Stop electric Awning Rattle

[Bill___Kate]

Our last trailer had a manual awning that worked fine and you could firmly "strap down" to help resist moderate breezes. Our present trailer came with an electric awning, which is handy, but rattles in the wind much more, even if you strap it down. This is pretty loud, especially from inside the trailer, and even freaks out one of the dogs a bit.

Our model does not have the auto retract feature.

I fooled around a bit with a bungee cord, and figured out that a cord from the horizontal arm to the top where the shock adsorber is connected really tightens things up and helps resist the banging. I think if I do a more permanent installation with hog rings instead if the standard hooks, it will fold up inside the brackets when it is reteacted.

[Veebyes]

Never left the awning out in high wind but have thought about ways to discourage the flopping that you get when a gust comes along.

Everyone has a couple of gallon containers with handles.

Fill with water. Hook a shock cord between container & line to awning corner to act as a shock absorber. It would act sort of what we do for a boat mooring to reduce shock in high seas to the boat. For a boat mooring we put a length of heavy chain between the weight & lighter riding chain so that the heavier chain has to be lifted, a link at a time, thereby reducing shock between boat & weight.

Same principle for the awning.

[93Cobra2771]

I've never been to a place where you couldn't use an auger stake - however I know there are places like that out there. Been a few where it took a couple of different tries to get the auger in the ground. Rock is the worst.

[Bill___Kate]

93Cobra2771 wrote:
You can actually tie an electric awning down just like a manual one. Trick is that you need to leave some wiggle room for the TT to move while the arm is firmly attached. In other words, don't pull it down till it won't go down any more.

This allows for the TT rocking during wind or going in and out.

Of course you can either tie it down or use poles, but you have to have something to tie it to. If there isn't a tree, picnic table, or something in an appropriate position, you need a stake. We carry regular stakes and spiral auger stakes, but many places we vist have concrete or packed gravel pads that getting something into the ground without power tools is not possible. 2-1/2 gallon water jugs aren't enough, but the bungee cord reaLy helps.

[cpaulsen]

I made some pvc awning poles for mine......and some places I have been....the awning never came in for months. Strapped down it held thru 20 mph wind.

[93Cobra2771]

You can actually tie an electric awning down just like a manual one. Trick is that you need to leave some wiggle room for the TT to move while the arm is firmly attached. In other words, don't pull it down till it won't go down any more.

This allows for the TT rocking during wind or going in and out.

[Bill___Kate]

Lynnmor wrote:

filrupmark wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
I just forget that I have an electric awning, it is that useless. What good is an awning that can only be used in perfect weather?

Shade

On a calm day!

Ways to make it more stable and be able to use the electric awning in moderate to brisk breezes is what started this whole thread .....

[Lynnmor]

filrupmark wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
I just forget that I have an electric awning, it is that useless. What good is an awning that can only be used in perfect weather?

Shade

On a calm day!

[filrupmark]

Lynnmor wrote:
I just forget that I have an electric awning, it is that useless. What good is an awning that can only be used in perfect weather?

Shade

[Lynnmor]

I just forget that I have an electric awning, it is that useless. What good is an awning that can only be used in perfect weather?

[Bill___Kate]

SoundGuy wrote:

Interesting solution, but when my Dometic power awning begins to rattle in the wind I figure it's time to pull it in anyway. :@

That is what I used to do - and still do at night and when we are not hanging around - but in some sites in some places, it sure is nice to have the shade to sit in during the afternoon, and this hack seems to really help a lot!

[SoundGuy]

Bill & Kate wrote:
Our present trailer came with an electric awning, which is handy, but rattles in the wind much more, even if you strap it down. This is pretty loud, especially from inside the trailer, and even freaks out one of the dogs a bit.

Interesting solution, but when my Dometic power awning begins to rattle in the wind I figure it's time to pull it in anyway. :@