What are your rules for the awning?

mgirardo wrote:

The tie downs in the photo you posted look completely useless. The tie downs need to be perpendicular to the awning tube. Those straps are at a 30 degree angle or more and offer very little leverage.
-Michael

I would suggest that leverage had nothing to do with it. The wind caught the awning like a sail and just ripped it off the side of the trailer. The weakest point failed. Now had it been rolled in....

The awning on our Rv that was damaged in our backyard was not rolled out.

IMO, there is no reason to tie down an awning... If it's windy enough to need to tie it down, it too windy to leave out the awning..

The first thing that goes out after unhitching is the awning.. I just put it out and enjoy..

Sure, if the wind comes up, the awning goes up too. Rain, well, it's fun to be under the awning when it's raining. As long as there isn't the wind, no big deal.

I just play it by ear most of the time. Depends on where we are and how much wind there is.

YMMV.. :)

Mitch

azjeffh wrote:
For those that believe tie downs are the answer, you might want to talk to these owners. I guess the good thing is the straps are now keeping the awning wrapped around the roller tube.

Having the springs at the bottom of the tie down makes a huge difference. During a very large storm we had last summer, the awning moved a lot. The 7" springs were completely stretched to about 2 feet long and totally useless after that, but the awning survived and still works fine. Our Motorhome was in direct path of the unpredicted 80 mph, straight line winds with no protect from trees.

The tie downs in the photo you posted look completely useless. The tie downs need to be perpendicular to the awning tube. Those straps are at a 30 degree angle or more and offer very little leverage.

If winds over 25 mph are predicted, we pull our awning in. Even with the tie downs, it only takes a minute or two. Being across from a farm, the wind picks up out of no where some times and the tie downs are a must. Having the tie downs allows us to pull the awning in safely even if it is already windy.

-Michael

lots2seeinmyrv wrote:
When we leave...close the awning and shut off the water at the spigot.

X2

Rule #1

Check the other RVs. If the awnings are in, there is likely a good reason.

I will often leave it out BUT only when I'm in a sheltered area where wind is not an issue (in the forest, etc) and only when I need the protection from rain or tree drips.

austinjenna wrote:
I have seen many get destroyed as well.

With the power awning its so simple to extend and retract why just not bring it in when you are gone or at night and not worry about it. I go camping to relax..not to have more stuff that makes me worry so I bring it in every night and when we are gone.

Since an electric awning is so easily damaged, it is even simpler to just to forget you have the silly thing.

I have seen many get destroyed as well.

With the power awning its so simple to extend and retract why just not bring it in when you are gone or at night and not worry about it. I go camping to relax..not to have more stuff that makes me worry so I bring it in every night and when we are gone.

We only used the awning a few times as my husband didnt want to deal with it. A few years back while parked in our north facing back yard somehow a severe wind and rain storm broke some part of the awning. We had it taken off and never replaced it. I wish we had as we could have used it on hot sunny day during our travels to keep the camper cooler.