IMO, awnings are the most fragile moving part of a RV/TT. They don't like wind, they don't like rain weight and they don't stay clean very long. Especially the underside white ones.
For my previous TT, I tried to lower its large awning myself. One of the pins let go and it all came crashing down. Broke several small parts on it. Luckily, my fingers weren't in the way - as it came crashing down. And, it didn't make dents in the side of my TT.
Long mumblings short. It isn't you. It's the cheap design of fragile awning systems.