Power Awning

Nothing wrong with a manual awning...we had one and opp'd to get an automatic one installed. Best thing we ever did. We now use our awning every chance we get. Before, we found it easier to just deal with the sun rather than put the awning out and worry about it if the wind came up so we'd put it back in whenever we left the campsite.
Now we just extend the awning at will and retract when leaving the campground and if a wind comes up suddenly, it automatically retracts before I can hit the button. 6 years of fulltiming with the awning and not a single problem.

Dirtpig wrote:
Why bring it in when raining? This would be the main reason why I even put my awning out. Never had any issues with rain damaging awning, it's usually wind that tears up awnings.

I don't bring it in when it's raining. I bring it in when it's pouring. If it's coming down in buckets I'd rather just let it hit the ground.

As for chairs, tables, etc... I don't leave them outside full-time. When I go to bed, they're usually folded and stacked by the stairs. If I'm expecting inclement weather (or thievery), they're locked in the basement. I might feel differently if we were seasonal somewhere.

Ive read more than one negative comments regarding power awnings but would have to say my experience has been very positive. Alays hated working with the manual style and would sometimes not even use it as I didnt feel like messing with ir. With the power awning on the new trailer its one of the first thing that goes out whem were camping. Has also done wel in high wind conditions and the convenience of being able to quickly retract im not so worried. Cant see myself ever going back to a manual one.

I agree. In Florida we get lots of rain in season and putting the awning up every time means putting away all the chairs, tables, etc. That's one reason I have an awning.

If its going to be windy that's another story

Why bring it in when raining? This would be the main reason why I even put my awning out. Never had any issues with rain damaging awning, it's usually wind that tears up awnings.

dougrainer wrote:
I call RV'ers that leave ANY awning out in wind and rain---NEW AWNING BUYERS. Even with a slope, a heavy enough rain will fill up the awning and not shed and then collapse the arms. If you existing fabric is NOT TAUT(flabby in the center), then you have left it out and the water that accumulated has stretched the fabric and to fix you have to replace the fabric.

I wholeheartedly agree with Doug.
If I'm not CURRENTLY using the awning, it's retracted.
If it's windy, it's retracted.
If it's pouring outside, it's retracted.
If I'm away from the site, it's retracted.
If I go to bed at night, it's retracted.

I've replaced one awning. I will not replace another.

mgirardo wrote:
We really enjoy our electric awning. Ours does not have a wind sensor, so it stays out unless we pull it in. From the factory, our awning was basically parallel to the ground. When it rained, the water would collect and then one corner would lower to dump the water.

After a couple rains, I decided to slant the awning. Ours has 6 positions. I usually use the lowest or next to lowest. It isn't nearly as slanted as a manual awning can get, but rain just rolls off it.

Our summer seasonal camp site is located directly across from a farm and we always have a breeze. We purchased a set of anchors with a large spring that goes between the anchor and the strap that connects to the awning. That allows the awning to gently move a little if in higher winds.

I have seen people use PVC pipe to create legs for the power awning. We did not do that, because if the awning does move and the PVC slips off, they'll be projectiles in strong winds.

Check to see if you can slope the awning. Different power awnings have different ways to adjust them. Our does not have any knobs, just buttons that get pushed in and then the arm slides to the next hole.

-Michael

I made awning support poles for mine and they could never slip off in the wind. Also....when new.....my awning did not have an adjustment for tilting but Dometic came out with an arm for one side of the awning that was free from any dealer to be able to tilt one side. I use the tilt feature along with my support poles and some awning de-flappers and never have a problem with rain and wind of up to 20 mph.

We really enjoy our electric awning. Ours does not have a wind sensor, so it stays out unless we pull it in. From the factory, our awning was basically parallel to the ground. When it rained, the water would collect and then one corner would lower to dump the water.

After a couple rains, I decided to slant the awning. Ours has 6 positions. I usually use the lowest or next to lowest. It isn't nearly as slanted as a manual awning can get, but rain just rolls off it.

Our summer seasonal camp site is located directly across from a farm and we always have a breeze. We purchased a set of anchors with a large spring that goes between the anchor and the strap that connects to the awning. That allows the awning to gently move a little if in higher winds.

I have seen people use PVC pipe to create legs for the power awning. We did not do that, because if the awning does move and the PVC slips off, they'll be projectiles in strong winds.

Check to see if you can slope the awning. Different power awnings have different ways to adjust them. Our does not have any knobs, just buttons that get pushed in and then the arm slides to the next hole.

-Michael

Steeljag wrote:

No need to rush back to the camp site during an afternoon thunder storm worrying about water filling the awning. Also - the middle of the night storms.....simply push a button, it retracts and your dry / warm and back to bed.

Old Chinese proverb, he who leaves camp with awning out will eventually have it blown away due to freak/surprise storm.
bumpy

Here's our solution to the problem when the awning cannot be tipped enough to block the sun, early morning, late afternoon. We've had a Quick Shade ever since our tent camping days. This last Summer, after almost 20 years, the Quick Shade died. We purchased 2 new ones from Dicks Sporting Equipment near Indianapolis. This time we purchased 2 of them and already they have proved their worth in salt.

They provided extended "porch" shaded space and can be positioned anywhere. This is our typical set up. But they can also be tipped when the sun is low in the sky. And they are versatile. They can be moved around, repositioned, and even used outside of camping. They store very nice in the trailer front pass-thorugh storage area.

First photo is our typical set up. Second one shows them titled for morning sun, pulled away from the main camper awning since our campsite had lots of space.