Awning Arm Question

When we first got our old HTT we would set up the awning in carport mode. It got to be a hassle with no real gain. We haven't set up our awning up this way in years.

Many people do it. I've watched them spend an hour bolting, strapping, staking it down, etc. And I have yet to see one survive even the littlest of storms.

Just keep in mind that how ever long it took you to stake it in is how long it is going to take you to get it back up out of the ground, and then locked backed into the side of the RV before you can even start rolling it up. Usually too late when there is a storm approaching quickly. Just saying, JMHO.

In 8 seasons with our HTT and now TT, I'd guess DH has only put one end of the awning in "carport" position maybe 4 or 5 times. If we end up with a site that has the picnic table permanently attached in a place that makes it hard to stoop under the arm in the standard position, he'll do just that one end. We've never staked ours for the reason that if it gets breezy, we can stow the awning in just a few minutes. If it's breezy enough to be staked, it needs to be stowed is our motto.

Rarely put mine out, but when I do it's usually because my campsite puts my travel path close to one of the arms, and I whack my head on it.

I put mine out like that all the time. (Carport position) It does in fact make the awning much more stable. It will handle a good strong wind, without jerking the trailer around. At the beach is a great place to do it, as the wind blows ALL the time.
AND I can still roll my awning back up in less than 5 min, as the arms just click back in.
And yeah. Letting the arms slip under the trailer for cleaning is a easy way to clean it.

When we had that type we pulled ours out quite often and staked it down. Both with a strap around the awning roll then down to the dog steak and some of the large nail type steaks through the bottom of the legs. Where it really comes in handy is if you have a smaller awning and you like to put the picnik table under it. Lets you get in and out of the table without ducking under the arm.

When I had an awning with that type of leg, I staked them down vertically 100% of the time. At 6'5", I hit my head on darn near everything. That was two less things I had to be mindful of when walking around my site.

Agreed with all the above. I have seen people do as you ask and stake them down but since I don't stake or tie down my awning so that I can fold it up if significant winds come, I have never done so. I can open of close mine in about 4 minutes by myself (less with help) and want to keep it that way.

I see no benefit from doing so as I can set at a completely level pitch with them mounted to the trailer if I am trying to maximize shade.

If you have a need to walkthrough the ends of the awning, it can be handy but of course they need to be tied down which may give you something to trip over. I have used them that way but only when I will be in one place for a long time.

The only time mine get disconnected is to drop them down and swing them under the camper so the awning will drop down along the side of the trailer for easy cleaning.

I guess if I, or someone else, was continually bumping my head on the arm then I would put that particular arm on the ground and stake it down.
Barney