Awning question what is too much wind

[Subyguy]

I was discussing this with someone and figured i would see what everyone else has to say. when do you put your awning in ? what wind speed? When you leave camp? When you go to bed?
Thank you I am looking forward to your answer
Brandon

[M_GO_BLUE1]

When the wind starts blowing the awning goes up...

When I leave the site or RV park the awning goes up...

When I go to bed the awning goes up...

[Terryallan]

Tvov wrote:
We usually leave it out when in heavily wooded campgrounds, which is where we normally camp. At night I lower it as much possible while still being able to open the door of the camper. This helps with wind, and lets water run off.

I also use the awning deflappers -- they make a HUGE difference. I can't even imagine setting up an awning now without them.

I do roll up the awning if we are in a windy, open campground and also if we will be gone all day.

The only time I had a scare with wind and the awning was the second year we owned the TT. Our campsite was at the end of an open field, and I didn't have awning deflappers. That night a thunderstorm showed up, and after a couple wind gusts made the awning dangerously flap I went out and rolled up the awning -- midnight, in a thunderstorm, in my "BVDs", lol! Next morning I went to the campstore and bought awning deflappers.

We've never done the "carport" setup, taking the lower arms off the camper and securing them vertically in the ground. I might do that this year just to try it.

It works, and has several advantages. Besides making the awning super stable, You don't have to dodge the arm supports when you come around the TT. IMOP. It is also safer, as it takes the strain off the support clips on the side of the TT, which is one of the awning hardware weak points. More often than not, when a awning fill with water. The screws holding the leg clips pull out of the TT. On the ground, and tilted. That will never happen.

[Tvov]

We usually leave it out when in heavily wooded campgrounds, which is where we normally camp. At night I lower it as much possible while still being able to open the door of the camper. This helps with wind, and lets water run off.

I also use the awning deflappers -- they make a HUGE difference. I can't even imagine setting up an awning now without them.

I do roll up the awning if we are in a windy, open campground and also if we will be gone all day.

The only time I had a scare with wind and the awning was the second year we owned the TT. Our campsite was at the end of an open field, and I didn't have awning deflappers. That night a thunderstorm showed up, and after a couple wind gusts made the awning dangerously flap I went out and rolled up the awning -- midnight, in a thunderstorm, in my "BVDs", lol! Next morning I went to the campstore and bought awning deflappers.

We've never done the "carport" setup, taking the lower arms off the camper and securing them vertically in the ground. I might do that this year just to try it.

[garyhaupt]

You only have to loose the set-up once and then have to pay the $1,500 to get the new one and from that point on...you will know when the wind is to strong.

Your guts, starting to churn, will be the key.



Gary


I thought perhaps I would rephrase my note...if you are getting any wind at all and you are starting to wonder/worry? That is the time to bring it in. If the wind gets strong enough to damage the awning, it'll happen so fast, you won't be able to prevent it. If you close to water and see whitecaps starting to kick up? Now. If you are in open area and see dust devils or stuff kicking up? Now. If you see someone else bringing in theirs? Now.

You can always bring it in too seoon, and you will get a feel for it. But..when it goes bad...it's alreaqdy gone.

[jbarry]

I roll it up when the wind is strong enough to rattle the awning hardware, the legs, rafters, etc. Also I usually roll it up at night before bed.

[mockturtle]

While I don't know where you will be camping, I would never leave my rig with the awning out nor leave it out overnight. Wind can come up suddenly and all it takes is one big gust. In Yuma, where we used to winter, the awning repairmen had a booming business. OTOH, if you're camped for the season you can get heavy-duty tie downs and screens that usually keep the awning secure. But this would not be practical for short stays.

[dcason]

Rule of thumb:
If wind is flapping it more than a little bit or there is any
danger you MIGHT have to replace it OR you might have to get up in middle of night - roll it up.
Simple::)

[LakeN]

We don't take chances. On a previous TT, had an awning that was tied down instantly lift and blow over TT roof. Wife inside doing morning dishes was shocked! We were in a mountain region, wind was calm and in an instant a major gust blew out of a valley. Luckily, no roof damage but broken piece on arm & no awning use for remainder of that trip.

[snowdance]

We find when the wind gets much over 15 mph its starting to be a problem to handle. At 20 mph its time to roll it for sure. Much after that there is a good chance it will catch the wind and wrap up over the top. We were at a WBCCI Airstream national meeting some years back with about 1100 Airstreams. Most of us just rolled when leaving our rigs as habit. About 300 did not and there were about 300 awings replaced because of one wind storm.

We never leave our awning out if we are not using it. Far easier to just roll it than replace it..

[Howie3]

Depends on the conditions. If we are protected by direct wind in a forested site, we don't worry too much. Out in the open we gauge depending on the forecast or whether we are present. If we are away from the trailer we will roll in the awning before we leave. I usually leave the awning up while we are sleeping as either me or the DW seems to detect middle of the night storms and can easily roll up the awning if conditions warrant,even in our sleep (one of the advantages of getting older, we can multitask even during slumber!)

[Altern]

Our Girard awning makes the decision to automatically retract @ 20 mph wind speed thereby relieving me of any responsibility and relieving my wife the job of chewing me out if I fail.

[Terryallan]

I put it out, carport it, (legs / arms, on the ground) and tie it down, when I setup camp. I roll it up when we leave. It is there to keep rain, and sun off of me, and the outside stuff. If I can't use it for that, it is no good to me.

Why Do I carport? It makes the awning much more stable, and able to withstand much more wind. It also keeps the awning from jerking the trailer around. When the supports are anchored to the side of the RV, They act like a lever, and cause the entire RV to sway with the wind. Making you think the awning is takeing more of a beating than it is.
In the carport position. The supports are sitting on solid ground, and have no effect on the RV.

I pretty sure the TT awning can handel as much wind as my popup campers, and their awnings did over the years. And they took alot.

[Son_of_Norway]

In this part of the country wind is always an issue. The only time we have our awning out is when it is calm and we are under it. Otherwise we put the awning up. We never leave the awning out when we are not around. Any wind that comes up can quickly get out of hand.

Miles

[dennislanier]

Like many other RV topics, the answer usually is more of a personal preference than specific information. For instance, I tend to get a little "paranoid" about my awning. When we first started camping we would hang lights on it etc. but a middle-of-the night thunderstorm changed my mind about leaving it open. Going outside in your BVD's after midnight is the kind of excitement I can do without. Now I bring in the awning anytime we leave the campsite, and usually at night unless there is no chance of wind or storms. As far as wind speed, I just keep an eye on it and if it starts flopping around too much I bring it in. In my case probably anything over 20MPH would be enough to roll it up. Others tie their awnings down with all kinds of contraptions but I would rather not worry about it and just bring it in until things calm down. Again, personal preference and comfort level which varies from one person to another.

[Dennis_M_M]

We never leave it open when we are gone and usually only when we need it for shade. During the winter in AZ our door faces east so we have afternoon shade and don't even bother with the awning.

In Fl in the late spring/early summer a few years ago, with that side facing south, we had it open whenever we were home.