Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Obsessing about the Awning and the Wind - Need Advice
Post Info TOPIC: Obsessing about the Awning and the Wind - Need Advice
Camper Chronicles


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 932
Date:
Obsessing about the Awning and the Wind - Need Advice
Permalink  

Hi all,

 

So we've been on the road for about 10 days now and I keep worried about the awning and the wind.  Previously we stayed in well wooded sites so it was a non issue, but twice so far (including last night at 3:45am) the canopy was bouncing up and down and I got nervous and shut it.  How resistant are those things?  At what point do you shut yours??  If I remember correctly the awning if the only thing not covered under our warranty (need to double check that) but if something would happen how expensive are they to replace??  It's gusty here with winds about 20-30mph but it comes and goes.  For example, when we went to bed last night completely still and no so much in the middle of the night.  Do you check the weather channel for wind before going to bed??  

Anyways, appreciate any stories or thoughts as I figure this out.  

 

Trace

 



__________________

 Trace 

Ford F350 Super Duty 4x2.  Open Range 386FLR

Follow our journey at www.camperchronicles.com

 
Alie and Jims Carrilite


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 980
Date:
Permalink  

We have a tie-down system we use on ours as long as no storms are predicted. Anything over 20mph winds and it comes in depending on what direction the wind is blowing from.

__________________

Carrilite Home

Volvo Pickup

Alie & Jim

Morgan- DD

Sallie- 4 legged lab

Tabitha & Brooke -other furballs

FullTiming since March 2013
TRAILERKING


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1509
Date:
Permalink  

If I know it's going to be windy I'll roll it in. Sometimes had surprises like you in the middle of the night................So out in the shorts rolling it in. If we ever leave the site for the day with the car, I'll roll it in, you never know when the wind might pick up.
I know mine is a Carefree of Colorado.......and they're not cheap.

On a smaller pull type camper we had in the old days the "Add-A-Room" unit got destroyed by wind and rain. We went into the city and came back later to pick up the pieces.

__________________

My Dreams...............Her Nightmares.

 
Barbaraok


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1094
Date:
Permalink  

Yes, we always check the weather before going to bed - just so we have an idea of whether or not we need to bring the awning in at least partially or all the way. Since ours is electric, no need to go out in our PJs but still have to 'hear' the bounce to get up and bring it in.

Barb


__________________

Barb & Dave O'Keeffe

2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID

Blog:  http://www.barbanddave.net

SPK# 90761 FMCA #F337834
Jo and Ben


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 204
Date:
Permalink  

We always retract ours when we go in for the night and anytime we are not home. Also if it's windy at all. We were walking the dogs at the campground in Virginia when a gust of wind tore a neighbor's awning completely off their rig. Not taking any chances.

__________________

Jo & Ben

2014 Arctic Fox 32-5M  5th wheel pulled by a 2014 Ford F350 DRW

photo IMG_0781_zpsb4f463cb.jpg
The Bear II


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1337
Date:
Permalink  

Best bet is to roll it in if there is a chance of gusts above 20 MPH. You don't want to go out in the cold and dark to roll it in.

__________________

"Small House, Big Yard "

"May the FOREST be with you"
Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe
bjoyce


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 3722
Date:
Permalink  

2AM in a thunderstorm is not a good time to be outside rolling an awning in. I have a friend who did that in his underwear. He did not save the awning, it was too late and it was already damaged.

__________________

Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003
TRAILERKING


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1509
Date:
Permalink  

bjoyce wrote:

2AM in a thunderstorm is not a good time to be outside rolling an awning in. I have a friend who did that in his underwear. He did not save the awning, it was too late and it was already damaged.

 Well at least he got his underwear washed too......Hahaha



__________________

My Dreams...............Her Nightmares.

 
SnowGypsy


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 289
Date:
Permalink  

Trace: We had a gust come out of no where in SE AL and we tried to hold it down but one of the arms bent. We had the arm replaced and it ran about $75.00 and that was about 10 years ago. The awnings are very expensive to replace, maybe with the larger in the $800 to $1,000 range being my best guess and it could be more.

__________________

Cathy, Alfred, Andrew & Rinnie/Yellow Dog/Sparky

Theme Song:  "Born To Be Alive"

 

 

 
Jim01


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1144
Date:
Permalink  

If there's any doubt at all about the wind or weather, roll it up! Then enjoy a good night's sleep. biggrin

Jim 



__________________

Jim and Linda
Full-timers from 2001 to 2013
http://parttimewithjandl.blogspot.com/ 
2006 Dodge 2500 Diesel pulling a Heartland 26LRSS TT
May your days be warm, and your skies be blue.
May your roads be smooth, and your views ever-new.
el Rojo and Pam


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 911
Date:
Permalink  

We do the same as Jo and Ben. We always retract ours when we go in for the night and anytime we are not home. It only goes out if we are home and the winds are calm.


__________________

Full timing since 2/27/14.

Silverado HD 3500 4X4 Dually.

Momentum 380 by Grand Design.
The Junkman


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 972
Date:
Permalink  

This seemed to work for us.. sustained winds in the 20-25 range..

We like to leave our out, if we can..

 






-- Edited by The Junkman on Thursday 27th of November 2014 08:02:57 PM

__________________

 

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" - Dr. Seuss

 

 

 

 
Jim and Barb


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 157
Date:
Permalink  

When we were in Canada last year one of the campers left their awning out while they went fishing. When they returned it was all bent up and part of it was on a power line above their trailer. To top it off it was a rental!

__________________

2013 GMC Duramax Dually

2014 Cardinal 3450

jimandbarbsrvadventure.blogspot.com
TRAILERKING


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1509
Date:
Permalink  

Wow Junkman.....................Your last step is a doozer. Don't want to come home late at night in the dark. Or worse yet, step outside half asleep for some fresh air.

__________________

My Dreams...............Her Nightmares.

 
The Junkman


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 972
Date:
Permalink  

TRAILERKING wrote:

Wow Junkman.....................Your last step is a doozer. Don't want to come home late at night in the dark. Or worse yet, step outside half asleep for some fresh air.

 lol.. it was at that site, last month.. this month, it's kinda normal height.

gonna have to do something about that someday..



__________________

 

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" - Dr. Seuss

 

 

 

 
Sr Fox


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 31
Date:
Permalink  

Nice rig JM. I was snooping through you photobucket :)


__________________

www.romamexico.com

https://www.facebook.com/srfoxmexico

Mobile Suites 36TK3

Ford F350
The Junkman


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 972
Date:
Permalink  

Sr Fox wrote:

Nice rig JM. I was snooping through you photobucket :)

 Thank you!



__________________

 

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" - Dr. Seuss

 

 

 

 
NorCal Dan


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1192
Date:
Permalink  

Our awning is electric so extend/retract is as easy as pushing a button. I would rather push a button than have to pay big bucks to fix.

As for tie-downs, if the wind comes up and catches that huge sail hanging on the side of your rig, something is gonna give. The arm may bend, or it might rip the awning, or worst case it could rip the mount and awning right off the side of your rig.

And if the wind picks up and you want to retract the awning you have to go out and remove the tie-downs before you can retract it. Of course this always happens when it's raining as well as windy and dark, too much fun.

As you can tell I am not a fan of awnings or slide toppers.

__________________

2018 Thor Windsport 35M -- 2018 Camry Toad

-- USAF Retired -- Full-timing since December 2007 - Part-Timing since July 2011
VisitedStatesMap.jpg
http://http://travelingrvwx.com/
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Obsessing about the Awning and the Wind - Need Advice
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us