Community Forums

Pirate · 02-15-2014, 05:23 PM

RV travel awning lock gizmo as others mentioned is ideal. You can undo it with the awning rod. Easy to install.

All those other cheap fixes such as velcro and tape and zip ties are useless. The other inventions to secure the awning tube will make you get out the ladder. Do you really want to go through all that trouble every time you put out the awning?

palehorse89 · 02-15-2014, 05:35 PM

With my A&E awning, my directional ratchet lever striped out and quit working, I could just pull the awning out, so I had to use Velcro on the arms to hold them closed, I replaced the awning springs and now with the directional lever and ratchet system in the front spring working, my awning will not come out without flipping the lever, so now the question for others tieing their awnings down, is the something not working right that needs fixed?

Pirate · 02-15-2014, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

With my A&E awning, my directional ratchet lever striped out and quit working, I could just pull the awning out, so I had to use Velcro on the arms to hold them closed, I replaced the awning springs and now with the directional lever and ratchet system in the front spring working, my awning will not come out without flipping the lever, so now the question for others tieing their awnings down, is the something not working right that needs fixed?

The awning travel lock gizmo is just an added insurance measure just in case the rachet lever you mention breaks again. The wrachet lever works on the right side, the awning lock secures the left side. Both stop the awning tube from unrolling. When you put velcro on the arms as you mentioned earlier, the awning tube could still unroll. The tube itself needs to be secured.

palehorse89 · 02-15-2014, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate

The awning travel lock gizmo is just an added insurance measure just in case the rachet lever you mention breaks again. The wrachet lever works on the right side, the awning lock secures the left side. Both stop the awning tube from unrolling. When you put velcro on the arms as you mentioned earlier, the awning tube could still unroll. The tube itself needs to be secured.

With velcro around my arms, mine could not unroll, believe me, I know, for mine to unroll, my front arm is the first thing that has to move, if it does not move, nothing does.

topdownman · 02-15-2014, 05:49 PM

Velcro won't stop the wind from overpowering the pawl in that awning tube. You just haven't had it happen to you yet. But it will, just give it some time.

Walter5555 · 02-15-2014, 05:59 PM

I have been using Velcro straps for years.
I put two on each arm one just above the metal latch and the other as far up the arm as I can reach.
It works for us.

Just a thought.

palehorse89 · 02-15-2014, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topdownman

Velcro won't stop the wind from overpowering the pawl in that awning tube. You just haven't had it happen to you yet. But it will, just give it some time.

Coach is 14 years old, 56,000 miles, original awning, good and bad windy conditions(27,000 of the miles by me) 1/2 of the summer with Velcro due to broken ratchet pawl gears, new springs, all new better designed pawl system, cannot pull the awning open, I tried to. I hope it stays put........

The OEM 2000 vintage, was of the fine tooth design in the pawl, the new design is more like a courser gear drive. If the wind is blowing hard enough above the traveled speed, to over-power this gear system and break it, and if I was to stay out on the road, the awning will most likely be the least of my problems......

Hooligan · 02-15-2014, 06:38 PM

The ratchet is what connects the roller tube to the arms. If the ratchet fails or is overpowered by the wind, the arms won't move but the awning will unfurl. (Just by over riding the spring)
Had my ratchet replaced in 2006, the camlock broke. (Roller could be unrolled and the arms would not move). New ratchet clicks slower and more positive. (Larger teeth?). I now also use the Keith Williams Travel lock, it was easy to install and no hassle to use.

palehorse89 · 02-15-2014, 06:50 PM

I see what you are saying Hooligan, but without a broken spring or maybe even both of the broken, I could not see mine un-raveling if the pawl broke with all the spring tension on the awning, even when retracted.......maybe though........sure would take one hell of a high wind storm to cause this to happen I would think, I have hit 80-82 mph before, plus the prevailing winds............

Clay L · 02-16-2014, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

I see what you are saying Hooligan, but without a broken spring or maybe even both of the broken, I could not see mine un-raveling if the pawl broke with all the spring tension on the awning, even when retracted.......maybe though........sure would take one hell of a high wind storm to cause this to happen I would think, I have hit 80-82 mph before, plus the prevailing winds............

I have personally seen it happen on two rigs at the same time. We were all on a four lane in Wyoming with strong gusts coming directly from one side.
The two I saw were pulled over in a rest area.
The awnings had billowed up while the arms were still locked in place . I was going the other direction so my patio awning was safe. My awning slide topper was billowing out so that the anti billow arm was banging against the stop plate.

The awning area is enough to push several thousand pounds of boat at five or six miles per hour in a 15 mile per hour wind.
Once the wind gets beneath the awning, if it is a high enough speed it can break or slip the ratchet and open the awning against the spring tension.

palehorse89 · 02-16-2014, 11:37 AM

Now..... how about the wind over powering the electric power awnings, ripping their gears out and un-raveling? or does this just happen to the manual awnings? Should everyone somehow fasten their awnings down? Just wondering, and I have not seen a fast and good way here to do so.......

Hooligan · 02-16-2014, 03:26 PM

The small "awning lock" I use on the rear cap is not that robust. It is effective because it helps the ratchet hold the awning tube from starting to unroll and billow. Once the awning starts to unfurl, it's going where it wants to.
It's easy to engage or disengage, using the awning rod to pull down and twist the spring loaded pin. It will hold the awning against the pull strap even if the ratchet is disengaged..

AFChap · 02-16-2014, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

Now..... how about the wind over powering the electric power awnings, ripping their gears out and un-raveling? or does this just happen to the manual awnings? Should everyone somehow fasten their awnings down? Just wondering, and I have not seen a fast and good way here to do so.......

I have not seen a confirmed case of a power awning unfurling due to wind. Mine has never moved ...Carefree w/aluminum cover. My window awnings have no locks, and have been affected by strong cross-winds.

caissiel · 02-16-2014, 08:20 PM

A&E had a recall on some of the motorized unit. It was not holding on the road.
We replaced the arms and awning canvas on an electric awning that opened while on transit.
So electric awnings can open.
In 20 years my good working manual awnings have never opened. Besides there is a lock on each arm. Sometimes I forget to undo them and the awning just will not pull out.