I have managed to bend two awning arms. First one was a manual awning that I attempted to put up with one of the brace pieces in place and it slightly bent the main support. I was able to bend the arm enough so that it worked but it always was in a slight bind. The other was on our current TT and it is an electric awning. I think it got hit by a campground worker on a lawnmower, I think he hit it with his rollover guard...couldn't prove it so the repair was on me. Not repairable and the new arm was about $700...yikes.