Dometic awning won't extend!

[54554wis]

So, we just took delivery of our 2017 Roo 23WS at the end of April. We had it out on one road trip and used the awning a few times without any difficulty either extending or retracting. We brought him home and parked him on our property until Tues. (which was about 3 weeks after returning) when we took him out for a two night little trip. We got to our campsite, went to extend the awning, and nothing. The battery was fully charged, we had power to everything else, just not the awning. No sound even that a motor was trying to work.

Any ideas before we contact Forest River?

BTW, we otherwise love this little camper! The size is just right for us, it sets up and takes down quickly, the floorplan works for us. It's been great up until this awning issue. I'm hoping it's a relatively easy fix, maybe something we can do ourselves.

[Oaklevel]

Have you checked your fuses??

[54554wis]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Have you checked your fuses??

Well, yes and no. I opened the fuse box, but didn't see any fuses labeled for the awning. We have 2 30 amp's, could it be on one of those (they're not labeled)? Not to sound like the newbie I am, but how can you tell if a fuse is good or bad?

[HONDAMAN174]

Many of those awnings are controlled by circuit breakers. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...f12ao0&PC=APPL

You may have them under a cabinet. Mine are behind my converter- very convenient (NOT)!


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

[54554wis]

There are circuit breakers on the same panel as the fuses - beneath the refrigerator, none are labeled awning. I'll try to get a pic in the morning.

My husband and I were in there this afternoon. I had the water pump on (via battery) to pull out some water from kitchen faucet. I had my back to the electronic panel at the door, but it sounded like my husband was turning the water pump on & off. I gently told him to knock it off 😗 but he said he wasn't touching the water pump switch, but actually trying to extend the awning again. So, it seems like maybe the awning motor is pulling some power? Just not enough to open it? Not sure...

[54554wis]

Don't see anything here referring to the awning. Re-reading the owners manual again last night, there was a reference to the awning motor being "hard wired", sounds like the wiring goes directly to the control panel by the door (?). Think this may warrant a call to FR.

[bob caldwell]

Water pump will cycle on and off as you use water......fuse for awning could be near battery in a fuse holder......mine is a 30 amp fuse

[awellis3]

Get a step ladder, have your husband go up and grab hold of the awning tube.
He is to twist the tube as if to roll out the awning while you depress the extend button. Sometimes corrosion from rain or humidity can build up on an electric motor's commutator. Manually turning it rubs enough film off to set the motor spinning.

[fonzie]

Try to open the awning again and at same time have one person look at the fuse panel, if a fuse is burnt (supplying the awning) the red LED will light up meaning fuse is burnt. If nothing, then remove panel where switch is and see if there is a fuse behind it supplying awning.....

[fonzie]

Originally Posted by awellis3

Get a step ladder, have your husband go up and grab hold of the awning tube.
He is to twist the tube as if to roll out the awning while you depress the extend button. Sometimes corrosion from rain or humidity can build up on an electric motor's commutator. Manually turning it rubs enough film off to set the motor spinning.

X2 on this also

[bob caldwell]

And to do away with hard to get at fuses, you can get these at any auto parts store

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[bob caldwell]

Originally Posted by 54554wis

Well, yes and no. I opened the fuse box, but didn't see any fuses labeled for the awning. We have 2 30 amp's, could it be on one of those (they're not labeled)? Not to sound like the newbie I am, but how can you tell if a fuse is good or bad?

You need to purchase a 12 volt test light or an ohm meter.....cheap at Walmart

[wfbrewer]

check the serial number on awning, Dometic has a recall on their awning motors. Mine stopped working 2104 rockwood mini lite. Awaiting replacement from factory. Check Dometic web site

[54554wis]

Well, fuses checked with multimeter are all good. Tried the pulling of the awning while holding down the extend switch, won't budge, both of us tried, but I will say that while I was up there, I could hear a click that sounded like it was coming from either the motor, or somewhere inside the retracted arm...I could feel the click while holding that front arm - not sure what that indicates.

As far as the serial numbers go, that's all well & good if the awning is extended. For whatever reason, Dometic chose to keep all the serial numbers hidden if the awning is retracted. This unit just came off the line mid-April. I would certainly hope that Forest River would not be installing awnings that are under recall (but you never know I guess).

It's mind-boggling for sure! Thank you all for some really great suggestions, we've learned a lot, and hopefully I'll be able to get back on this thread before too long and let everyone know what the resolution was.

Sherry

[Stormrider151]

There is usually whats called an LCI control board located somewhere in your trailer. It has fuses and relays that control different devices on your trailer. It is separate from the fuses in your converter. Mine have always been located behind an access panel held on with screws. My rear stab jacks would not work awhile back and this is where I found the blown fuse for it. On one trailer it was located right next to the water pump. Stellar idea for an electrical panel. You might give that a try. On my current trailer that's where my awning relay is located. Good luck.

[54554wis]

Thank you Stormrider151. We'll do some investigating first thing in the morning. The water pump and filter are located under a cabinet at the very front of the Roo (behind a screwed on panel), we'll check there first. There is also some ductwork and wiring under the booth benches, we'll be checking there as well. The saga continues....

[54554wis]

Since you were all so helpful with your ideas and suggestions on getting our awning extended, I wanted to give you an update.

I called the closest dealership with our problem, and the service guy suggested that it might be a stripped screw/motor issue and asked that we bring it in so they could extend it and have a look. The soonest he could get me in was this coming Wed.

Well, this past Monday we took the Roo out for a 3 nighter on Lake Superior. We had 30 amp service, so my husband said, "why don't we try to extend it, see what happens". I was totally skeptical, but lo and behold - the awning extended! Just to be sure, we unhooked from the shore power and tried again... No problem. We got home, working off the battery, we tried it again, and it extended without a problem.

I'm not sure what happened there for that couple of weeks, but all seems well now. I spoke with the dealer. He said he'd keep my appointment on the books, and that I should call him Monday just to verify that it's still OK.

Thanks again for all your suggestions, at least now we know what to look for should it happen again.

Sherry