Forum Discussion
DutchmenSport
Jul 10, 2016Explorer
Several thoughts come to mind.
First, awnings are designed for shade, not rain, although they do shed water. Remember that and you'll never have problems with an awning.
Second, when you took delivery of your camper, didn't you get a full explanation of how the awning works? When taking delivery, the dealership should have explained in detail how the awning works.
Third, even after you took delivery, didn't you try the awning sometime before it rained, to understand it's limitations, or its abilities, or lack of ability? Pull, tug, shake, extend, retract, inspect it for knobs, set screws, anything that might enable a way to tilt it or lower it? If you did and nothing truly does exist to tilt or lower, then you should have retracted the awning when it rained. Having had previous campers and using previous awnings, you were aware of the potential for the awning to "pool" with water, and stretch the awning material out of shape (which happened with one of my previous trailers and it was a manual awning, but I wasn't thinking. When I went to dump the thing, the arm collapsed, breaking it, and I got a thousand pound bucket of water right on my head. Luckly, the arm that collapsed missed me.) I can't blame anyone but myself for that miss fortune. It wasn't bad design, it was user error.
First, awnings are designed for shade, not rain, although they do shed water. Remember that and you'll never have problems with an awning.
Second, when you took delivery of your camper, didn't you get a full explanation of how the awning works? When taking delivery, the dealership should have explained in detail how the awning works.
Third, even after you took delivery, didn't you try the awning sometime before it rained, to understand it's limitations, or its abilities, or lack of ability? Pull, tug, shake, extend, retract, inspect it for knobs, set screws, anything that might enable a way to tilt it or lower it? If you did and nothing truly does exist to tilt or lower, then you should have retracted the awning when it rained. Having had previous campers and using previous awnings, you were aware of the potential for the awning to "pool" with water, and stretch the awning material out of shape (which happened with one of my previous trailers and it was a manual awning, but I wasn't thinking. When I went to dump the thing, the arm collapsed, breaking it, and I got a thousand pound bucket of water right on my head. Luckly, the arm that collapsed missed me.) I can't blame anyone but myself for that miss fortune. It wasn't bad design, it was user error.
About Technical Issues
Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,328 PostsLatest Activity: Oct 26, 2025