Securing power awning while in transit

[harry_and_thea]

Just heard about a friend of my brother's whose awning on his fifth wheel started coming out while he was driving. He has a new high end trailer so I'm sure it must have been a power awning. Heard this second hand from my brother so I don't know the particulars.
My last trailer had a manual awning which I felt was fairly secure. Ever since I got my current trailer with the power awning I always wonder about the possibility of the awning coming out while travelling. It would only take two strands of the wire going to the switch to come together to make this happen. Any one ever hear of this happening? Any safeguards that can be taken?

[rk911]

mordecai81 wrote:
The awning can unroll without the arms deploying. Saw a FW on the side of I90 with the awning unrolled and torn to bits but the arms still stowed. I don't know if that's the most common scenario or if the arms deploying is, but nevertheless, I ordered the awning lock linked above when we got home. It's a well-made device.

yup. happened to us on I-90 back in '86 or '87. arms stayed in place and the awning fabric ballooned out. had i not glanced in my right mirror when i did i might've lost the awning. i was able to pull onto the shoulder and get it back in place. bought an awning lock a few days later and used it up till 2015 when we bought our current MH which has a power awning. securing the arms is not enough. you need to keep the roller from turning. that's what the lock does. as for damaging the awning if forgetting to remove the lock...in my case i did forget a few times early on. tbe result was the awning simply would not extend. no damage.

[mordecai81]

The awning can unroll without the arms deploying. Saw a FW on the side of I90 with the awning unrolled and torn to bits but the arms still stowed. I don't know if that's the most common scenario or if the arms deploying is, but nevertheless, I ordered the awning lock linked above when we got home. It's a well-made device.

[doxiemom11]

We just wrap a velcro strap around the arms so they can't open.

[ScottG]

I would think any lock would almost be more dangerous. I can see forgetting about it and trying to extend the awning.
The whole thing is rather strange. The motor would have had to of broken or come loose for the awning to come out by itself.

[IAMICHABOD]

One sure way to stop this from happening is to use the Awning Lock.

They are made for Many types of Awnings

[Lwiddis]

Reminds me of all the fears about solar panels blowing off...I’ve yet to see even one.

[2oldman]

No. Just make sure it's in. Two strands of wire suddenly coming together? Highly improbable.