2013 XLR 380AMP- Unable to shed water from 20' awning

[dhatfield6]

I have concerns with the large patio awning on the unit. When opened it hangs on the corner of the slide out. This is going to pierce the awning fabric and render it useless. This is a new 2013 model.


Dometic Operating Instructions state that to shed water the awning arm assembly furthest from the entry door should be at a slope down 10" or a minimum of 9" in addition from the RV's awning rail.


The awning currently can not be sloped down to effectively shed water thus is causing it to pool, and collect and rest on top of the awning on the corner of the slide-out.


This issue was raised when I had the unit at local dealership 06/07/2012 add I was instructed by the service technician that "the awning was being put out to far and causing it to hit the slide-out. Awning should be extended and then run back in a little to keep awning from resting on the slide-room."

Obvoiusly this is a design flaw and I may be stuck with it. Has anyone else out there had any satisfaction with a fix to this problem?

Doug and Kim in DS LA

[TURBS]

Put a foam pool noodle on top of slide flange for now.
That just doest seem right.

Contact rv chic she may have a xlr contact number to help.

Turbs

[dhatfield6]

I'm using the foam type pipe insulation for 1/2" pipe which slides over the top flange for now. But for what I paid for the RV I shouldn't have to that! I agree it isn't right. I have emailed Diane with XLR Waranty but have not yet received a reply.

[garbonz]

Put a slide on the slide out, that's the only answer. There are a number of units that have this problem, particularly some motorhomes I have seen. You have a fair weather awning there you can't use it in rainy weather, and the rubbing will wear out the fabric eventually anyway.

[Marshmstr1]

My Solaire does the same thing if I tilt to shed water, I took about a foot of a noodle (floaty for pool) and just slide it on top corner of slide out, and it protects awning from any sharp point.

[Tiggerdad]

Don't know what model awning you have but if it has the shocks on it you can tilt it downwards.

I thought mine couldn't be slanted until I pushed/forced the arm in and collapsing the shock a little. I then tightened the knob to hold it in place.

[garbonz]

Originally Posted by Tiggerdad

Don't know what model awning you have but if it has the shocks on it you can tilt it downwards.

I thought mine couldn't be slanted until I pushed/forced the arm in and collapsing the shock a little. I then tightened the knob to hold it in place.

The OP's problem is not that he can't slant it, it's that when he does it rubs (in a major way) on the slide out.

The only solution is not to slant it at all and not use it in ANY bad weather or unattended, or get an awning to fit on the slide itself, if you can find one the correct size.

[DDC]

I have to bring the awning back a little from fully extended because the tube is higher than the fabric and this causes it to collect water at an amazing rate, but if I retract about two to three inches it is ok just have to remember though.

[Tiggerdad]

Originally Posted by garbonz

The OP's problem is not that he can't slant it, it's that when he does it rubs (in a major way) on the slide out.

The only solution is not to slant it at all and not use it in ANY bad weather or unattended, or get an awning to fit on the slide itself, if you can find one the correct size.

If you read the OP's post again, it appears to have 2 problems:
1) Awning hangs on the slide
2) Awning can't be sloped and it pools water and said:

"Dometic Operating Instructions state that to shed water the awning arm assembly FURTHEST from the entry door should be at a slope down 10" or a minimum of 9" in addition from the RV's awning rail.

The awning currently can not be sloped down to effectively shed water thus is causing it to pool, and collect and rest on top of the awning on the corner of the slide-out."

[garbonz]

Originally Posted by Tiggerdad

If you read the OP's post again, it appears to have 2 problems:
1) Awning hangs on the slide
2) Awning can't be sloped and it pools water and said:

"Dometic Operating Instructions state that to shed water the awning arm assembly FURTHEST from the entry door should be at a slope down 10" or a minimum of 9" in addition from the RV's awning rail.

The awning currently can not be sloped down to effectively shed water thus is causing it to pool, and collect and rest on top of the awning on the corner of the slide-out."

Okay and you point is? He said he can slant it, so that's not the issue. The interference with the slide is. Just saying, and there is nothing to be done. IMO of course.

[Tiggerdad]

If you will read the last paragraph of my comment that you quoted you will see that the OP said his awning can not be sloped down to drain water.

I am making the assumption, and I may be wrong, that the OP has the shocks on his awning like many have. I initially thought that I could not slope mine until I compressed the shock on the end away from the slide and then tightened the locking knob to hold it in place. I understand, and I may be wrong, that the awning hitting the slide when out is/may be a separate issue.

Op, can you provide more information. I see that you live in Denham Springs. I lived in Gonzales for 30 years and bought my first rig from Dixie RV. I believe they handle Forest River products now. If you purchased from them good luck. They are known to provide poor service. A call to Forest River may help.

[dhatfield6]

DDC, if I retract the awning at all and there is any rain, the 20' of material naturally sagging in the middle even before the rain, pools the water and then drags on the corner of the slide. I've tried this thinking it may run back down the trailer, but no, big pool and worse sag!

[dhatfield6]

Tigerdad, I cannot slope the awning because it is already on the slide when fully extended. To retract the awning and keep it off the awning there is 0 slope at all and no water runs off, and all collects, thus worsening the situation. The awning can not be sloped due to the height of the slide. Design flaw in my IMO.

The type of awning is a Dometic 9100 Power Awning.

Berryland handles the Forest River product and they are the ones that told me that I was extending the awning too far, thus the reason the fabric was touching the slide. Remedy: retract the slide. Not the answer and not the last they'll here from me!

I'm still waiting for an answer from Diane at Forest River, but my real concern is, if it is a design flaw, what will Forest River do for ME to make it right! I'm aware there is a problem and I'm afraid Forest River must be aware as well.

[Tiggerdad]

Good luck with finding a solution. Yes it does sound like a design flaw or improper installation. Hopefully you get a solution without additional holes in the side of the rig.

[dhatfield6]

See the below e-mail corespondance with Forest River

Doug,
Please see email below from Plant manager… and yes these awnings do dump the water. We had our annual EXPO 2 weeks ago and it poured the one day and the awning automatically dumps the water off… I almost got drenched a couple times.
Diane


From: Bob (XLR Plant Manager)
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 5:25 PM
To: Diane Daly
Subject: RE: 2nd request..... D5156659 380AMP DOM 2/12/13 DOP 2/22/13 Power Patio Awning



The awnings on the unit are what we currently use. They cannot be raised anymore. This is a 0-3 degree set up on the arms that Dometic has set up. With this set up there is no possible way that the awning are going to slope 9-10” . It does have an automatic dump feature as we seen at the show.

So I am stuck with an awning that holds water over the extended slide back to the RV!

[Mantisfactory]

My 380 dumps water automatically when enough water collects on top,if you do slope it it will touch corner of slide,I haven't had any problems with water standing on awning without draining off.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by dhatfield6

See the below e-mail corespondance with Forest River

Doug,
Please see email below from Plant manager… and yes these awnings do dump the water. We had our annual EXPO 2 weeks ago and it poured the one day and the awning automatically dumps the water off… I almost got drenched a couple times.
Diane


From: Bob (XLR Plant Manager)
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 5:25 PM
To: Diane Daly
Subject: RE: 2nd request..... D5156659 380AMP DOM 2/12/13 DOP 2/22/13 Power Patio Awning



The awnings on the unit are what we currently use. They cannot be raised anymore. This is a 0-3 degree set up on the arms that Dometic has set up. With this set up there is no possible way that the awning are going to slope 9-10” . It does have an automatic dump feature as we seen at the show.

So I am stuck with an awning that holds water over the extended slide back to the RV!

Just pull/tilt one side lower than the other and lock it there.

[jb4xx]

My 2013 380amp catches on the slide. Big rub mark. .

Collects water on top of the large slide, have water leaked in by the door when it pours out like niagra falls

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