Securing the awning from the wind

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by ostbob

Think I will have to try this. Mine is manual and it just seems loose all the way around in even the slightest of winds. Lot of rattling and banging. Not enough to damage it but enough that you can't take an afternoon nap.

Are you pulling on the roller and tightening the small knobs on the upper rail?

[TRebel]

I agree with many here: The best advise is, don't leave an extended awning unattended.

I live in Oklahoma, "Where The Wind Comes Sweeping Down The Plains". We seldom use our awnings, because of the rogue winds we get from time to time.
And if you tie it down to anchors in the ground, when the anchor pulls out, your awning stands no chance.
I actually saw my DW lifted off the ground by a gust of wind, while trying to roll in a manual awning.

There are rare days, when there is little wind, while the sun is shinning... but in Oklahoma, they are few and far between.

[GScott423]

We live in our trailer in AZ for 4 months. Our rule is we don’t go more than 100 yds away without rolling it in. We do have ground screw in stakes and use a combination of adjustable straps and a stiff rubber bungee to connect to the awning. Just hook the bungee in the track if the awning arm. If winds above 15 are likely we don’t even put it out. Also after having to get up in the middle of the night to bring in the awning aInalways take it in at night!

[Bob_C]

As I spend a lot of time outside here in Arizona, And do not want to put everything away when the wind blows, which this year seems to be every day, I figured out how to make this one work.....straps alone on an electric awning won't work by themselves....one needs to keep the downward force off the material to keep it from stretching over time.....and doggie stakes are junk, as most of the time people buy the short ones and do not screw them in at an angle to help prevent pull-out....the point is...why not make it better and usable so that one could be visiting when a wind burst happens.......this awning has been deployed since October

[ostbob]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

Are you pulling on the roller and tightening the small knobs on the upper rail?

Yep, pull it as tight as I can then tighten the knob.

[ostbob]

Follow up question:

Do those anti flappers actually work or do any good?

The ones you're supposed to clamp to the awning then secure to the awning supports to keep the ends from flapping in the wind.

[Glenn and Kathy]

Yes they work for the purpose they were designed for. Even a light breeze can cause the awning to flutter noisily. They will stop that, but they are of little or no use in the case of the heavy winds that cause damage to deployed awnings.

Glenn

[allenb12]

We were at Flamingo Lake in Jacksonville, Fl one spring and a brand new fifth wheel pulled in next to us. Nice couple first time camping. Left for a couple of days wit their awning out. First day the wind came up and pulled the attaching screws out of half the awning. Bent the tube. One end was on the ground the other still attached.

[AudiDudi]

Originally Posted by Glenn and Kathy

Yes they work for the purpose they were designed for. Even a light breeze can cause the awning to flutter noisily. They will stop that, but they are of little or no use in the case of the heavy winds that cause damage to deployed awnings.

Glenn

I am going to disagree as I have 3 deFlappers per side on my awning and they have been thru many wind storms in excess of 25mph.

[guardrail53]

Originally Posted by Glenn and Kathy

Yes they work for the purpose they were designed for. Even a light breeze can cause the awning to flutter noisily. They will stop that, but they are of little or no use in the case of the heavy winds that cause damage to deployed awnings.

Glenn

I have one de-flapper on each end of my manual crank out awning, and the fabric would pull out of the end at the slightest breeze! First I cut some strips of the anti-skid mat, and put in it, worked good, but still would pull out if the wind kicked up much! Then I decided to put the squeeze clamps to help the de-flapper hold the awning fabric better! Worked great, and can be removed very quickly if needed!
The crank out kit can be ordered from any good RV parts store, for around 80 dls. give or take, and you can do away with the springs and ratchet on all Care-Free Awnings, and let you crank it out tight and also crank it up very tight in the store position! With it staked to the ground, it is very secure!
Rail!

[Old Coot]

We have 1st hand knowledge that the poles and de-flappers work don't we Bob? (along with at least 400 others)

[barmcd]

Originally Posted by lynnmor

If it is a power awning, they aren’t intended to be used. Since they can’t withstand any wind and very little rain, they serve no purpose. I keep mine rolled up and forget about it.

I kinda feel that way about manual awnings too!

Our first travel trailer was sans awning as the PO lost it in a pop up thunder storm. We traded that in on a 5th wheel and managed to keep that awning for 11 years before it got damaged on a calm spring day. A stray breeze caught it and flipped it over the top of the RV. Now we're pretty gun shy about putting it up.

[fpresto]

It is nothing more than a large sail. You can use any method you want to secure it but with a sudden strong gust from the right direction and something will give. If you have it secured enough at the roller end it will just rip loose from the RV itself. That usually causes some expensive repairs.

[Bob_C]

Common sense also has to come into play sometime.....if proparely braced, the awnings will be good for 30 mph.....after that, it's yours!.....