Electric awnings

[Bob_C]

Does everyone retract their awning when the wind blows?.....Why?.......

[RoadrunnerII]

Yes we do! Just go thru a Campground after a storm you will see the damaged awnings. Big wind is hard on awnings

[Oma_Sly]

I retract mine because if I don't I end up with a big repair bill! A dust devil came through an RV park we were staying at in Tucson and twisted up the metal frame work.

[Bob_C]

Now, for the rest of the story.......A few years ago, a friend of mine, on another rv forum, developed awning poles....at first, they were pvc pipe, then came painter poles, and now aluminum round telescopic poles that stay attached to awning support arms while traveling.....so, I came up with the same thing to use as deflapper poles....same idea, they telescope and stay attached to arms when stored...... I've bought a weather station that has a wind meter to monitor wind speed, and came across a tie down that anchors the awning poles to the ground, even in sandy type soil. Called 'The Claw', they're used at airports for small planes....so, using a ratchet strap, and these anchors, my awning stays out till the wind hits 30 mph...I winter in Quartzsite, Arizona, where the wind never quits, and have tested this setup from coast to coast....I'll be redesigning my stuff this next winter, going to square telescopic aluminum tubing.....I've also added led lights to the inside of main poles, and at present, to the outside of the deflapper poles...those, also, will be inside on next set...I also added a RF controller to awning so that I can be outside when deploying/retracting awning...also converted the awning led lights to RF

[Top_Speed1]

I do retract nightly, but only since I've had the electrics. Prior I didn't, been a few times in the middle of the night I was woke up by the shaking and extreme flapping.

I saw lot's of awning damage (carnage) the follow morning through out the campsite. The campsite owner said we had a "micro-burst" come through. If your awning stayed out, well it didn't make it, end of story.

[AtomicRT]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

Now, for the rest of the story.......A few years ago, a friend of mine, on another rv forum, developed awning poles....at first, they were pvc pipe, then came painter poles, and now aluminum round telescopic poles that stay attached to awning support arms while traveling.....so, I came up with the same thing to use as deflapper poles....same idea, they telescope and stay attached to arms when stored...... I've bought a weather station that has a wind meter to monitor wind speed, and came across a tie down that anchors the awning poles to the ground, even in sandy type soil. Called 'The Claw', they're used at airports for small planes....so, using a ratchet strap, and these anchors, my awning stays out till the wind hits 30 mph...I winter in Quartzsite, Arizona, where the wind never quits, and have tested this setup from coast to coast....I'll be redesigning my stuff this next winter, going to square telescopic aluminum tubing.....I've also added led lights to the inside of main poles, and at present, to the outside of the deflapper poles...those, also, will be inside on next set...I also added a RF controller to awning so that I can be outside when deploying/retracting awning...also converted the awning led lights to RF

Sounds interesting. Any way you can post a photo of your setup? Thanks.

[Bob_C]

[Bob_C]

[Bob_C]

[Bob_C]

[Bob_C]

also, since these pics were taken I've added a second deflapper to each pole to spread the load........and if your awning rolls up perfect now, add a pop rivet into the double seam at the roller so the material can't slide in the slot

[DaBabysDaddy]

We alway, whether it's windy or not, tie ours down, using those "dog corkscrew" thingys, and rope. A simple, 5 minute insurance policy. They sell and "RV set" for about $25. I made my own for about $7. Never had an issue. I still let in if a storm comes through. But, if we are gone, and one pops up, we are covered.

[Bob_C]

Originally Posted by DaBabysDaddy

We alway, whether it's windy or not, tie ours down, using those "dog corkscrew" thingys, and rope. A simple, 5 minute insurance policy. They sell and "RV set" for about $25. I made my own for about $7. Never had an issue. I still let in if a storm comes through. But, if we are gone, and one pops up, we are covered.

I started out with the doggie screws, but have run into ground that was like cement, and couldn't screw 'em in, even with a cheater, so these cured that...and any time I set up, I also tie'r down.....and because I alway setup with one end of awning lower, I don't depend on the auto dump for rain........the awning poles also keep the awning from up and down bounce from the wind, by supporting the roller solidly...

[egwilly]

Nice engineering and execution Bob.....remember, it's not nice to fool mother nature!

Wind always wins.

Don't ask.