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03-02-2020, 09:08 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: North Texas
Posts: 41
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Lessons learned from my first trip
This past weekend was the first time I have used my new 2020 Rockwood Freedom 1940LTD camper. This is the most important things I learned.
1. The awning was fun to figure out how to setup. The videos don't have the same style of awning. One person can setup the awning without a lot of effort. However, stowing the awning is a PITA for one person. Rolling it up is not easy and kind of like rolling up wrapping paper. It is not easy to get it even on the ends. Not sure I will do it again by myself.
2. When plugging in the 30A connector check to see if the green indicator light is on. Two hours after I setup I discovered the breaker at the plug was turned off (as it should have been). After I turned on the breaker lo and behold the refrigerator and AC unit started working.
I am interested in replacing the awning with a manual crank version. Guess I'll contact the dealer to see what options they have. I plan to do a lot of traveling alone.
Leroy
North Texas
Rockwood Freedom 1940LTD
Tow vehicle 2015 Ford Edge 6cyl
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03-03-2020, 09:08 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: x
Posts: 12,423
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Camping with an RV is a learning experience that continues from purchase to selling
__________________
Retired Navy
Jake my sidekick (yellow Lab) 10/04 - 05/20
2017 RAM 2500 CC 4X4 Cummins Diesel
2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
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03-03-2020, 11:32 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,430
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I always make sure the breaker is OFF before I plug our cord in, more a safety thing
__________________
2017 River Stone Legacy 38mb
2001 Kenworth T2000
2016 Smart for Two on deck
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03-03-2020, 11:55 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,300
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Welcome to FRF.
Before spending a lot of money at the dealer give the membership here a opportunity to provide suggestions as there are lot of very cleaver and experienced members here and it is very likely someone has found a solution to any issue you may have.
__________________
2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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03-03-2020, 02:58 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,725
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replace a brand new awning? certainly I would NOT contact a dealer about it... There are so many options to putting a cover over your outdoor space that do not involve an awning. And if you do use an awning, you do have some storm/wind support poles so the awning does not wrap itself over the roof if a storm should catch you napping or away from the trailer, don't you?
INFO here or make your own poles from PVC or electrical conduit but Old Coot's brackets are needed and well worth it.
https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...kit-49765.html
__________________
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
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03-03-2020, 03:13 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,839
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The OP has a popup, therefore a bag awning. So this won't work for them.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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03-03-2020, 03:20 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,563
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When we had a pop-up, we quickly learned to leave the bag awning home and just carried an ez-up canopy tent for shade. Much less frustrating 
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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03-03-2020, 03:29 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,725
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Quote:
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The OP has a popup, therefore a bag awning. So this won't work for them.
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a popup awning does not have arms that support the awning from the camper?
You cannot add Old Coots' brackets to the ends of those arms? for a second point of attachment to the ground?
I looked at a picture of a bag awning and it appeared there are arms that attach to the lower side of the camper...
I do NOT attach my stand-up poles permanently or carry them on the awning while traveling, but I certainly do use Coot's brackets as handy attachment point for the awning to ground pipes that I use for wind protection.
What am I missing? confused?
__________________
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
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03-03-2020, 05:13 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Catonsville Maryland
Posts: 1,969
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsdata
a popup awning does not have arms that support the awning from the camper?
You cannot add Old Coots' brackets to the ends of those arms? for a second point of attachment to the ground?
I looked at a picture of a bag awning and it appeared there are arms that attach to the lower side of the camper...
I do NOT attach my stand-up poles permanently or carry them on the awning while traveling, but I certainly do use Coot's brackets as handy attachment point for the awning to ground pipes that I use for wind protection.
What am I missing? confused?
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there are two possible orientations for the poles, one is to attach to the sidewall of the camper. The other is for the poles to go directly to the ground. If they go directly to the ground, there is no need for the extra brackets and poles.
back when i had my popup - i always had my poles go to ground and simply tied them down.
__________________
HTT: "EscapeII" 2016 Shamrock 23WS (current)
PUP: "Escape" 2010 Rockwood HW 277 (gone)
TV: "Gill" 2022 RAM 2500
Just us gals (me, Sis and our daughters)
We spend alot of money to go sit in the woods
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03-03-2020, 05:35 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,354
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One item you left off your list.
Most people realize after their first trip that they took WAAAAY too much stuff along they didn't need. 
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change  )
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03-03-2020, 05:37 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,725
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Quote:
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back when i had my popup - i always had my poles go to ground and simply tied them down.
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thx for the explanation...
__________________
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
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03-04-2020, 09:17 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 648
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lgharis
This past weekend was the first time I have used my new 2020 Rockwood Freedom 1940LTD camper. This is the most important things I learned.
1. The awning was fun to figure out how to setup. The videos don't have the same style of awning. One person can setup the awning without a lot of effort. However, stowing the awning is a PITA for one person. Rolling it up is not easy and kind of like rolling up wrapping paper. It is not easy to get it even on the ends. Not sure I will do it again by myself.
2. When plugging in the 30A connector check to see if the green indicator light is on. Two hours after I setup I discovered the breaker at the plug was turned off (as it should have been). After I turned on the breaker lo and behold the refrigerator and AC unit started working.
I am interested in replacing the awning with a manual crank version. Guess I'll contact the dealer to see what options they have. I plan to do a lot of traveling alone.
Leroy
North Texas
Rockwood Freedom 1940LTD
Tow vehicle 2015 Ford Edge 6cyl
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LOL The marvels of electricity. Ya just gotta turn it on.  
Happy Camping!
On our ole Palomino Popup we would role the poles in the awning and it rolled up perfectly. Maybe you can / can't do that.
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03-05-2020, 06:49 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 43
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I completely feel you on the awning issue - unfortunately there isn't much to the roof of these popups so you're greatly limited on options there. I'm not sure a popup roof will withstand much more than an bag awning. One piece of advice I can give that helps us when putting the awning away is to lower the camper down half way then roll the awning up. It really makes a difference!
__________________
2021 Flagstaff Shamrock 21SS
2020 Jeep Gladiator
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03-08-2020, 01:00 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Gulf Coast
Posts: 342
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tcbrady
I completely feel you on the awning issue - unfortunately there isn't much to the roof of these popups so you're greatly limited on options there. I'm not sure a popup roof will withstand much more than an bag awning. One piece of advice I can give that helps us when putting the awning away is to lower the camper down half way then roll the awning up. It really makes a difference!
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X2
__________________
Central Florida
2017 Nissan Pathfinder SL
2019 Shamrock 19
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03-08-2020, 02:12 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Bellingham Wa
Posts: 57
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Awning
I installed a carefree wall mount awning
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03-12-2020, 07:08 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Dark Side of the Moon
Posts: 139
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I gave up on the awning on our 206LTD. The hassle of it plus trying to get the screen room attached too. Just too much PITA for me!
__________________
2020 Coachmen Clipper Cadet 17CFQ
2014 F150 Lariat Super Crew 5.0
1954 Wife
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03-12-2020, 07:45 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Mint hill NC
Posts: 122
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I found leaving awning to last was best when 1/2 way or more down.. putting out when 1/2 way up too. I am always alone so I feel your pain. I have a 2516g , now for sale.
__________________
2008 wildwood le 19BH
Tv 2018 F150 screw 3.5EB
Retired UNC Charlotte engineering professor.
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03-13-2020, 09:02 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: North Texas
Posts: 41
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Thanks for all of the responses. Just to be clear my issue was not with the poles. it was the effort it takes to manually roll the awning back up to store it in the bag. I will try waiting until almost done before repacking it. Maybe I will practice at home (what an idea).
As for taking too much, I knew I did but it was on purpose. If I didn't touch it I won't take it next time.
You guys are great.
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