Center Awning Support poll

[sasha_j]

Hey Gang,

Our 18' A&E manual awning is staring to sag in the middle and I want to install a Center Awning Support. There are 2 choices and I am looking for opinions on which is better:

1.

Carefree of Colorado Awning Support

-or-

2.
A&E Systems 930061 Top Cradle Assembly Kit

[Doughboy12]

RoyB wrote:
On my 12-foot awning I got away with stretching across several of the stretch ropes with hook ends linked together... I think 50-inch was as long as you can buy... that helped mine alot from sagging in the middle...



Roy Ken

Make your own length...Many places sell it in bulk length.
Like this...

[sasha_j]

Yeah, my awning is 18' and I'm sure has been sagging since day one too. I just never noticed it until later. These supports should be standard issue on anything 16' and longer. The RV industry is insanely cheap....

I wish I knew about these things years ago.

I will be buying the A&E model. Will advise on how it goes.

[nremtp143]

I put the Carefree one you have pictured on both of my 40' 5ers. Both awnings sagged when they were delivered. Most people think it's just natural, but a dealer tech told me a while ago that any awning over 16 feet needs an awning cradle. Most of the sagging could be stopped if the factory would install these prior to leaving the factory. Once they are transported across country, the sagging had already happened due to the length and weight of the awning when rolled up, and the continuous bouncing of the camper in transit.

And YES they work with power awnings as both of mine are power. Just remember to rivet them into place with aluminum or stainless rivets, or bolt them in with stainless bolts to prevent rust stripes down the side of your rig!

[24fb_freedom]

I installed the carefree support on my rig which has an electric awning, the only problem i have is because of the rotation on my awning it will not disengage on its own when opening, no biggie though i can reach it standing in my door way and just bump it a bit,,I have only had it 1 yr and had sagged from day one. could yours be because of age?

[coolbreeze01]

I like the looks of the Carefree. Would it work with a power awning?

[huron52]

I was told when I went to replace my awning that 20 feet was where they could put a center post in. I could have got one without a center post but went with the center post. I don't always use it when it is opened up.I do like how it supports the center of the awning while travelling down the road.

[sasha_j]

Thanks all. Just to be clear, it is not the fabric that is sagging, it is the retracted roll sagging in the center when traveling.

[SuperDutyFiver]

I experienced this with a 24' A&E on an old fiver we had. I couldn't believe how much it bounced up and down going down the road. I liked the Carefree support you linked better than the A&E but ended up going with the full center support with the integral arm that you can extend in patio position. I didn't have enough meat under the center of the awning where the brace would attach but did down low-the arm support lets you tension the support after it's rolled up and offered a better solution for my application.

[RoyB]

On my 12-foot awning I got away with stretching across several of the stretch ropes with hook ends linked together... I think 50-inch was as long as you can buy... that helped mine alot from sagging in the middle...



Roy Ken

[Dick_B]

Ours sags also but it is because the material got stretched with rainwater collecting in the middle because I didn't slope the awning enough during a storm. A center support won't fix this problem. In fact, nothing will `fix' the problem short of a new awning. We just live with ours and stretch it side to side with straps.

[trop-a-cal]

If it's fully extended it should not sag. Then you have to keep it lower on one end so water runs off the center too. Center supports do help, but even then you need to make sure of full extension and tip to one side. Using deflappers keeps center flat by holding material out not allowing center sag.