Old-Biscuit wrote:
Are you undoing the arm locks (rafter knob) before trying to raise them?
I use a silicone spray occasionally.....not because they are difficult but because I don't like the chatter when sliding the rafter up/down channel

Mine are easy to raise and I'm actually doing it wrong...
1) I pull the awning away from the trailer (unrolling)
2) Extend the rafter arms and put a little outward pressure on each for some tension
3) Tightly lock the rafter knobs
4) Extend the main arms to desired height.
I'm too short to reach the rafter knobs when the main arms are fully extended, so I do them up earlier. I have had no binding problems at all. I'm thinking something must be bent or jammed elsewhere in the OP's awning system