I have a dumb question for you all. This is our first year with a power awning. We just bought a new Gray Wolf 26BH back in Feb. and it has the power awning. Not sure of the brand name as i'm not home currently and just got to thinking about this. What happens if the motor decides to quit with the awning extended. Is there a way to get it back in? I know with slides and power tongue jacks there's a way to retract them but this is my very first experience with a power awning. Common sense tells me there is but I didn't find anything in the manual that came with it however I could have missed it I'm sure.

Don't know.. my power awning's never failed. But I would imagine a ladder and rolling by hand would do it.

Mine has a manual retract on it. Don't remember how it works but read about it in the manual.

Mine has a set of jumper cables and an point where you could release the motor and crank it closed.

Cut off the rag and rip the arms off the side then get a manual type. Yes I have a power awning it was on the trailer when I bought it.

I specifically asked the dealer about retracting the awning in the event of mechanical failure or loss of power. He told me how to do it, but absolutely cannot remember now. But yes, it can be done, just don't know how. If you find the answer, sure would appreciate you posting it.

dumb question about power awnings | Good Sam Community

wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 23, 2014
There are two main makers of power awnings, Carefree of Colorado and A&e (Dometic/PowerGear/Kwikee/Atwood)

I do not have a Carefree but I do have an A&E

Per the owner's manual there is a screw (or two) in the forward most arm, you remove this and you can roll it up by hand, NOTE there are actually 3 different screws on the one I worked on.. TWO and the motor turns free so you can roll it up, the third is the bolt that holds the end bracket on the arm.. Removing the two so the motor turns free breaks a wire, Removing the one makes it much harder to do the wind up.

Since the motor is not working, Breakign the wire not a big deal

Second: You need to replace at least ONE of the screws (Bolts actually) when the thing is rolled up.

This is all in the manual.

I Strongly suspect Carefree is much like this, but I am 100% sure it is in one part: This is all in the manual

You can go online and downlaod the manual from the maker's web site.

PAGE 2:

IF the controller (not the motor) fails

In your owner's manual bag there should be a long read/black wire pair with a FLAT 2 connector on the end (A&E at least) if it's not there COMPLAIN to whomever you purchased from.. There is a matching plug near the motor (Unplug it before you wind up by the way).

Unplug motor from wire leading up to it, plug into the "spare" harness and attempt to wind by hooking to a 12 volt battery known to be good (Car, Motor home, As long as it is known to be good) IF motor turns wrong way.> REVERSE connections.. YOu will hear a CLICK as it connects, if no click then it is the brakes not the motor (But same assembly) Oh at the time Rachel did the warranty work for the poor RVer I assisted with rolling it up due to pending windstorm a new motor was 400 dollars.. I think this was 2007/8 but not sure. She had to repalce the motor twice, turns out a bad switch and controller were burning them out.
Community Alumni
May 23, 2014
John, actually there is another power awning manufacturer, LCI Solera; that's what is on my Enterra TT.

Fully tiltable at either or both ends;very simple and works great.

http://www.lippertcomponents.com/solera-power-awning
... Eric

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