in all sorts of weather, just as you describe you prefer to do. :)
RPreeb
Explorer
Mar 12, 2017
ScottG wrote:
Terryallan wrote:
ScottG wrote:
Just the way the market is going I think. Most new models have them.
I have a manual but sure wouldn't pass up a trailer I like just because it had and electric awning!

For us. the way WE camp. It is a deal breaker. We pretty much only go inside to sleep, or shower. We spend most of our time outside, and we sit under the awning most of that time, and IF I had to roll it up for a rain, or a breeze. It is pretty well useless. and could send us inside. I don't like inside while camping. May as well be at home

I can see your point; we'll sit out there in the rain with the gas fire pit ablaze under the awning.

I love sitting out in the rain with a good book. I used to go driving in the mountains on a rainy Saturday, hitting the gravel back roads. I'd look for a mature spruce tree, usually near a small stream, and I'd park the car, take my camp chair and book, and set there under the tree dry and happy watching the passing cars all looking like they thought I was a bit loopy to be reading in the rain. :C

A good, functional awning is an essential part of a camping trailer. Electric or manual, it's gotta have one.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Mar 12, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
ScottG wrote:
I have a manual but sure wouldn't pass up a trailer I like just because it had and electric awning!

Terryallan wrote:
For us. the way WE camp. It is a deal breaker.

If the trailer otherwise meets your needs there's no need to give it a pass because it has a power awning ... just make it part of the deal that the dealer will replace it with a manual awning of your choice. I did just that myself, agreeing to buy a KZ Spree which had a horrible Carefree of Colorado power awning IF he agreed to replace it with a Dometic 8500 manual awning. This he did, no cost to me.

Carefree of Colorado Power Awning w/Zero Tilt

Dometic 8500 Manual Awning w/Plenty of Tilt

Had that camper 6 years, used the Dometic awning in all sorts of weather, just as you describe you prefer to do. :)

ask him if they would change it. said no. ask him if I could order one with a manual. said no.
La_Gasser
Explorer
Mar 12, 2017
Sounds like the salesman just wants to sell what he has in stock. Change salesman! Ask to talk to the manager or someone else. In my 45+ years of dealing with salesman, especially car salesman, the majority of them know very little about the product they are selling. Buyer be ware. Do your own research on the trailer you are looking at, even to the point of calling the factory direct and asking them about the options.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Mar 13, 2017
Golly, none of you must live in rural the midwest where the wind blows. It often comes up suddenly with out warning. I would love to have a electric awning. I don't use my manual one often because I'm so afraid that it will get ripped off of the TT when I am not around. Yes, you can roll the manual one up too but, it does take a little work and finesse to get it rolled up. When the calm wind suddenly comes up to 25 mph (gusts to 30) and you have to run full speed back to the camper and try to get the awning rolled up in a 25 mph (gust to 30) wind it is not fun.
tragusa3
Explorer
Mar 13, 2017
I was afraid of our new electric awning. Didn't want it at first, and didn't like it the first season.

We've now learned how to live with one better, and it ain't all bad. It is so easy and fast to go in and out, that I think the pros are outweighing the cons. On any given weekend trip, it may go in and out many times, but that's not hard...the kids do it for me.

Better? I don't think so. Worse? maybe by a smidgen. Deal breaker? not for me.
moresmoke
Explorer
Mar 13, 2017
My TT has probably the cheapest of cheap Lippert electric awnings on it. Haven't had any weather problems at all. It is one that can be adjusted for height/tilt. If the wind gets to where I am worried about the awning, the rain is blowing around enough that we will be headed inside anyway.

Now the small size is a legitimate gripe.
Lantley
Nomad
Mar 13, 2017
tragusa3 wrote:
I was afraid of our new electric awning. Didn't want it at first, and didn't like it the first season.

We've now learned how to live with one better, and it ain't all bad. It is so easy and fast to go in and out, that I think the pros are outweighing the cons. On any given weekend trip, it may go in and out many times, but that's not hard...the kids do it for me.

Better? I don't think so. Worse? maybe by a smidgen. Deal breaker? not for me.

This is my story as well.
I thought I was going to hate my electric awning and I did at first.
But after using it a few times I realized it wasn't that bad.
I was also an awning strapper. I would stake down my manual awning and prepare for battle.
With the electric you need a different mindset. Electric is about convenience. I use my electric in rain no issues. Wind is a bigger factor. If it is really windy just push the button and roll it in. It is easy enough to set up. You can roll it in and out as needed. You can roll it in at night and out in the morning. Sit under it a few hours and roll it in again. Because it's so convenient you just roll it in and out, no need to stake it down and go into battle mode.
I have learned to loive with my electric awning and it'sreally not that bad.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Mar 13, 2017
tragusa3 wrote:
I was afraid of our new electric awning. Didn't want it at first, and didn't like it the first season.

We've now learned how to live with one better, and it ain't all bad. It is so easy and fast to go in and out, that I think the pros are outweighing the cons. On any given weekend trip, it may go in and out many times, but that's not hard...the kids do it for me.

Better? I don't think so. Worse? maybe by a smidgen. Deal breaker? not for me.

Lantley wrote:
This is my story as well.
I thought I was going to hate my electric awning and I did at first.
But after using it a few times I realized it wasn't that bad.
I was also an awning strapper. I would stake down my manual awning and prepare for battle.
With the electric you need a different mindset. Electric is about convenience. I use my electric in rain no issues. Wind is a bigger factor. If it is really windy just push the button and roll it in. It is easy enough to set up. You can roll it in and out as needed. You can roll it in at night and out in the morning. Sit under it a few hours and roll it in again. Because it's so convenient you just roll it in and out, no need to stake it down and go into battle mode.
I have learned to loive with my electric awning and it'sreally not that bad.

As one who has owned a lousy, non-tilt Carefree of Colorado power awning, a couple of terrific Dometic 8500 manual awnings, and now a Dometic 9100 power awning that does tilt quite a bit this is pretty well where I'm at with this as well. If our current trailer had come with a manual 8500 I'd have been just as happy with it but I have to admit the 9100 which does tilt quite a bit is SO much easier to deploy and retract, so much so that my wife would now really object to having a manual awning ever again. Rain is a non-issue but heavy wind certainly can be - but the solution is to simply put your digit to work for a few seconds and the "problem" is solved. :B
wbwood
Explorer
Mar 13, 2017
Terryallan, what dealer was this? I agree, they don't know much about camping or their products. Electric awnings can be tied down (just remember to untie it before retracting...lol). Also, they can be tilted. At least on towables and smaller motorhomes. The bigger Class A's may be different. But I know our Class C electric awning can be as we've done it.

Forum Discussion

Awning on new TT.

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

TT Awning Replacement

Awning Cleaning???

Awnings

Power Awning

Awning?