Power awning sticking

[Acdii]

Our last trip out, when I went to leave, the awning wouldn't retract on its own. It moved a little and stopped. I know it wasn't lack of power from the battery, the trailer was still connected to AC. I finally got it moving by pulling down on the arm at the guide. What I have noticed is that the guides are sticky going up and down, they dont move smoothly, but they are clean. What can I use to lubricate the guides on the wall that wont make a mess?

[Acdii]

mgirardo wrote:
You didn't mention what brand and model awning it is, but my experience with the Colorado Carefree electric awning on our previous Greyhawk Motorhome was if the arms weren't at the same pitch, the awning would only retract a few inches then stop. Our awning had 6 holes on each arm to control pitch. Re-adjusting the arms so they were at the same pitch level fixed that problem. Even if one arm was in position 4 and the other was in position 5, just being off that little bit made difficult to retract.

After 4 or 5 years, I did notice that the rollers would skip and squeak. I used a dry Silicone Spray that quieted them down, but they still skipped a little.

-Michael

Don't know who made it, but it is like you said, with 6 holes in each arm, and I did have them offset, so most likely that was the reason as it moved a little and stopped. When extending and retracting the rear one makes noises and skips too. Since I have to redo the setup on my hitch this weekend I will play with the awning a bit and see if it retracts properly with the arms equal, then I will know for sure.

[mgirardo]

You didn't mention what brand and model awning it is, but my experience with the Colorado Carefree electric awning on our previous Greyhawk Motorhome was if the arms weren't at the same pitch, the awning would only retract a few inches then stop. Our awning had 6 holes on each arm to control pitch. Re-adjusting the arms so they were at the same pitch level fixed that problem. Even if one arm was in position 4 and the other was in position 5, just being off that little bit made difficult to retract.

After 4 or 5 years, I did notice that the rollers would skip and squeak. I used a dry Silicone Spray that quieted them down, but they still skipped a little.

-Michael

[Acdii]

Sorry, its on a 2014 Coleman. One other issue I have is adjusting one of the arms. Very difficult to move up, but doesn't feel like it is grinding, just very stiff.

I will pop the strut off that side and see if its good or bad.

[TimnJo]

You don't say how old your unit is so this is just my experience.
Mine was doing the same thing - the gas compression strut's seals were gone and the struts were essentially frozen. Had to assist it in until I could replace them, been fine since.

[DutchmenSport]

The awning arms should not stick. There should be space all around. If they are touching, causing the sticking, your awning fabric needs to be aligned square again. Basically, either the awning attached at the trailer has moved slightly, or the awning attached at the roller has moved slightly. When you retract the awning, it's not rolling up square, so the arms bend, causing them to not align correct, thus, causing them to stick.

Extract your awning. Get a carpenter's square and lay it against the trailer and the awning. Then tug and pull on the awning at the roller, where it slides into the groves, until the awning is true square again with the carpenter's square.

It takes some heavy duty tugging and pulling, but this probably the reason the arms are sticking. They all slide and move a little over time. I've had 3 travel trailers, and all 3 have needed some tugging and pulling at least once a year.

[LadyRVer]

I use silicone spray.....also some awnings run off battery power only, some use shore power. But, I spray everything which moves on the arms and the roller tube ends.