Awning tie downs straps

[Cdaddy]

Trying to find out if there is a definitive answer on using tiedowns on newer electric awnings. I've herd arguments both ways. I'm always getting asked. My usual answer is no. It's a button use it. Plus straps will slow that process if in a hurry.

[GrandpaKip]

mtofell1 wrote:
I came up with some makeshift tie downs of sorts since the awning in my new trailer wouldn't stay lowered. It extends and retracts fine but once out the "shocks" were too strong and always pushed it up. I just grabbed a couple C-clamps and some bungee cords and that holds it down okay. I wouldn't rely on it in much wind. For that matter, I wouldn't rely on any tie downs in wind. Just roll the thing up.

To solve the problem of keeping the awning down, I drilled a hole in the arm and another in the stationary part on the camper. Got the right length bungee to keep it down. Did it on both sides. Easy to remove when I need/want to bring it in.

[mtofell1]

I came up with some makeshift tie downs of sorts since the awning in my new trailer wouldn't stay lowered. It extends and retracts fine but once out the "shocks" were too strong and always pushed it up. I just grabbed a couple C-clamps and some bungee cords and that holds it down okay. I wouldn't rely on it in much wind. For that matter, I wouldn't rely on any tie downs in wind. Just roll the thing up.

[lewisr]

I have the poles and tie downs linked in a prior post. I put it out, tie it down and leave it out. That's why I have an awning. If it gets destroyed my insurance is paid up.

[austinjenna]

Every night I roll it up. If we leave the campsite I roll it up. I have been there before running out in the middle of the night to roll it up from a storm or have seen them torn off from campers who left them open and went into town. Sometimes they were still staked down but the fabric ripped.

This just happened to us last year - beautiful day, no chance of rain and then one rolled in with high winds, tore them off my 2 neighbors rigs. In the old days I would have gone out and rolled them up for them but with the new electric ones I dont have that opportunity so can only watch.

I dont leave anything out at night either so I dont need to worry about anything getting wet. Gives me piece of mind while sleeping or away from the campsite. I go camping to relax and try to limit the amount of things I need to worry about while camping to a minimum. Takes all of 10 seconds to press the button to extend or retract it and I take full advantage of it.

[OleManOleCan]

ependydad wrote:
I like support poles AND tie downs:

[url]http://learntorv.com/power-awning-support-poles/

But there's controversy no matter what you do. I've personally had my awning out (supported + tied down) in up to 35mph winds. I didn't like having it out up over 25mph but I missed my window of opportunity for bringing it in safely.

In 2012 I lost a manual awning to a sudden storm. We were gone for the day.
Never again. Too easy to roll up the awning to take that chance.

Now I throw a piece of Ski Rope over the corners, attach them to tent pegs with a Truckers hitch, for daily use. Take down is about 2-3 minutes tops.
I have my awning rolled up when we aren't there...
New awnings aren't cheap.

[GrandpaKip]

I would never stake the awning for fear of tearing away from the camper. Just push the button.

[mgirardo]

Our seasonal site is across from a farm and can be very windy on an otherwise windless day. We can walk 150 feet south to the lake and there isn't a breathe of wind, but on our site we could have 10 - 15 mph winds.

When we had our Class C, it had an electric awning that did not have a wind sensor. We used an awning tie down kit from Camco that came with anchors and heavy duty springs. Our awning was only 11 feet long, but the tie downs worked very well. The springs allowed the awning to move gently in strong winds so the awning fabric doesn't tear.

We still have the tie down kit and used it with our current TT, but it's a manual awning.

-Michael

[scbwr]

Last year in Florida, I got really frustrated with the lightweight electric awning on our Winnebago Minnie as it would start bouncing in very slight breezes. I ended up ordering a tie down kit and started using it. The straps had a hook and a loop so they were very easy to quickly disconnect when I felt the awning needed to be retracted. I think it's OK to use tie downs as long as you are on site. When turning in for the night or leaving the site, I always retract the awning...I saw how fast things can change years ago while camping near Detroit.

[HuckleberryHunt]

I’ve routinely used tie downs on both my old and new trailer awnings when I could. The first was manual and the new one is electric (no wind sensors). It’s not a failsafe, but it is a little added insurance for the unexpected. However, if really in question, we just bring ours in. An ounce of prevention is with a pound of cure.

[mlh]

I watched an awning (tied down with stakes) get ripped on the trailer side due to a good gust of wind. If the wind wants it, it is going to get it. I would put it up and not worry about it.

[parcany]

I built a set out of PVC from the Wildcat forum and have had the awning out when the wind was blowing over 35 mph and not had a problem. With the pvc poles there is no movement with the awning at all. When we were in Pinetop Az the awning would go out the day we got there and come back in the day before we left. 4.5 months.

[DutchmenSport]

Delete

[ependydad]

I like support poles AND tie downs:

http://learntorv.com/power-awning-support-poles/

But there's controversy no matter what you do. I've personally had my awning out (supported + tied down) in up to 35mph winds. I didn't like having it out up over 25mph but I missed my window of opportunity for bringing it in safely.

[BarabooBob]

If the wind is strong enough to worry about tie-downs, I would roll it up and not worry about it. When we leave the trailer for any length of time, we roll it up. If the weather forecast is questionable, we roll it up.
We have a manual awning but it still only takes about 2 minutes to get the awning rolled and out of danger. When in doubt, roll it up and don't worry, be happy.