Awning on 4 slide coach, questions

[smlranger]

We're looking to upgrade a bit and most of the rigs we're looking at are 4 slide. I'd prefer a 3 slide so I can have a more 'normal' awning that actually pitches down but we're not set on that. It appears that on many/most of the 4 slide rigs, the awning remains mostly straight out to clean the curb side slide.

So, looking for opinions from folks who have both 3 and 4 slide rigs and how well the awning on a 4 slide provides shade, protection from rain.

[336muffin]

There are some with the awning attached to the slide itself, thus giving you full use of the awning. Sometimes when we are at a rally with a gathering at our coach (20-50 people) we have pulled our front slide in to gain room and shade.

[smlranger]

Originally Posted by 336muffin

There are some with the awning attached to the slide itself, thus giving you full use of the awning. Sometimes when we are at a rally with a gathering at our coach (20-50 people) we have pulled our front slide in to gain room and shade.

Showing my ignorance of the automatic awnings since all I've had are manual awnings.....so, if you put the curb side slide in, you can lower/pitch the awning down a bit??

[YC1]

Originally Posted by smlranger

Showing my ignorance of the automatic awnings since all I've had are manual awnings.....so, if you put the curb side slide in, you can lower/pitch the awning down a bit??

Yes.

Even with my slide out I can pitch mine down a bit and keep one corner lower than the other a bit. They do an excellent job of keeping the rain off but you need to retract them in a heavy wind. I never leave mine out unless it is in use. I recently bought an add on to hang from the awning front to provide more shade so dropping the edge is now mute.

[hanko]

four problems

[Medico]

Many MHs have full length awnings on passenger side. Mine for example has 2 awnings then cover almost the entire length of the coach (DP with door in very front). Mine has electric awnings and come relatively straight out from the coach (slight downward angle to allow water to run off). They do not have down sections so nothing to bang your head on. Mine also has the ability to auto retract if the wind picks up too much. These awnings do a very good job of shading the passenger side of the coach. I also have awnings over each window that helps to shade the windows on the driver side as well.

[ShapeShifter]

There are a couple different kind of automatic awnings. Some have lateral arms so the awning goes straight out. I don't believe those can be pitched at all.

Others have side arms that can be adjusted. At one extreme they extend pretty much straight out, at the other extreme they dip down some, but not a lot. I'm virtually positive this is the kind that YC1 is talking about. I have that type, and this is it adjusted as low as it goes:



Pitching it down helps bring it down a bit, but the awning is still very high, and doesn't give a whole lot of shade unless the sun is directly overhead. I need a ladder to be able to reach the edge of it, even when it's as low as it goes -- it doesn't come down nearly as low as a manual awning. Note over the door there is a smaller awning, this is the lateral arm type that comes straight out.

Even with the slide extended, the main awning is usable. But of course, the slide does take up some of that precious space under the awning. With it adjusted down as it is, it does wrap over the top edge of the slide. This doesn't seem to have caused any issues over the years, but I still make sure I have the awning retracted before I move the slide.

The picture might be a little confusing. At the top outside corner of the slide is the roller for the slide topper awning. That's the fabric you see going straight back to the coach to the awning rail. The main awning fabric is wrapped over the edge, and due to the angle of the camera you can barely see the edge of the awning fabric. It's the thin line that extends to the half-circle aluminum tube that covers the awning when it's rolled up, and it ends at the very top edge of the coach roof.

The power awning is very convenient. But it does not give the same protection as a manual one. I've often been tempted to put a small manual awning on the slide itself so I can drop it down low for shade from a low-angle sun.