How to connect dual awnings?

[MykeyInChains]

Hi there,

I'm interested in purchasing an 8312 or an 8311 Rockwood from our local dealer. They have the dual electric awnings on the side of the camper. We're interested in screen rooms for both awnings. I'm curious if there are any clever solutions to connecting the two. I'm sure we can put an extra front panel to connect the front sections but connecting the two canopies up top seems problematic. Any ideas? Thanks!

[BiigDaddy]

I've pondered the same thing myself with ours. Now I'm interested......

[youroo]

Contact (OC) on this Forum! You are going to need (2) of his Awning Kits to (Support) the weight of the (Rooms) hanging on the (Elect.Awning)! Then you should be able to (Connect) between the (Support Poles)! Youroo!!

[BiigDaddy]

Youroo, that still leaves about two feet between the awning fabric, and i believe that is what OP is talking about...

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by BiigDaddy

Youroo, that still leaves about two feet between the awning fabric, and i believe that is what OP is talking about...

I think youroo addressed that with the statement of "then you can connect between the support poles."

[youroo]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

I think youroo addressed that with the statement of "then you can connect between the support poles."

Bingo! Youroo!!

[BiigDaddy]

No, OC, your support poles are vertical. I can see how the screen rooms are attached there. He's wanting to know how to get the two pieces of awning fabric conjoined.

[KyDan]

I was going to suggest purchasing sail cloth and a snap kit with installation
tool. This would allow you to put snaps on edges of awnings and snap
in a strip of fabric in between.
But thinking about this-- I realize that snaps on the edges would
probably create problems when the awning was rolled up.
Maybe not tho.... also strips of industrial velcro sewn to the edges could
hold a filler strip.
You will likely be charting new ground here-- so take pictures and post
results here when/if you decide to tackle this!
Good Luck!

[BiigDaddy]

KyDan, that's exactly the direction OP was looking for

[aquaholic3]

We just got an 8528ikws with dual awnings. Brought it home and covered it for winter. Haven't spent one night in it yet. I have been thinking of ways to connect the awnings myself. I have considered the snap route and Velcro. I thinks snaps could be placed on the awning rollers and at the rv body, then Velcro for hooking the awning fabric itself together.
Another thought was to have the fabrics overlap some and stitch some kind if clamp to the removable fabric piece and attach them that way.
On the 8528ikws there is also the dining slide topper to deal with too.
I'm getting itchy to get this winter done so I can start my mods. We leave for Myrtle Beach on the 17th of April and I still have to install the hitch in the new truck and get my Progressive wired in surge suppressor installed.

I'm interested in any other thoughts and ideas for awning mods so keep 'em coming lol.
If and when I do anything I'll post pics.

[GreenImp]

The "self storing" aspect of OC's pole system is very nice, but there are many other options to achieve the same support (PVC, wood, aluminum "Paint Poles"). Would screen material really weigh enough to require them though? Or maybe the suggestion was due to additional forces from wind?

I ponder ways to connect my two awnings every time we use the outside grill in rainy weather. The grill is only two steps from the door, and that just happens to be right where the gap between the awnings is! I have yet to come up with any ideas I like enough to try though. I will be watching this thread to see if any good suggestions show up.

[OldCoot]

The flimsy arms on the electric awnings won't even support a 16' x 6' sunscreen. You might be able to tighten the knobs to hold it for a few minutes, but with ANY wind whatsoever and the arms will slip. Experience here. Believe me, the awning tube has to be supported if you hang anything but patio lights on it.

[GreenImp]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Experience here. Believe me, the awning tube has to be supported if you hang anything but patio lights on it.

Fair enough...I have yet to ever hang anything on any awnings, so I WILL trust you! Please strike that comment from the record!

[youroo]

Try this without proper support ! I bet if you ran a connection tube (Horizontal) between the 2 (Vertical) awning poles that it would Bridge the Gap between the (2) awning,thus giving a place to attach (Room/Screen)? Youroo!!

[dieselbobcat]

We have a 8312SS as well... The double awning with a gap is one of the only things we really don't like about the camper. It would have been better with a awning that starts at the outdoor kitchen and continued to the front door. No matter how you lay things out, the gap is right where you don't want it. Why the rear awning covers the already-covered-by-the-door outdoor kitchen is beyond me.

We usually like to drag the picnic table up under the awning and have it perpendicular to the camper - the current setup has us keeping the second door to the bathroom closed almost all the time with the table just about in front of it to stay under cover or with the table up close to the steps of the front door....

I agree that snaps would be problematic - especially with the diamond edition that has the armored awning cover. Original thought was velcro attached to the underside (loop half - more flexible than hook half) and a section of sail cloth... problem is how to attach? Don't think adhesive alone is going to stay put and don't see a feasible way of stitching in place...

[aquaholic3]

OC is correct if his thoughts are that it won't hold up a screen room. I am only looking to bridge the gap at the top and only need to block the sun 100%. The DW just suggested sew in magnets (sewn to the extra fabric piece) to hold the fabric "bridge" in place. That sounds promising I think, and use snaps at the rv body and rollers. If I do need support at the 2 center ends then I'll do that too. I would leave the outer ends unsupported so they could dump the rain water. I also have two "awnbrella bow" supports left from my previous rv and will install them one in each awning at the center.
one 8' awning and one 9' awning.
The awnbrella bows worked terrific on my 18' electric awning on the Coachmen we had. Left the awning deployed all summer long with those installed and the ends tied down. The dump feature of the electric awning even worked.

[aquaholic3]

to add more to my other post, you'd lay the extra fabric on top of the awnings. The extra fabric has the magnets sewn into it. Then you'd just put a piece of metal up underneath the awning aligning it with the magnet above on the extra fabric. It might just work! It won't take a lot of wind or rain but I only want sun protection anyway.

[KyDan]

Google handheld sewing machine!
Here's a link to one--

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE0zsmWEXzI

I believe it would be possible to sew velcro to the edges of the awning
fabric in place and then use traditional sewing machine to put the other
side onto the filler strip of sail cloth.

I don't know if this exact one would do it but it might be worth a try!

[dieselbobcat]

Here is a pic of the issue.

[Stormrider151]

You might try this. I've connected easy ups this way and it's very simple. Cut a quality tarp in a strip a little wider than the gap. I used spring clips from the big box store and just clipped the edges to the fabric. I did this to create a channel to shed water away when it rained. DW sewed the edges and it lasted for years. Worked great. I don't know if this accomplishes what your wanting to do but thought I'd throw it out there. Good luck.