Quick question for you guys. Just bought a North Trail FX23 with power awning. It works flawlessly. Being the tacky sort (and wanting to join in the tradition), we bought a rope light and the types of hooks that slide into the awning rail to hang the rope light. My problem is...our awning has the grooves, but the end cap on both ends of the awning cover up the entrance to the groove...which is where the hooks would slide in. The clips we bought are fabric, so they could roll up in the awning, but how do I get them on? Can I take one of the end caps off temporarily? I have nightmare images of removing the end cap to access the groove, and springs and various other pieces flying off into the grass. Thoughts?

Just to add, here is a pic that shows the type of groove I'm talking about (not the same type of clips, but they operate the same). Whereas the groove on this awning continues through the end cap, mine doesn't. The end cap blocks access to it.

You might want to consider clips that grab on to the valance, if your awning has one.

Thanks wmoses. I saw those in the store the day I bought the others (didn't know the awning didn't allow access to the groove/channel at that point), but they didn't look like they'd work for rope lights (appeared the plastic would break if attempted to open that far to insert the rope), but rather for the small wire Christmas type strands.

We had the same challenge that you have. We actually went to putting our rope lights on the ground around the patio area for two reasons. One - you are not suppose to tie down a power awning, so to save it in bad weather, we found it is easy to put it in if you don't have to worry about taking off the lights and two, we could not find a secure way to secure the rope lights to the awning. We have talked about having led rope lights permanently installed right under the awning.

I used lights that hung from awning for a year before getting something like this LED kit. Way way way way way better. Roll up with the awning. whatever color to match our mood.

Power awning question | Good Sam Community

radioadam
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
Just to add, here is a pic that shows the type of groove I'm talking about (not the same type of clips, but they operate the same). Whereas the groove on this awning continues through the end cap, mine doesn't. The end cap blocks access to it.
wmoses
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
You might want to consider clips that grab on to the valance, if your awning has one.
radioadam
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
Thanks wmoses. I saw those in the store the day I bought the others (didn't know the awning didn't allow access to the groove/channel at that point), but they didn't look like they'd work for rope lights (appeared the plastic would break if attempted to open that far to insert the rope), but rather for the small wire Christmas type strands.
hawkhill
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
We had the same challenge that you have. We actually went to putting our rope lights on the ground around the patio area for two reasons. One - you are not suppose to tie down a power awning, so to save it in bad weather, we found it is easy to put it in if you don't have to worry about taking off the lights and two, we could not find a secure way to secure the rope lights to the awning. We have talked about having led rope lights permanently installed right under the awning.
APT
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
I used lights that hung from awning for a year before getting something like this LED kit. Way way way way way better. Roll up with the awning. whatever color to match our mood.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Sep 17, 2014
We used paper binder clips that we picked up at Staples in a bargain bin. Not for rope lights, but for the strings of lights you commonly see hanging from the flap on Awnings. Worked great. Might work for you.

BINDER CLIPS

Our new trailer has a built-in strip light on the power awning so the lights went with the old trailer.
greende
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2014
hawkhill wrote:
We had the same challenge that you have. We actually went to putting our rope lights on the ground around the patio area for two reasons. One - you are not suppose to tie down a power awning, so to save it in bad weather, we found it is easy to put it in if you don't have to worry about taking off the lights and two, we could not find a secure way to secure the rope lights to the awning. We have talked about having led rope lights permanently installed right under the awning.

This is what we do now that we have a power awning. It gets rolled up much more frequently than our old manual awning.
Huntindog
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
Don't remove the cap!!! On most if not all, that will set the spring free. Bad news, and possibly dangerous.
I had the same issue on my last TT when I needed to replace the fabric.
I read about a tip to make it easy on this forum.
Using a dremel with a cutting tool, and a grinding stone, I simply made the groove in the end cap. It is easier than it seems.
Majja13
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
I would return the rope lights and just go with one not the LED kits like mentioned above and then just attach with 3m adhesive and roll up in the awning.
radioadam
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
APT wrote:
I used lights that hung from awning for a year before getting something like this LED kit. Way way way way way better. Roll up with the awning. whatever color to match our mood.

Thanks for the many comments!

I just ordered the LED kit linked in the above post. Thanks!

Anybody wanna buy a rope light? :B

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