I want to replace awning

ReneeG wrote:
Carefree is the most popular brand. Check for local RV techs or dealers with good reputations to do it for you.

Our previous K-Z Spree came stock with a Carefree of Colorado power awning and it was such a POS I couldn't wait to get rid of it. My dealer agreed to swap it out for a Dometic 8500 manual awning, asking only that I wait until the fall when his shop wasn't so busy to have the job done. That gave me 6 months with the Carefree and it proved to be the worst awning I'd ever had. It had little tilt but when it collected a sufficient quantity of water it would suddenly dump off one end, soaking anyone who happened to be unfortunate enough to be anywhere nearby. The swap work fine but holes in the trailer side wall after the Carefree was removed had to be sealed and although I had no later issues with leakage I did have quite a few plastic caps where these holes were located. Unquestionably the swap was worth the effort as I could lower the Dometic at a much more severe angle and therefore could leave it deployed in even the worst rainstorms. All that said, our current Coachmen came with a Dometic 9100 power anwing that also does tilt quite a bit so I can leave it deployed as well during heavy rainstorms, no issues at all. I'd only retract it when the wind really comes up, no different than I'd do with the manual awning. JMO, but if the OP wants a power awning I'd recommend the Dometic 9100.

I REALLY suggest staying with a "manual" awning. In my travels I've seen the electrical ones rip off (the "wind sensor" did not work) or fill will rain water (THAT sensor did not work),so the arms collapsed .When deployed, they're too high (IMO) only extend 7 feet (manuals extend 8 feet).Some of them you can't tilt...gotta depend on the sensors that may or may not work. No thanks.

If I ever order another RV in the future, I will specify a manual awning. Absolutely.

path1 wrote:
My old manual so much better in many ways

X2

We still have a manual awning, we have had it out in on the Oregon coast in some pretty heavy winds. I do tie it down with three ratchet straps one at each end, and one in the middle hooked into two light hanging straps, this is a 21' awning.

Some electrics come straight out, others have a variable slope and drain away to one end or the other.

One we had would fill with water, then all of a sudden one end would collapse the spring and dump about 50 pounds of water, then it would pop back up again.

So shop around, get a good one with lots of different features.

We saw the demo of there electric one, the demonstrator couldn't keep it deployed in very mild winds.

We have had the manual one rip thru the locks and deploy in high winds three different times, we now have safety straps holding it tight.

My old manual so much better in many ways

I have an electric awning. But I sure wish I had the old manual one back.the electric seem to be pretty sensitive to any wind.we are always putting it in when the least bit of wind comes up.i don't think they would hold up like the manual awning did we put it out in April and it was out most of the season.with little problems.But I am sure others love the electric.

Carefree is the most popular brand. Check for local RV techs or dealers with good reputations to do it for you.

Camping World installs electric awnings as do others. See: https://www.campingworld.com/customerreviews/read.cfm?skunum=34018d