Dometic Awning failure

[cousin_eddie]

No power awning on this unit, it's a pop up.....


Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums

[davevance]

I have a 2014 rockwood 1950 with dometic trim line awning. It does not perform well at all. Black end caps have fallen out. Side beam bent due to a 15 mph gust. Upgrading to a better brand that I can actually use.

[cousin_eddie]

Agreed. I was not impressed with the quality of the awning when we picked the unit up. Wish I would have discussed an upgrade right away, but I didn't know beforehand.


Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums

[loumichelle735]

What upgrades are available? So far so good with ours at 1 year out but I am very aware of its "fragile nature". Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[vinmaker]

I feel the carefree bag awnings by Colorado would be an upgrade to the Domestic awnings. There may be others out there that people will mention. I will go that route when the Domestic Awning breaks.

[caver]

Hey all, when I got my new Flagstaff HW31 it came with a 3rd pole that I had to put on myself. I have not done this yet, it goes in the middle, but was wondering why the factory did not put this on? Was this an after thought to take care of a weakness in the set up? Did anyone else get one?

[cousin_eddie]

I did not get one with mine, But we picked up ours this spring. Could be a quick fix from the factory, it would have helped us significantly I guess. Funny, they will go through the expense of giving you the extra pole, but will not just make the beam a little thicker?


Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums

[vinmaker]

Originally Posted by caver

Hey all, when I got my new Flagstaff HW31 it came with a 3rd pole that I had to put on myself. I have not done this yet, it goes in the middle, but was wondering why the factory did not put this on? Was this an after thought to take care of a weakness in the set up? Did anyone else get one?

How do you attach it to the awning? Have you used it yet?

[caver]

I have not had the awing out of the bag yet, the middle pole looks like it will screw onto the awing in the center, and you have to drill two holes in the camper and mount a plastic piece that the other round end fits into. Like the ones on the camper you would use if you did not want to put the poles on the ground. I never looked at the awing during the PDI, guess I should have. The extra pole was just one of many things the dealer was handing us and it did not seem important at the time. Live and learn!

[vinmaker]

That would not work. It makes sense to have the end poles angle back and attach to the camper but a middle one would just get in the way. the doors are there. The outside counters that hang on the side are there. People walk there, sit there, picnic tables there, etc. If anything, the ground would be best for a middle pole. But even then it might make it too obstructive. Hmm. Just thinking aloud. I guess you would have to set it up and see how it works during the day with people walking around.

[caver]

I agree, that was my thoughts also. This third pole attaches just under the bag but I'am not sure how much good it will do. Plastic piece where it goes on looks weak, and I dont want to drill any holes I dont have to.

[papasmurff1]

It must attach as top pole not the support pole.because vin is right it would just be in the way.

[caver]

Forest River does show a third pole in any of the set up vids., so this has to be an after thought!

[papasmurff1]

I could see how that would keep the main beam that goes all the way across the front from bowing inwards.

[kinma13]

I noticed while rolling up my awning that were the post n legs attackh to the front frame piece is bent and torn. Does anyone know if there it a better awning then the factory that I can replace it with? Its about a 13' domestic bag awning on a hw276

[deartruc]

Had a 2000 pup with a trimline awning. Fathersday weekend we were camping in a hurricane (tropical storm by the time it hit New England). We dipped the pole and went to a safer place. When we got back, the awning was shredded and over the camper. No other damage to the camper (but a portable canopy also fell victim to the torrential rain). For the cost of replacement, it wasn't worth going through ins. Bought a trimline replacement. In '05 I let a inlaw use it. I brought it to the cg and set it up. I told him the only thing to watch out for was rain. Showed him how to dip the side whenever they left the cg. I went back to the cg to pick it up. Found the front bar folded to the ground in the center. I asked them why they didn't dip the awning. He said it didn't rain that bad. You can buy just the aluminum pieces and just slide the old canvas right in.

[vinmaker]

Originally Posted by kinma13

I noticed while rolling up my awning that were the post n legs attackh to the front frame piece is bent and torn. Does anyone know if there it a better awning then the factory that I can replace it with? Its about a 13' domestic bag awning on a hw276

Hey Kinma,

Check out the carefree of Colorado line of bag awnings for pop ups. I think 13' is the longest. I would like a 15" one for your 16' box HW296's but the longest I have seen was 13'.

Vin.

[kinma13]

Thanks vin. The DW and I talked when this one needs to be replaced we are looking at the carefree. Do you know how the side poles ext? This one you have to turn and spread then turn to lock. Its hard from me to help her.

[cousin_eddie]

Ordered the new Carefree of Colorado unit today. Dealer wanted to sell me the replacement Dometic unit, but I've seen how flimsy they are first hand, and we had good luck with the COC unit on our old camper. Dealer actually beat the Amazon price, plus I had a 20% off coupon that they honored as well. Would have cost a fortune to ship it to my house, so I will have to go pick it up. I'll keep you all posted when we pull the camper out and install it this spring.


Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums

[vinmaker]

You cannot go wrong with the carefree awning. They are made very well unless they have changed.

Keep us posted as I am sure that many of us will be following your lead once our Domestic awnings junk out.

Vin.