Was looking at a TT we thought we might like. but when we came back out it not only had a TINY awning, it was electric. Which is pretty much a deal breaker for me. Salesman said. but it is so much stronger than a manual awning. I said HUH??????. I told him I could carport my awning, and it would take a really strong wind, while tied down. he asked. You don't roll it up when it rains??? I ask why would I do that. Isn't that what it is for, to sit under when it rains?? He says, Because it will pool water. I told him, NOT if you tilt it. He then said. You can't tilt it enough to let the rain runoff. at that point, I knew he didn't know much about camping. I explained that IF I had to take it down every time it rained, or at night, or every time I left the TT, I wouldn't have one. I explained, that unless there is a really, really, bad storm. The awning goes out at setup, and only comes down when we break camp. He asked you never lost an awning? No I have not. Then he asked like I was new at this. how long have you been camping? I told him 30+ years. and a tiny wimpy electric awning is a deal breaker.

Just the way the market is going I think. Most new models have them.I have a manual but sure wouldn't pass up a trailer I like just because it had and electric awning!

I have reserved feelings on our new one. It is electric, which like you I don't like, but it is the strongest one I have ever seen. If the motor doesn't fail, I'll be a happy camper. If it does conk out, there is a plug that comes out and some how or other it can be manually closed. What I don't like is the fact that even if I am plugged into 120 volts it still has to have a 12volt battery hooked up.Keeping my finger crossed !jack L

Terryallan wrote:He then said. You can't tilt it enough to let the rain runoff.You know the make / model of awning? I ask because I can tilt the Dometic 9100 power awning on my Coachmen at either end ... not quite as much as my previous Dometic 8500 manual awning but it certainly tilts enough that rainwater during even the heaviest downpour will easily run off. No issues at all with mine. :)

SoundGuy wrote:Terryallan wrote:He then said. You can't tilt it enough to let the rain runoff.You know the make / model of awning? I ask because I can tilt the Dometic 9100 power awning on my Coachmen at either end ... not quite as much as my previous Dometic 8500 manual awning but it certainly tilts enough that rainwater during even the heaviest downpour will easily run off. No issues at all with mine. :)He was trying to tell me... "I" couldn't tilt mine enough to let the rain run off.

You were probably camping before the salesman was out of diapers. And I also line our manual 16' awning. We roll it out, put the legs on the ground, and stake it down. Stays out, Unless there is a high probabity of big winds.

Awning on new TT. | Good Sam Community

29 Replies

Lynnmor
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
Mike& Rose wrote:
I want to learn how to tilt it and I am concerned that it is so high! At least I won't be walking into the support beams like I did all the time with the old awning. That will be a pro for me! I will let you know how I make out.

You better hope that it is high, otherwise you will be trading the knee pads for a helmet.

Why didn't you set up your manual in carport mode so that the beams were out of the way?
Mike__Rose
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
On our 2008 Greyhawk 31SS by Jayco we had a manual 16' awning. We would leave it down most of the time but we added clamps to prevent flapping, tie down straps and a sun screen. We traded in our RV for a 2017 with a 21' electric awning with built in lights with remote and changing colors. Our first trip will be in April when I get to try it out. I hope to get pointers at the PDI in a few weeks. I want to learn how to tilt it and I am concerned that it is so high! At least I won't be walking into the support beams like I did all the time with the old awning. That will be a pro for me! I will let you know how I make out.
wbwood
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
Terryallan wrote:
CavemanCharlie wrote:
Golly, none of you must live in rural the midwest where the wind blows. It often comes up suddenly with out warning. I would love to have a electric awning. I don't use my manual one often because I'm so afraid that it will get ripped off of the TT when I am not around. Yes, you can roll the manual one up too but, it does take a little work and finesse to get it rolled up. When the calm wind suddenly comes up to 25 mph (gusts to 30) and you have to run full speed back to the camper and try to get the awning rolled up in a 25 mph (gust to 30) wind it is not fun.

FYI. My manual awning in carport position, will take a gust to 30 mph with no problems. The wind ALWAYS blows at the beach, 24/7. the only time we take ours in is when a hurricane passes offshore, or during a SEVERE thunderstorm, usually with tornadoes. Yes then is comes in. and we go to shelter. Other than that. It stays out.

We tie down our electric awning at the beach also. But we do retract it when we leave the campground for something. We've had some pretty bad storms come up while we were away and glad we did. Have seen some damaged awnings that were tied down. If we are there, we are more likely to bring in our slides to protect the slide toppers before we put in the awning...lol
wbwood
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
Terryallan wrote:
wbwood wrote:
Terryallan, what dealer was this? I agree, they don't know much about camping or their products. Electric awnings can be tied down (just remember to untie it before retracting...lol). Also, they can be tilted. At least on towables and smaller motorhomes. The bigger Class A's may be different. But I know our Class C electric awning can be as we've done it.

Terril Camping. but it wasn't one of the regular guys. He looked new.

Ahhh.. right down the road and never been there. They have weird hours too.
wbwood
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
wbwood wrote:
Electric awnings can be tied down (just remember to untie it before retracting...lol). Also, they can be tilted. At least on towables and smaller motorhomes. The bigger Class A's may be different. But I know our Class C electric awning can be as we've done it.

Whether a power awning tilts or not has nothing to do with the type of rig on which it's mounted but is simply a function of the design of the particular awning in question. When power awnings first hit the market many didn't tilt at all (such as my Carefree of Colorado mounted on a 2008 KZ Spree), some manufacturers did later offer retrofit kits so the awning would tilt, these days most power awnings do tilt ... but this has nothing to do with the rig it's on.

He's talking about a new TT. not a 2008. Larger motorhomes normally have awning that you can't manually tilt(or dump). They also usually have rain sensors and will automatically retract.
Santa_Fe
Explorer
Mar 13, 2017
I wasn't sold on my electric awning either...until I actually used it. It's just as sturdy (in my opinion) as my old manual one and I can tilt it with one hand. Water runoff in the rain.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Mar 13, 2017
CavemanCharlie wrote:
Golly, none of you must live in rural the midwest where the wind blows. It often comes up suddenly with out warning. I would love to have a electric awning. I don't use my manual one often because I'm so afraid that it will get ripped off of the TT when I am not around. Yes, you can roll the manual one up too but, it does take a little work and finesse to get it rolled up. When the calm wind suddenly comes up to 25 mph (gusts to 30) and you have to run full speed back to the camper and try to get the awning rolled up in a 25 mph (gust to 30) wind it is not fun.

FYI. My manual awning in carport position, will take a gust to 30 mph with no problems. The wind ALWAYS blows at the beach, 24/7. the only time we take ours in is when a hurricane passes offshore, or during a SEVERE thunderstorm, usually with tornadoes. Yes then is comes in. and we go to shelter. Other than that. It stays out.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Mar 13, 2017
wbwood wrote:
Terryallan, what dealer was this? I agree, they don't know much about camping or their products. Electric awnings can be tied down (just remember to untie it before retracting...lol). Also, they can be tilted. At least on towables and smaller motorhomes. The bigger Class A's may be different. But I know our Class C electric awning can be as we've done it.

Terril Camping. but it wasn't one of the regular guys. He looked new.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Mar 13, 2017
wbwood wrote:
Electric awnings can be tied down (just remember to untie it before retracting...lol). Also, they can be tilted. At least on towables and smaller motorhomes. The bigger Class A's may be different. But I know our Class C electric awning can be as we've done it.

Whether a power awning tilts or not has nothing to do with the type of rig on which it's mounted but is simply a function of the design of the particular awning in question. When power awnings first hit the market many didn't tilt at all (such as my Carefree of Colorado mounted on a 2008 KZ Spree), some manufacturers did later offer retrofit kits so the awning would tilt, these days most power awnings do tilt ... but this has nothing to do with the rig it's on.
wbwood
Explorer
Mar 13, 2017
Terryallan, what dealer was this? I agree, they don't know much about camping or their products. Electric awnings can be tied down (just remember to untie it before retracting...lol). Also, they can be tilted. At least on towables and smaller motorhomes. The bigger Class A's may be different. But I know our Class C electric awning can be as we've done it.

Forum Discussion

Awning on new TT.

29 Replies

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

Alternative awnings

Awning

solar awning

Carefree awning

Electric TT