el.jefe wrote:
With my old manual awning, I used to put stakes in the ground and use ratchet straps to tie it down. Never had an issue or thought about bringing it in in high winds. Now with the power awning I'm afraid of every little gust of wind and I've been bringing it in every night. DW thinks I'm being paranoid. I'm wondering how many others bring it in every night? Or do you leave it out if the weather forecast is decent?
Power awnings can be easily modded to have self storing poles to allow tying them down carport just like the manual awnings have. They can also be modded to have an additional self storing pole so deflapper clips can be used. I would not tie one down without at least the added carport type poles as downforce from winds is just as bad as uplift when it comes to twisting the arms into pretzels on a power awning. If modded properly with tie down poles, they're just about bulletproof.
I have modded ours with both types of poles and leave it extended for weeks at a time. It once survived some 70 mph wind gusts in a pop up T storm, and plenty of times with 30 mph or better winds such as in the fall. No sleep lost.
Do a search for power awning mods. There is no shortage of fearmongers on RV forums to tell you what can't be done when it comes to anything and everything. You have to search out the things that can be done.
