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04-08-2008, 01:49 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 17
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electric awning
how are these?? our new camper has the electric awning. Just curious how the work and all.
Vanessa and Joe
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04-08-2008, 02:41 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Justin, Tx
Posts: 2,671
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don't know. Ours has the manuel kind
push some buttons and let us know
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04-08-2008, 03:09 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 104
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Power Awning
There is a post on this forum about A&E power awnings. They were having a problem with it extending the whole way. I have an A&E power awning and haven't had any trouble yet; but I haven't used it much. I do know that if it's below feezing it won't extend as the main control unit is set to prevent this(I guess just in case it is frozen anf it doesn't ruin the motor).
The power awning also only has one position (tilt) and if you are short you can't reach the valance that unfolds from the front roller. After it is closed for a long period the valance stays rolled over top the awning. With the adjustable awnings one could lower it and unfold the valance; but not with the power awning.
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04-08-2008, 08:01 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 17
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thanks
hummmm, i sure hope it works good. My concern is when it rains pretty heavy my hubby always lets one side or our awning down a little so the rain does not pool on the awning. So i don't know how this new elec. one will work for letting the rain drain off. i guess we will see.
Thanks again
Vanessa and Joe
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04-09-2008, 06:18 AM
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#5
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 435
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vanessa
hummmm, i sure hope it works good. My concern is when it rains pretty heavy my hubby always lets one side or our awning down a little so the rain does not pool on the awning. So i don't know how this new elec. one will work for letting the rain drain off. i guess we will see.
Thanks again
Vanessa and Joe
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Other forums I read have several people disappointed by the electric awnings.
They don't like the water pooling affect when it rains, since you can't dip one corner.
Several threads on this can be read at http://www.outbackers.com
Also, they have been told by their dealers that the awning is a "sun shade" not an umbrella.
Steve
__________________
Steve and Vicki
2 kids
2011 Dodge 3500 CTD Outdoorsman
(Tweaked!!)
2013 Columbus 320RS-ITS HERE!!
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04-09-2008, 06:49 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 104
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If you have an A&E awning (power) it will automatically dump the one side when the water gets so heavy. It has gas struts and the left side is set to collapse at a certain weight; then it opens back up and the awning goes back to level.
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04-09-2008, 09:38 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 17
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You all are a great help. It must be the A&E because when hubby talked to the RV dealer (Janesville RV in WIsconsin) they did say that the arms will collapse if rain starts to collect on the awning.
Thanks!!!
Vanessa and Joe
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05-08-2008, 08:50 AM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 25
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I have a Flagstaff 831FKBSS and it has the A&E electric awning. The first outing I went on I had rain and found out the awning pooled water. Since then I have been on the forum and other places on the internet for a solution. Nothing seemed to be a good solution for me. On my last outing it rained for about 24 hours. A friend of mine came with his trailer and I was telling him about my pooling problem and he came up with a good idea.
I am bringing this idea to the forum for the pros and cons. He suggested tying the bracket for the awning down in such a fashion that the awning would sloop on that end to a point where the rest of the awning would drain to that slooped end. We tried it by tying a string from the bracket to the trailer stabilizer. I checked the awning regularly and found only a pooling of about a cup of water. The flow was a steady stream. I have attached pictures that may explain it better. You can see the stream of water draining from the awning.
The area covered under the awning was reduced very little. I was parked next to a tree and the awning was not fully extended. It was a half turn from being fully extended. I don’t know if that matters.
I am going to use this setup when it rains unless someone on the forum can give me a good reason not too.
Walter Boudreaux
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05-08-2008, 09:28 AM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 17
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wow thanks for the info! We are headed out friday for our first camping trip of the season and it is suppose to rain. I am def. going to show my husband this idea!
Thanks
Vanessa
__________________
Joseph, Vanessa, Blaine (18), Nicole (17) and
Joey (13)
2001 Ford Excursion
2008 Wildwood 312bhbs LA
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05-08-2008, 09:37 AM
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#10
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AKA Bluebird
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Posts: 1,060
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I have chosen to stay away from electric awnings. Some of the problems have already been noted in this post. I do a lot of camping on the coast where you run into sustained periods of gusting winds.
1) There are no arms to which to fasten anti-flap devices.
2) Tying them down would result in a lot more pressure on the electric awning than on a standard awning - due to the lack of legs.
3) You can't lower the things to wash/scrub the top of the awning fabric.
Having said that, I would agree that electric awnings make for fast setup and takedown. Very good for overnight stops and mild weather. Yes, I have on occasion had some real fun putting my awning up under emergency conditions. To each his own.
__________________
Happy Camping! ///// Richard D.
2006 4x4 Ford 250 SD / 2007 Flagstaff 827 FLS
One very patient wife and one furry child who travels with us. Forty-two years of trailering and camping, and I still have a blast.
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05-08-2008, 09:52 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 72
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Awning
WE HAVE THE POWER AWNING AND LOVE IT. THE IDEA WITH THE ROPE SEEMS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.
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05-08-2008, 05:04 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 104
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Power Awning
The rope is a good idea; however make sure you shut off the automatic wind sensor. If it gets windy and it's tied down you may damage the awning whenit tries to close.
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05-08-2008, 06:09 PM
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#13
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Pulling For Fun
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: IA
Posts: 29
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We camped last weekend and it rained hard (no pooling) and also had some higher winds.
I ended up retracting it. But, before that it had realeased pressure on its own a couple times due to wind. After using a manual and now having an electric, I am happy to have the electric. Trade-offs in everything.
__________________
2007 Dodge Ram Laramie 1500 4X4 Quad Cab Hemi 3:92
Superchips Programmer/Dynomax Exh/drilled airbox + K&N
Equalizer Sway Control/Backflip Tonneau, 20" American Racing Mags
Hellwig Pro Series Springs/Ultra Fab 3502 Elect. Tongue Jack
Tandem Honda EU2000i Generators
2008 829FKSS
Dodge Magnum Hemi/72 Chevy Nova 454
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05-08-2008, 09:54 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crossfire
The rope is a good idea; however make sure you shut off the automatic wind sensor. If it gets windy and it's tied down you may damage the awning whenit tries to close.
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Good point thanks. This is good info.
If this idea flies, I will replace string with hooks and adjustable strap. I will drill holes in the awning brackets for the hooks and make sure it does not interfer with the folding of the awning.
Thanks again...
Walt
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05-09-2008, 06:46 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Melbourne, FL
Posts: 211
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I didn't know that the unit has a wind sensor...have to check, but I really don't think mine does.
Also, regarding the pressure relief....it never happened for me. We had 24 hours of really good rain. During the day, being stuck inside, and under the awning, I had to dump it. At night, I just rolled it back up -- the electric part of that is nice.
What I was thinking of doing was adding one of the center braces and adding a little bit of camber to it -- use a bit of wood or something. I think that would definitely help some.
But, it was funny when I went to put my de-flappers on...then realized I can't use them.
So, in the end, the verdict is still out. There are some plusses and minuses for having the Power. I think in FL though, I'd rather go back to the old fashion manual ones. More control of the situation, tie downs, angles for the rain, etc.
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05-09-2008, 08:59 AM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 10
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Our new Salem LA 312QBBS came with a Dometic electric awning. We have been out two weekends and we hate it. Water pools terribly. The one time we thought we would see what it did and it filled so full that I could not retract is because it was to heavy for the motor. Had to get something to puch up on it to empty. The rug gets soaked and we never have an awning to sit under when it rains. Which we really like to do if it is coming straight down with no chance of us getting wet. From what I can tell is that ours is a very low end awning with no extra features. I would think that one with a dump feature would be fine. We have talked about trying something similar to what another poster did with a tie down. May even see how much it will be to switch to a manual awning.
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05-09-2008, 09:07 AM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 17
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Well, i will let ya it goes this weekend for us. It is suppose to rain.
__________________
Joseph, Vanessa, Blaine (18), Nicole (17) and
Joey (13)
2001 Ford Excursion
2008 Wildwood 312bhbs LA
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07-06-2008, 08:40 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Melbourne, FL
Posts: 211
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Well, after a very wet week, I DO NOT LIKE THE POWER AWNING. As others have said, you have roll the darn thing up or it pools.
Sitting out under it (when the sun is out) and looking at it, there has to be a way to fix it to allow it to be extended when it rains. I think what I am going to try is something similar to what keeps the tents up. I am going to use the flexible poles/sticks and put a slot on one end to go into the awning roller and put a suction cup type device on the other end that will go against the camper. Then, bow the whole thing up.
Only other option I can think of is going back to the original Manual awning...I was so looking forward to the electric but the clearance from the top of the door to the awning is just so small that there is NO slope...at least on my rig.
Bummer...
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2013 Georgetown 351
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07-06-2008, 05:21 PM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,525
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It would be helpful to folks and might get you more specific advice
if you can tell us the brand name of your awning.
Is it Dometic or something else??
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07-06-2008, 08:16 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Melbourne, FL
Posts: 211
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Oh, sorry, I have the Dometic (A&E) awning...or as I think it is actually referred to a "sun shade". It does appear after doing some research on the other forums, specifically the Outbackers (I think there was a link on this thread that I followed), there is a solution... Get one of the middle supports. It appears that one of the owners (of an Outback) went through some pretty intense testing on his own -- lots of pictures and commentary on it.
Apparently after having it installed and going through some pretty serious rain, it did the job.
So, I'll be ordering one myself -- hopefully I will have the same luck, although it might be a little while until I camp again....just got back from Disney where my son broke his wrist -- before we even had power and water hooked up!!!
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2013 Georgetown 351
Much more significant other....
2 Kids and a dog that rules!
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