Well Crud! I was pulling out of my storage facility today and got too close to a small outbuilding and damaged my awning. One thing I realized as I looked at the destroyed awning was how bad the fabric was on this thing. We never used the awning, and it was then that I understood how dangerous it was running with tattered fabric as it holds the top of the awning to the TT! Duh! Maybe there is some good in this disaster, LOL.Our TT is 10 years old, we have owned it 4 years, and pulled out the awning once. We TT with friends and use their rig as the central hang out and essentially sleep in ours. We plan on keeping the TT for 4-5 more years, then offload it when we buy our diesel pusher as part of the pre-retirement plan.My insurance has a 500 dollar deductible, and since we don't use the awning we are just going to yank it off and toss it in the dumpster. My only issue is the slight damage to the TT. The front upper bracket had both screws pulled from the side of the TT. In the rear, only one of the two screws pulled out. The tube is bent, and the awning arms are toast. I was planning on heading out to the storage facility tomorrow and remove the awning, plug the mounting holes and cover them with eternabond tape and call it a day.If the screw hole damage looks more severe than what I feel my pay grade allows, I will let my RV repair facility fix the hole damage.Another day in paradise! On the bright side, no one was hurt during this adventure!

There are those who have, and those who will! Glad you're all ok, lesson learned for us all.

Sounds like a plan. Just make sure there is no water intrusion through any of the holes.

I'd get a can of foamy "Stuff" from Home Depot and pump something in the screw holes to help seal them from the back. Then put the tape over the outside.

If the framing underneath is wood, drill a hole into the screw holes and glue in a dowel rod. I'd use Gorilla Glue a small amount on the dowel and a spritz of water into the hole. Then you can seal it all up.

OUCH! Sorry to hear about the mishap, everyone here fears something like this. On the bright side, according to T.S. Garp, you are now "disaster proof".:-)

Totally Destroyed My Awning Today | Good Sam Community

Rob8484
Explorer
Mar 25, 2014
Bob Landry wrote:
The same thing happened to me. I damaged my awning backing into my storage stall while DW was supposed to be spotting. So much for that. I would have been happy with a $500 deductible, but State Farm said my awning wasn't covered because that was a separate rider on my policy. I don't understand that since it's permanently attached to the trailer. Meanwhile. I'm looking for another insurance company for the trailer. $1300 later....

I have state farm as well. I had an insurance claim to replace my awning on my old rig. I had a $250 deductible. We were gone for the day and we had an unexpected storm blow up while we were gone. Rain water collected in awning and buckled it. Had no issues with state farm in the process!
jimw606
Explorer
Mar 25, 2014
I would get an estimate from the dealer to install a new awning. Then check online.
You can get one online a lot cheaper, and install yourself. Plug the holes and redrill as mentioned above. two or three people can put up a new awning easily and fast. That is if you want a new awning.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Mar 24, 2014
Bob Landry wrote:
The same thing happened to me. I damaged my awning backing into my storage stall while DW was supposed to be spotting. So much for that. I would have been happy with a $500 deductible, but State Farm said my awning wasn't covered because that was a separate rider on my policy. I don't understand that since it's permanently attached to the trailer. Meanwhile. I'm looking for another insurance company for the trailer. $1300 later....

We had progressive while we had our TT. We lost our awning in Florida at Ft. Wilderness at Disney. My wife was on the phone with progressive minutes after the awning was discovered broke. We had a 250$ deductible and the only thing I had to do was take the camper to the dealership... Well I did have to take the awning off while it was broke.

From this

To this

In no time flat.

Thanks!

Jeremiah
Squealers
Explorer
Mar 24, 2014
Dick,

I thought about that....I have the screws and mounting plate, thought about silicone and reinstalling then silicone around the brackets. Should be no different than it was before, only without the awning attached.
Dick_B
Explorer
Mar 24, 2014
or put a rubber washer on the screw and reinstall it; possibly one size larger screw. A little silicone caulk wouldn't hurt. Put it into the hole then insert the screw.
WA7NDD
Explorer
Mar 24, 2014
You're not alone, I sliced open the fabric and bent up the trim on my garage backing in my TT. I also had a $500 deductible but no problem with the insurance company. They gave me a check for $180, and I paid the other $420 and had every thing repaired. We do use the awning. Got a good lesson from it. Ran my first MH into a low branch, learned a lot from that also. Still have the TT and a newer MH, I look up a lot now.
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Mar 24, 2014
I backed into mine with my truck once getting ready to break camp and go home. Buckled an arm badly. We all do something silly once in a while!

If you do take it off, remember that those arms are spring loaded and you have to use extreme caution when you take it apart so you don't injure yourself. If one of them gets away from you it can do some real damage to your body!
Squealers
Explorer
Mar 24, 2014
Thanks for everyone's advice. I will be sure to seal the bolt holes well and then cover with eternabond for further protection.

I figure if I ever need a replacement I can pick a used one up at Colaw RV Salvage, which is just up the road in Missouri.
bobsbbq
Explorer
Mar 24, 2014
Good Sam's insurance covers the awning at 100% replacement value and I always have no more than 250 deductible. Their insurance covers a lot including your hitch as well.

I have seen people with good policies and no real damage to the travel trailer get a new awning, new roof and more. Guess it just depends on your insurance company.
wgriswold
Explorer
Mar 24, 2014
I would patch the holes with Bondo and then cover the damage with Eternabond. You don't want any water finding its way in there.

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