Just curious how well they work, if there's a delay perhaps. I was able to reallybtestbit on our last trip. I have it set on the lowest setting ( 12 ). Now there were some pretty windy days with some gusts I'm sure we're over that. Enough to shake the awning pretty good. It never retracted. Is there a easy way to test them? It's a Dometic

It takes a sustained wind for 20(?) seconds. I've discovered that high temperatures will also make it retract.

et2, be careful with the awning in the wind. Ours will retract but it takes a little time as they go out 9 or 10 feet (on the passenger side), 5 feet on the driver's side. They can puff up while retracting which makes me nervous. At any hint of wind, I pull them in.On a couple of class-A Fleetwood's that we rented, they had a switch in the over-head cabinet on the passenger side that would turn on the 'auto-retract' awning feature. Check to make sure if you have a separate switch or not. MM.

I was told they test then with a blow dryer on the sensor ..to simulate a high wind ..I pull mind in long before the wind has been high enough for a "real" test

Staying at Grizzly RV and recently watched our neighbors "retractable" awing torn apart by a strong burst of wind. I imagine,like anything, it has it's breaking point. We have learned to be very careful about when to use our awning-never in WY!

Kinda what I thought. I'll just pull it in at night and when gone. Thanks for all the replies. I'd like to say I trust it, but I really never will.

So does the auto retract awning really work! | Good Sam Community

dubdub07
Explorer
Aug 04, 2015
I am a minority, I guess. Mine works pretty good. I always have it on the lowest setting and I think it goes in too soon.

WW
et2
Explorer
Aug 04, 2015
MrWizard wrote:
mine is manual
and i just ordered a new front spring
so i have a question about how the electric models function
i've been reading and it seems there are several types
some that use the motor to extend and to retract
and some that use springs (gas?) for extent and only use the motor for retract
seems these go out faster than they retract
even some that are 120v instead of 12v DC

can owners of these types clarify on this ?

Ours is a Dometic. It goes out with electric (12v) and back in With electric. There are gas shocks to dampen the wind from blowing it around when open. Also the gas shocks reset it after it would dump rain water off.
bluwtr49
Explorer II
Aug 04, 2015
The girard work well and has auto retracted several times. I haven't heard of any being damaged by wind but I'm sure it could happen.
MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 04, 2015
mine is manual
and i just ordered a new front spring
so i have a question about how the electric models function
i've been reading and it seems there are several types
some that use the motor to extend and to retract
and some that use springs (gas?) for extent and only use the motor for retract
seems these go out faster than they retract
even some that are 120v instead of 12v DC

can owners of these types clarify on this ?
pulsar
Explorer
Aug 04, 2015
Our previous coach, 2008 Journey, had a wind sensor on the awning. I did not trust it.

Our current coach, doesn't use a wind sensor, it has a motion detector. I keep it on the most sensitive setting, which the manual refers to as "low," and i am very confident in it.

That said, if we are leaving for a period of time, I do not leave the awning out.

Tom
sehunter
Explorer
Jul 30, 2015
Mine does work and have seen it retract but having said that I think it's too slow in retract mode and there's a chance it can billow and destroyed. So if I leave I bring it now.
creeper
Explorer
Jul 30, 2015
I only have the awning fully out when we are using it. I'll put it out a couple of feet sometimes for shade. Never trust the auto feature.
Blaster_Man
Explorer
Jul 30, 2015
They work but are very slow. If a gust starts the retraction, a second gust could destroy the awning as it's slowly coming in. If windy or wind is anticipated, I don't use the awning.
Donna_and_Rob
Explorer
Jul 29, 2015
Our auto retract quit working with the previous owner so I have to manually retract. Well as you can see I didn't get to it in time, one arm broke off and scratched up and down on the side of the coach a couple of times before I got it wound up. Getting it replaced tomorrow. $ 3800.00
summerhouse
Explorer
Jul 29, 2015
We had a wind sensor on our last coach. I think it auto retracted a couple times. 99.9% of the time I retract our awning at the first hint of wind starting up. Our new coach doesn't have a wind sensor, and I don't miss it at all. My sensor is way less tolerant! Lol!