Awning use in high winds

[steamboatscott]

Can I get some feedback/perspectives on using the awning during high winds?

Do you leave the awning up during a storm and if so, does staking down keep things stable enough?

It would be nice to have protection from the rain when cooking outside...but not at the expense of the awning crashing into the camper and coming loose in the middle of the night.

Thanks!

[SpringerPop]

Once you either see or experience the damage they can do when left out in high winds, you will stow yours if it gets breezy enough.

Pop

[IonicBrick]

We stake ours down and it has always been fine. There was one trip to Moab where there were 60 mph winds, and we didn't put the awning out then.


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[Velosprout]

We generally leave our awning extended unless the forecast is for extreme conditions. With an electric-extend awning, we don't tie it down; just push the button and retract if weather threatens.

[asquared]

we have an electric awning so we use the Awning hold down brackets made by old coot on these forums paired with the Awning poles sold by turbs on these forums. The brackets attach the poles to the awning arms. The poles keep the wire d from pushing the awning down. You then use ratchet straps attached to the brackets and an anchor (ie a dog tie out stake) to keep the awning from flipping up. Works in a pretty strong wind. They are easy to take off so if the wind is bad enough we just unhook and close the awning up.

By the way don't forget to always angle your awning sideways to prevent rainwater from pooling on your awning.

Pics of the awning mod:

[ilmor]

I recommend that you do not leave the awning out during high winds. I've seen too many of these get damaged.

[Restcure]

The TT we sold this spring had a manual awning. When we deployed it at the beginning of a trip it got tilted for drainage, the de-flappers went on and it was firmly staked with ratchet straps. It stayed up rain or shine in all but the strongest winds.





Our new-to-us Rockwood 2701SS has a power awning and I have mixed feelings about it. Up until now we've put it away in a stiff breeze, every time we leave the campsite and when we go to sleep. But I miss having a big sheltered area for our stuff, especially overnight.

Next time we go out I am going to tilt it for run-off, stake it down with cam straps and sit under it until the wind blows so I can see how it behaves.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by JD and Beastlet

The TT we sold this spring had a manual awning. When we deployed it at the beginning of a trip it got tilted for drainage, the de-flappers went on and it was firmly staked with ratchet straps. It stayed up rain or shine in all but the strongest winds.





Our new-to-us Rockwood 2701SS has a power awning and I have mixed feelings about it. Up until now we've put it away in a stiff breeze, every time we leave the campsite and when we go to sleep. But I miss having a big sheltered area for our stuff, especially overnight.

Next time we go out I am going to tilt it for run-off, stake it down with cam straps and sit under it until the wind blows so I can see how it behaves.

You can't strap down a power awning without the addition of the awning poles/brackets mentioned in previous posts.

Power awning arms ARE NOT designed to take the force of tie-downs without additional poles.

[2016251RKS]

My personal experience with two different awning systems, spanning 25 years....If you're not under the awning, enjoying the shade....retract it. It's simple, keeps you or others from walking into support poles or lines and keeps it from pulling apart from the unit or collapsing or (as I once saw in SC, tipping the unit over!)

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by 2016251RKS

My personal experience with two different awning systems, spanning 25 years....If you're not under the awning, enjoying the shade....retract it. It's simple, keeps you or others from walking into support poles or lines and keeps it from pulling apart from the unit or collapsing or (as I once saw in SC, tipping the unit over!)

At $400 an awning motor with a decent failure rate I'll use my awning poles!



2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"
2016 nights camped "10"

[DaveSchwartz]

I haven't been in really extreme conditions but I've had good luck with the Happy Hook tie-downs on my electric awning. Now it takes the threat of severe storms to have me put in the awning. I leave the arm locks loose and tighten the ropes to compress the arms so the locks are about half-way in the slots. Then there seems to be a good balance between the upward force from the struts and the downward tension of the ropes.

[SEAYALL]

I guess I'm a skeptic, I know lots folks use tie downs, my concern I guess is where awning is attached to rv , the wind is diffently going to lift it somewhere, an gusts come out of no where .

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by TURBS

At $400 an awning motor with a decent failure rate I'll use my awning poles!
X 2 I use the same system and for most weather conditions works great. as mentioned if real ban wind just unhook rollup. Later RJD



2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"
2016 nights camped "10"

X 2 I use the same system and for most weather conditions works great. as mentioned if real ban wind just unhook rollup. Later RJD

[johnruff]

The week before we arrived at Myrtle Beach, they had some strong winds / storm and several RVs were flipped over. the one thing they all had in common is that they had their awning out which acted as a wind catcher.

[Grampa Jim]

I've seen several awnings lift a travel trailer. I've see some awnings ripped like a paper sack. I've seen some collapse when full of rainwater because they weren't slanted in the rain. It's all a matter of preference and how daring you are. I've been rv'ing for 12 years,,,,,,I never, never leave it out when we leave or go to bed, and I always bring it in when the wind gets too gusty or high. Experience is a good teacher. The first month we rv'ed, I didn't know about slanting the awning in the rain. When it happened, I thought lightning had struck our rv,,,,what a mess outside. It all depends on how daring you are when pushing the envelope. Me? I don't take any chances anymore.

[CampingGator]

Our awning will not allow you to slant it. It does have an automatic dumping system, however. When the weight of the water gets to a certain point it automatically dumps it. We do not have tie downs or poles, but you can hear the awning when it starts to get windy. I would reel it in when there is any chance of a storm or if leaving when there is rain in the forecast.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by CampingGator

Our awning will not allow you to slant it. It does have an automatic dumping system, however. When the weight of the water gets to a certain point it automatically dumps it. We do not have tie downs or poles, but you can hear the awning when it starts to get windy. I would reel it in when there is any chance of a storm or if leaving when there is rain in the forecast.

If you have poles you can slant it [emoji6]


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"
2016 nights camped "14"

[MilCop4523]

all depends... some people figure their good and some people don't
we don't have a deck to attach and strap to so we roll ours up and away.

friends in Texas thought they were safe after many years...
not so much now.

[Mark1]

Our "care free awning" was out and not a breath of wind anywhere.all of a sudden a gust came over the hill.took the awning and flipped it over the top of the RV. $3000.00 to repair. The awning instructions say to not anchor it or tie anything on it as it automatically will retract if it senses it getting windy.(They also state ANYTIME you are not actually using the awning to retract it.)

[2016251RKS]

Sometimes, the auto-dump "feature" doesn't work. The gas shock can be "frozen" resulting in a warranty claim, now going on 4 weeks, for twisted aluminum channel bars. Hmmm, ask me how I know ths.