question about staking a power awning

After 15 years of RV'ing, if an awning needs to be staked it shouldn't be out! I've seen staked awnings stay, but the material rips away from the trailer.

It's everyone's money, but I will save mine for beer, fuel and firewood!

Our seasonal site is directly across from a farm. We get a breeze all the time coming across the farm. Our power awning would get pushed around so we bought a set of awning tie downs by Camco. For $19, they worked great even through a few gusty storms with winds up to 25 - 30 mph. Our power awning did not come with the wind sensor either.

Towards the end of June this year we had a Macroburst storm with straight line winds up to 85 mph (only a thunderstorm was predicated, no warning for high winds so I left the awning out). The awning moved a lot, but the springs allowed the awning to move slowly and softly. The springs got completely stretched out and are no longer usable. The awning has been retracted and extended a few times since and is fine. A $19 investment saved our awning.

Without the springs, the Camco system is not as sturdy. The straps loosen too easily, so I am going to replace their straps with regular ratchet straps. I also like the idea 57 Panhead linked to and might give it a try.

Last night the NWS was predicting Severe Thunder Storms and heavy winds so I brought the awning in. We barely got any rain and no wind. I sure wish I could be as wrong and the NWS always is and still have a job.

-Michael

We have a similar set-up except we add a sunshade with bungees on stakes along the bottom. So far just use it during the winter in Florida. We do take it down if severe weather is predicted. Nearly everyone in the park ties their awnings down and some never take them in the whole winter.

I found this idea at the Wildcat users forum and made a set for myself. I think they work great.

Awning tie down supports for electric awnings.

(scroll down when you get to the link)



Maybe it could work for you.

Steve

Bob Vaughn wrote:
I have tied my electric awning down a couple of times. On our non electric awning we were able to use deflappers to keep the fabric from flapping but not so with the power awning.

We stopped the flapping on our power awning using a new design of tension rod joist we could fasten the bracket to. It has a t at one end that lays against the side of the unit, while a spring is used to fit it snugly against the tube. It was a good solution for us while we spent nearly 5 months in Florida and only had to bring the awning in twice, when the winds were forecasted to be over 40 mph. Many folks with the same set up never brought them in...all were fine.

Tieing down and electric awing is the only why of controlling theses things that flop around like a fish out of water. Or you can stand by the button all day.

I have tied my electric awning down a couple of times. On our non electric awning we were able to use deflappers to keep the fabric from flapping but not so with the power awning.

I was wondering the same thing when I camped at the beach a couple of weeks ago. I saw some tied down and some rolled in most of the time. We rolled ours in most of the time because we did not have anything to tie it down. I watched a tied down power awning take one heck of a beating during a thunderstorm with 50-60 mph winds and the awning looked fine after the storm. I think I would have rolled ours in for the storm but the next time I go to the beach I will tie our power awning down so we can use it more.

I pitch the awning for water run-off and lock the arms. At each end I us a stake, a large spring from the hardware store, and a length of rope. After I tie the rope, I loosen the awning locks so the springs take the force and not the awning structure. I either use the larger plastic stakes or the thin nail like stakes depending on the soil. Never had an issue. No automatic wind sensor on mine and the wind will throw that awning over my trailer in a medium breeze.

wa8yxm, not all power awnings have the wind sensor.