Water Seeps into my Dometic Awning during Storage

[sskwise]

I have a Dometic Awning Model 802GV17.401B on my travel trailer. During storage water seeps between layers of the awning. It is normally wet when I open it. How can I keep it dry?

[wbrown62]

LakeN wrote:

wbrown62 wrote:
I am going to try the 2 liter coke bottle remedy. Others have posted about it on here. Cut the top off a plastic 2 liter bottle, slit it down the side to the bottom, cut a hole in the bottom that will fit over the round part between the awning and arm. Then spread the bottle apart and slip it over. Others have reported that this is pretty effective at keeping rainwater from finding its way between the layers. I haven't tried it yet, but have my bottles cut and ready to put on. I have also put corrugated plastic pipe over the awning with it extending out over the ends and still get water in somehow. Hope the bottle trick works but I'm not holding out a lot of hope. I'm tired of unrolling my awning only to find it wet and slightly moldy. Tired of cleaning before every trip.

I am missing something...is the bottom of bottle supposed to be intact to shield awning ends? sure would love to keep awning dry!

Yes, except there will be hole cut in the center of the bottom approximately the same diameter as the connector between the awning tube and awning arm (whatever its called). I haven't tried, but I too am tired of a damp moldy awning and storing under protection is not an option for me. I may try the bottle ends in conjunction with the plastic tube over the awning. Even the plastic tube sticking well over the ends would not keep rainwater at bay.

[ripperoo]

sskwise wrote:
Ripperoo, I noticed that my awning is sagging a little also. Can you discribe what you are talking about as a center support?

SSKWISE, I got one of these: Tension Rafter

When the awning is stowed, I put a little positive up lift on it, just slightly higher than the end supports. Helps keep the center from sagging down, permanently bending it. With a slight up curven in the middle, water doesn't tend to accumulate in the middle; seems to run out the ends. Also, it's nice to use as a center rafter when the awning is out. Helps keep water from puddling in the center, and again keeps the roller from bending inward toward the camper when tensioned.

[Jimmie2]

I ended up buying 2 sections of PVC gutter and cut to fit. Also bought 2 end caps as well as 1 "connector" to cover the seam. The gutter fits right into the trailer rain gutter and covers most of the awning. I was more interested in protecting it from the hot Florida sun and getting my awning eaten up. It ends up that it keeps the awning pretty dry as well. I even forgot to take the "cover" off one time when I took the trailer out on the highway to test some hitch readjustments...when I got half way home, it was one of those "Oh crap" moments. But when I arrived home, it was still intact! :S

[sskwise]

Ripperoo, I noticed that my awning is sagging a little also. Can you discribe what you are talking about as a center support?

[LakeN]

wbrown62 wrote:
I am going to try the 2 liter coke bottle remedy. Others have posted about it on here. Cut the top off a plastic 2 liter bottle, slit it down the side to the bottom, cut a hole in the bottom that will fit over the round part between the awning and arm. Then spread the bottle apart and slip it over. Others have reported that this is pretty effective at keeping rainwater from finding its way between the layers. I haven't tried it yet, but have my bottles cut and ready to put on. I have also put corrugated plastic pipe over the awning with it extending out over the ends and still get water in somehow. Hope the bottle trick works but I'm not holding out a lot of hope. I'm tired of unrolling my awning only to find it wet and slightly moldy. Tired of cleaning before every trip.

I am missing something...is the bottom of bottle supposed to be intact to shield awning ends? sure would love to keep awning dry!

[ripperoo]

I noticed that my newer camper did that also. My older camper did not. Both had the same length awning, only difference was the old camper had a center support arm. I noticed over time, the newer camper awning tube was sagging in the middle during storage. With the middle sagging, water would accumulate there. I added the center support to the new camper, and when storing, I cinch up the center just a little higher than the ends. Water no longer accumulates.

[wbrown62]

I am going to try the 2 liter coke bottle remedy. Others have posted about it on here. Cut the top off a plastic 2 liter bottle, slit it down the side to the bottom, cut a hole in the bottom that will fit over the round part between the awning and arm. Then spread the bottle apart and slip it over. Others have reported that this is pretty effective at keeping rainwater from finding its way between the layers. I haven't tried it yet, but have my bottles cut and ready to put on. I have also put corrugated plastic pipe over the awning with it extending out over the ends and still get water in somehow. Hope the bottle trick works but I'm not holding out a lot of hope. I'm tired of unrolling my awning only to find it wet and slightly moldy. Tired of cleaning before every trip.

[sbowman871]

GaryWT wrote:
Open it after is rains so it can drain.

True that. It's a never ending process. I roll mine out several times a week trying to keep it dry.

[GaryWT]

Open it after is rains so it can drain.

[fla-gypsy]

Keep it covered if you want a dry awning

[downtheroad]

They all leach water during storage...
Solution: How about something like this in your back yard?
(don't you wish)

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[ScottG]

Yep, mines wet 365 days a year unless I wash it. And then it's dry until the next time it rains.

[bob7794]

This happens on most awnings. Cover the ends of the awning with a piece of plastic guttering with end caps can alleviate the problem.