What do I need to know about electric awnings?

[path1]

Please help me get caught up with the times we're in. Our new to us RV has an elec awning.

Any problems with them becoming "undone" driving down the road?

Anything else I should know about other than where the power button is?

Any other problems with them?


I believe it is a "Carefree Travel’R 12V Awning".

Thanks

[DSDP_Don]

Don't be afraid to use it! What's nice about an automatic awning is that you use it and bring it in. We may decide to sit out under the awning for a couple of hours and deploy it. When we're done, we bring it right back in. No fuss, no muss and no dealing with awning rods, arms and locks.

[Effy]

There is no auto stop on the deploy so it can be over run and even wound backwards. Just an FYI. It will auto stop when you close it but not when you put it out.

[Still_Searchin_]

I was told the electric motor "locks" and can't turn without hitting the button.
the motor just rolls the awning in or out, but what pushes it out are the struts. When too much water/weight is on the awning, the struts give way and the awning dumps and then the struts push it back in place. Cool!

[GaryInMaine]

My rig has an electric awning. Love it. Just one issue, the forward support happens to line up to the front basement door. If open the support will hit the open door when retacted. One of this winters projects is to install a saftey "lockout switch" before I do any more damage!

[Ron3rd]

Nothing much to know about them, just review the manual as brands differ in their features. Our new Rockwood came with an electric awning that works fine. It has a knob on each side to secure the side arms and/or adjust pitch.

[coolbreeze01]

You will enjoy the electric, as with any awning, don't let the wind ruin it.

[allen8106]

I have one and wish I didn't. After having both I prefer the manual version, much more versatile.

[mbopp]

Our previous HTT had a manual awning, the new TT has an electric.
I don't believe the electric one is as robust or wind-tolerant as the manual one. But, it's easy to roll it up half-way if we're gone for the day.

[hotpepperkid]

I had to have one but I don't think I would ever buy another one

[mgirardo]

We have a Carefree on our 2009 Greyhawk. The only issue we've had was when the awning wasn't set to the same position on each arm. Ours is adjustable to 6 or 7 different spots. I had adjusted it to the lowest position, but apparently one side wasn't fully clicked into place and the awning went really slow when retracting it until it finally just stopped. I extended it and realized the one side wasn't completely clicked into the lowest position. No problems since.

Ours does not have the wind sensor. Since ours is pitched, there is no need to auto dump, but it does have the feature for when it isn't pitched.

I wasn't too excited about the motorhome having the electric awning when we bought it new. I liked having the option of fully pitching the manual awning when leaving the site for the day so as not to worry about it blowing off. However, it only takes 30 seconds to retract the electric which is about 30 seconds quicker than lowering each side of a manual awning all the way down.

-Michael

[Nutinelse2do]

We have an A&E/ Dometic electric awning. Ours did not have the ability to lower one side for water run off. I searched online and found there was a free kit to change the rear arm. Had a dealer down the road order one for us. Had it within a week at n/c.
Easy install, now the one side lowers. Just have to remember to straigten the arm before roll up.

[Poppy___Nana]

I, Nana Kathy, happen to love it - DH, Poppy Leo, does not take the awning in at night - and he can sleep standing up - I remember getting up many night to bring in the manual awning (wind or rain) and not being very lady like with what I was saying.....now I just push a button from inside the trailer.....NICE!!!!

We have the auto dump feature also - I tried telling a friend to not stand where he was, but oh no he would not listen.......he got a little wet!

[outdoorlovers]

So far, so good. Love it.

[Rescue16]

Mine has the Auto Dump feature that when enough water is on it, the awning tilts to one side and dumps the water which I might add can be chilling experience if you are standing in the wrong place when it happens.