Replace Manual Awning with Power Awning ... Anyone ?

In reading through the posts on several RV Forums I decided not to go with a powered awning. It seems the manual awnings provide more flexibility options in bad weather. Tie the manual awnings down while deployed even in brisk winds. Can't do it with the powered awnings.

My choice was based on what I had read over the past year.

On our previous fifth wheel, we did install the power awning and removed the manual. It was too hard and high for me to reach. We simply brought the awning in if winds were strong. Today's automatic awnings have options for tilting and such. I would look into it. Ours was bought on ebay and we had an RV tech from a local shop install it. I think the arms were about 500 dollars, used our same roller and fabric. It worked well for us and I am happy to have an electric one on the 2010 we now have. You are right, pushing a button is so much easier.

I looked into doing as you describe but ran into a problem. The power awning mounts very different than the old one. The new arms are secured at their top edge by two large lag bolts that must go into some solid wood - not just luan paneling. The location for these is just under the gutter. Unless your RV has some blocking for this or wood framing in that location, there's nothing to secure these bolts to.
In our case we have a thin aluminum channel up there that the side wall slips into. We had nothing solid to mount to. The existing blocking was directly behind the gutter, not under it as the power awning required.
I suspect some shops just screw into the thin paneling and use lots of caulk to secure the awning arms to the side of the trailer but the instructions plainly spell out what the structural requirements are.

the bear II wrote:
In reading through the posts on several RV Forums I decided not to go with a powered awning. It seems the manual awnings provide more flexibility options in bad weather. Tie the manual awnings down while deployed even in brisk winds. Can't do it with the powered awnings.

My choice was based on what I had read over the past year.

I have a power awning and I wouldn't in a million years go back to a manual awning. I have no idea what causes people to like a manual over a power one. It's one of a few head scratching opinions around here.

pappcam wrote:

the bear II wrote:
In reading through the posts on several RV Forums I decided not to go with a powered awning. It seems the manual awnings provide more flexibility options in bad weather. Tie the manual awnings down while deployed even in brisk winds. Can't do it with the powered awnings.

My choice was based on what I had read over the past year.

I have a power awning and I wouldn't in a million years go back to a manual awning. I have no idea what causes people to like a manual over a power one. It's one of a few head scratching opinions around here.

Some people who dry camp like to save battery by having a manual awning, I personally wouldn't trade my power awning for the world.

I appreciate technology however, we have had both manual and motorized. Currently motorized and we just replaced the motor at the tune of about $300.00 and the rig is a 2010 model...

If I had my druthers, it would be manual. We spend many nights on the bluffs of the California coast with plenty of wind. We do not leave out awning out when we are not present and if there is the slightest wind in comes the awning. Better safe than sorry.

It's all about personal preference.

pappcam wrote:
I have a power awning and I wouldn't in a million years go back to a manual awning. I have no idea what causes people to like a manual over a power one. It's one of a few head scratching opinions around here.

You and me both. I am able bodied and can pull down a manual awning easily but I see no need if I can push a button and work it from the comfort of inside the coach. If the wind is coming up I just push a button. Wind died down I push a button again. The only advatage that I see for a manual is that there is less to go wrong. Other than that there is no advantage. Mine even has a "rain-dump feature if I so desire to use it, or I can set my pitch just like a manual awning.

So to the OP - if you can afford the shekels (and if it can physically be mounted on your trailer, as someone else noted), then the true worth to you will be in the ease of use.

With experience being the best teacher, we never left our manual awning out in wind, whether tied or not. They'll only stand so much, before everything comes apart. On our TT it came with the power awning and we love it. Sitting quietly outside under our awning and one of those instant storms blew in. Out of the chair, inside, hit the button and in maybe 10 seconds all is secure. No more fighting with getting the manual one stowed for us.

I wouldn't do it. I've had both and prefer the manual version.