This is a bit embarrassing but if I can help save someone else some trouble, please learn from me. I consider myself to be a pretty seasoned camper. I've been camping with several different types of campers (popup, hybrid, TT) for the past fifteen years and have always known that when you turn in for the night, you always drop one side of the awning in case of rain. Last week we spent an awesome week in Wisconsin Dells at a wonderful KOA. Lets just say I was relaxed and I got lazy. Friday night was our last night and there was no rain in the forecast. I've left the awning up when no rain was expected before and I knew I would be fine. Well folks, the weather forecast was wrong...therefore so was I! We slept great with the fan on and never heard a thing. The first thing I notice when I walk outside to take the dog out is the awning sagging from the middle. I knew at that point I had made a huge mistake. So my first thought was, lower the awing and get the water off. I proceed to walk to the inside of the awning bracket and pull the lever to lower the awning. I guess it was too early for my brain to process just how heavy that water is and how much water is there. When I pulled that lever and attempted to lower the awning slow, the awning support came crashing down the slide raking my chest with the handle throwing me back toward the camper. My awning proceeds to dumped biblical amounts of water straight to the ground in a matter of a second. The crash brought my family out of the camper as well as the family next to us. In the end, my side brackets survived. However, the main roller is bent. It was a bit difficult to get it rolled back up for the travel home, but I finally got it in. The moral to the story... Always drop one side of the awning when you turn in (rain forecast or not)!! Please learn from me!

Well, at least you learned half the story. Roll the awning completely in before locking up for the night. You got some rain and had a cup of coffee before the enlightment. If you want to add more adventure to this unfortunate, but typical learning experience, do it in the middle of the night with wind, rain and freezing weather. The only good part of this is the DW will feel sorry for you.

Sh!t happens.. sorry it happened to you! :-)I don't consider myself a seasoned vet.. I just picked up my second camper.. ex has the first.. but regardless of forecast.. one side was always set lower... nothing drastic unless I knew heavy heavy rains were coming.

I tend to agree with the previous poster. Tipping is only the Plan B answer. Get it already back to it's traveling position. Then you can sleep in and relax until the storm has passed.

once many years ago I left mine up and the TT was almost tipped over when a storm came up. I was out in the rain and wind putting it back into storage position. I never leave it out ever again.

Wait till you lower it not realizing you are standing under where the water runs off! that`ll wake you up very quick!

I made a rookie move... Always tip your awning at night!

profdant139
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2015
I made the same mistake, but with even less excuse -- we went to Washington state for the first time, coming from dry California. We saw that the other folks in the campground had set up their awnings crooked -- I smugly told my wife "these people don't even know how to set up an awning."

Sure enough, the rain came. The tilted awnings did just fine. Mine didn't. Lesson learned.

Moral of the story -- if everyone is out of step except me, maybe it's me.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jul 24, 2015
That exact same thing happened to me many years ago with our Dutchmen Sport. Except, when I lifted the handle, the the awning came crashing down, I had the handle in my hand, and the rest of that arm was down! Yea, broke it right off in my hand. (how embarrassing.) It didn't bend the arm, and I was able to get a replacement just fine. BUT the fabric on the awning was stretched slightly, in the middle and always had a dip in it, even when the awning was pulled tight as I could get it (extended). After that incident, we learned to put the awning up at night. Sure that was a pain in the neck with a manual awning, but at least, we never had that problem again!
the_happiestcam
Explorer
Jul 24, 2015
I use tie downs, and have not had trouble with wind. I always tip one side, but a couple of years ago, that didn't stop the water from pooling during a huge gully-washer (I was actually sitting under it reading a book when I noticed the bulge). I also tried to lower one side slowly only to have it yanked out of my hands. Mine is now bowed, but I found it advantageous - I don't unroll the last 6 inches, and while I still tip one side, it can't accumulate because of the bow shape.

I have too much setup outside to bring it in at night.
sharonandi
Explorer
Jul 24, 2015
Thanks for all of the input guys! I'll try not to be so lazy next time! I know better for sure! CampOwnerOp, that's exactly how I straightened mine out. I took it off the brackets and put it directly on two saw horses and gave it the "treatment". It took two of us to sit in the middle for just a bit each time to get the "bow" down. While I had it down I gave the spring and extra turn and not it actually zips up better than it did before.
jfkmk
Explorer
Jul 24, 2015
When we went to do the PDI on our trailer, there was a sign on the wall showing pictures of several different campers with severely wind damaged awnings warning not to leave the awning out when you're not there or asleep. Ours is old school manual, without auto dumping or retraction, so we heed the advice.

Sorry to hear about your experience, but thanks for sharing for the benefit of your fellow campers!
Go_Dogs
Explorer
Jul 24, 2015
That happens a lot. We've been lucky, but we carry strip ties and duct tape so the not so fortunate can shore up their bent up awnings to get home.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2015
I always leave one side slightly lower than the other. Usually the side opposite the door. That way you don't have to remember anything. Who wants worries while camping?
byrdr1
Explorer
Jul 24, 2015
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
We've straightened many of those tubes. All it takes is tripod pipe stands or good sawhorses at each end, then a couple of big guys to put their weight to it.
Sorry to hear you got caught with a forgetful moment!

I was going to say the same thing. I have helped straighten out 2 over the last few years. We used a 2x4 with a 2x4 nailed to the top and then pulled each end until more or less straightened out. You have to be slow and careful but it can be done and at no major expense. This idea will work and lesson learned.
randy
spoon059
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2015
Doesn't your awning have an automatic dump feature? Mine does and we tested it out over our longer trip this summer. Worked great.
Halmfamily
Explorer
Jul 24, 2015
Ours has the auto dump feature when too much water accumulates and when it dumps you know real quick, its loud, sounds like the awning is being ripped off. After that first time, I now immediately tip the awning after deploying it. Ours is electric and yes its nice to be able to just press a button.