Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-29-2016, 08:21 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 7
New here and need some help. Awning issue!!!

My wife and I just bought a used 2013 Xlr Hyper Lite 27hfs. There seems to be an issue with the automatic roll out awning. It works fine 1/2 to 3/4 of the way out, but if you try to fully extend it, it drops severely to the point you can't hardly walk under it and the door rubs pretty hard on the awning when opening. I didn't think it was much of an issue, but we went camping this past weekend and our friends have a fifth wheel with a very similar setup on their trailer. Theirs seems to work properly. It comes out and doesn't drop. My question is, is there any type of adjustment or something I can do to fix this problem?? The awning is a Dometic ae 915EH18.501U. Thanks in advance for any help!!
Scott
Molson77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 08:32 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Mid Michigan
Posts: 1,098
awning issue

There is a hand nut that you tighten when you want to bring the outer end of the awning down on each end frame. Make sure those are loose when you retract the awning. Although I am not sure if the awning will retract if they are tightened. Never tried it.
markb422 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 08:53 AM   #3
Georgia Rally Coordinator
 
aceinspp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,355
Welcome to the forum. You might check the gas struts if equipped as they may be weak. Later RJD
__________________
2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing. Traded 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
aceinspp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 10:59 AM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 7
The nuts are loose. I'm not sure how to test the gas shocks to see if they are bad?!? They seem tight and I'm not able to raise the awning up by hand when it is fully extended. How can I upload a picture using a smart phone??
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	image.jpg
Views:	158
Size:	250.1 KB
ID:	118735  
Molson77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 11:01 AM   #5
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 7
Here is another picture
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	image.jpg
Views:	131
Size:	333.4 KB
ID:	118736  
Molson77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 11:13 AM   #6
clr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hawkins, Texas
Posts: 1,243
In your first picture it looks to me like the awning fabric is coming loose at the top in the front. I would take a close look at this and see what is going on there.
__________________
Chuck & Sandra
Engineer/Teacher
2010 F350 CC 6.4
2015 Prime Time Sanibel 3601
clr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 11:19 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Iwannacamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,916
Something may be binding/bent in the tracks on the side of the trailer. A rock or foreign matter may have gotten in there(at the bottom on the track). I have GS that could easily put something in there. Cheap check.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums
__________________
2017 Puma 297RLSS
2005 Ram 2500 4X4 diesel SMOKER!!
I love puns, irony and tasteless jokes...
born in Texas.... live in Arkansas
Iwannacamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 11:25 AM   #8
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 7
It's not coming loose. That's the door hitting the awning when it's open. I'm pretty sure the door is supposed to clear the awning when opened?!? I'd like to find a solution to fix this myself as I'm not sure what a dealer would charge but I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap!!!
Molson77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 11:33 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Mid Michigan
Posts: 1,098
awning issue

If I extend my awning out all the way it creates a "valley" where the fabric meets the roll. It looks like yours does the same. So I back it up a little so the fabric rolls over the tube and there is no "valley" at the bottom. It also looks like your awning is mounted down on the wall. Could it be repositioned up to the top of the wall? That would give you more clearance over the door.
markb422 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 11:49 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
ilmor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 904
Look at this picture....maybe your awning is not assembled correctly for your trailer.


http://www.rvwholesalers.com/images/...061690/005.jpg
__________________
former 2017 Forest River Sunseeker 2250SLE owner - replaced by a Pleasure-Way Tofino and then an Ontour 2.0

ilmor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 12:16 PM   #11
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
The slope of the awning looks about right. I'm not sure if there's anything that can be done about getting it to raise more than it already does. The top anchor track looks like it's pretty close to the top of the RV on the door end, so raising it up on the RV looks like it may not be possible.

I just went out and measured ours and here's the measurements.
The long arm with the head on it is 61" end to head.
The Shorter arm from the vertical upright to the motor arm is 50" center to center of the pivots.
The adjustable arm (that folds in the middle to lower the awning) is 24" center to center.
The pneumatic shock is 24" center to center.

Measure yours to see if it's about the same.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 08:49 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
dieselbobcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 517
Quote:
Originally Posted by markb422 View Post
There is a hand nut that you tighten when you want to bring the outer end of the awning down on each end frame. Make sure those are loose when you retract the awning. Although I am not sure if the awning will retract if they are tightened. Never tried it.
X2... sure does look like the arms are in the lowered position in the photos.
__________________

2021 Cedar Creek 37MBH
2020 F350 Powerstroke Super Duty Lariat Crew Cab
Northern NJ - God Bless America!
dieselbobcat is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 09:16 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Space Coast of Florida
Posts: 3,966
You said you can't raise it. Can you grab a corner and pull it down? If it is not locked down you should be able to pull against the shocks and the arms should slide in where the black lock knobs are and the corner you are pulling will go lower. I know that is not you need but just trying to see if it is bound up.
__________________


2016 Siverback 33IK, Towed 50K+ mile
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L V8 Diesel 4WD Crew Cab

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."
dalford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2016, 09:45 PM   #14
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilmor View Post
Look at this picture....maybe your awning is not assembled correctly for your trailer.


http://www.rvwholesalers.com/images/...061690/005.jpg
Now that is how it's supposed to look!!! I'm guessing that not all the right parts were used when this thing was assembled at the factory?!? I read in an older post of a very similar issue and the guy said that Forest river took care of the problem through his local dealer. I believe the on support arm was 4 inches too short. I hope I can get a local dealer to take a look at it and maybe get it fixed... Thanks for the reply!
Molson77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2016, 06:10 PM   #15
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 7
Problem solved. Found out they installed the wrong size awning braces from the factory!!! They are sending me the correct ones. Thanks for all the input.
Molson77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2016, 08:57 AM   #16
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
Thanks for letting us know what the problem was.

What size did they install and what size are they replacing them with?

Also, do you have to replace anything else, like the gas strut or the adjustable arm?
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2016, 09:21 AM   #17
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 7
I'm not sure on the size yet. They just said they are sending me the correct ones. And I believe that I only need to change out the arms.
Molson77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2016, 09:31 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
DAISY BOYKIN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SUNSHINE STATE
Posts: 1,769
Send a message via Skype™ to DAISY BOYKIN
Maybe wrong awning -----------

Maybe wrong awning material. Maybe to awning material was replaced and the replacement awning is too short!!! Just my guess.
__________________
Sid & HRH MISSY, SHIH TZU
2019 WILDCAT 28 SGX
2014 F-250 KING RANCH PS 6.7L/SWD/6R140/BFT
TST Truck System Technologies TM-507SE
DAYS CAMPED 2023 69 DAYS
[SIGPIC][/SI[SIGPIC]
DAISY BOYKIN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2016, 10:11 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 14,428
Quote:
Originally Posted by Molson77 View Post
I'm not sure on the size yet. They just said they are sending me the correct ones. And I believe that I only need to change out the arms.
Molson,changing the arms is Not a Cakewalk,it is advised to secure 2 Helpers for this job! There are spacers,nylon washers,and pins that need to be lined up while trying to compress the gas arms and all the linkage! Even with 3 be Very Careful! Youroo!! PS make sure the Fac sends you NEW "Top Hat Clips" for the Pivot Pins,The Clips are a "ONE Time Use" item!
__________________
youroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2016, 10:28 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
bubbles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,645
Just a note. The valance is supposed to hang straight down from its slot when extended (aids in water not pooling). That means the awning should not be extended till it stops. The referenced picture posted shows no valance hanging down and due to installation restraints may be what must be done anyway.
bubbles is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
awning

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:51 PM.