Wind Pulled Awning out While Driving Today

[sdennislee]

Driving east on I 90 through South Dakota sustained winds in the 30s (mph).

As a fifth wheel passed my friend and I were watching as it rocked from side to side and fishtailed after being hit by a gust of wind in excess of 50 mph.

While we were commenting on how lucky he was to have not flipped over the same gust caught the main awning and puled it loose. We climbed on the roof in 35 to 50 mph winds wrestled with the awning to roll it back up and run zip ties around it.

Awning arms now zip tied to the coach, awning rolled up and zip tied.

After initialing securing, we found a spot to park out of the wind to put the finishing touches on. Attached a photo of my friend finishing up.

Had to wrap our feet around the AC units to keep from being blown off while trying to roll the awning in.

First bad day since leaving Alaska. Still a good day all in all had a great time this morning at Mount Rushmore.

Called GMAC insurance, gave me a claim number and said they do not need to see awning damage. I am to simply take it to the shop of my choice and have it fixed.

[Ramblin]

My RV came with some awning 'keepers' that were installed by the previous owner that prevent this sort of thing. They're available at Camping World. They work well and are easy to fasten and unfasten.

Jim

[micd]

After it gets fixed you may want to consider an awning lock. We use this one.

Save Your RV Awning with an RV Awning Travel Lock!

Michelle

[MSHappyCampers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by micd After it gets fixed you may want to consider an awning lock. We use this one. Save Your RV Awning with an RV Awning Travel Lock! Michelle

Hi Michelle! I've thought about this lock, but wondered if you have to drill a hole in the awning tube cap to match the position of the plunger? If no one here knows I will call the company tommorrow with the question. Thanks!

[micd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jminyard Hi Michelle! I've thought about this lock, but wondered if you have to drill a hole in the awning tube cap to match the position of the plunger? If no one here knows I will call the company tommorrow with the question. Thanks!

Hi Joe,
Yes we had to drill a hole in the awning tube cap to have the plunger go in. However, we liked this method much better than the other system we looked at from Camping World that had us drill holes in the roof. We were very nervous about that. :-)

Michelle

[tvman44]

Yes to drilling a hole in the tube but I love that lock. Put one on our 5er.

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by micd After it gets fixed you may want to consider an awning lock. We use this one. Save Your RV Awning with an RV Awning Travel Lock! Michelle

Looked cool and I was all excited until I looked at the compatibility chart. I have a Carefree Power Awning.

I'm still going to ask my repair guy if it will work.

Thanks

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramblin My RV came with some awning 'keepers' that were installed by the previous owner that prevent this sort of thing. They're available at Camping World. They work well and are easy to fasten and unfasten. Jim

Thanks for the tip.

[Mr_D]

Some people erroneously think that putting a tie wrap around the awning arm will keep the awning from billowing. IT WON'T!!
The wind gets under the fabric, pulls against the lock ratchet, which gives a little. This adds more fabric for the wind to pull on, finally the ratchet gives way totally and away goes the awning. The ONLY thing that will stop it is a positive stop on the awning roller.

[jimkate]

We tried using ties on the arms. Didn't work. We tried locking the awning roller with a home made version of the one you can buy. Didn't work. A 60 mile an hour side wind burst slammed into that awning and hauled the cloth out of the roller while the arms were locked against the coach, and the roller was locked with the locking pin.

We finally put these on:


RV Awning Clamp - Product - Camping World


Absolutely, positively the solution.

[MSHappyCampers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimkate We tried using ties on the arms. Didn't work. We tried locking the awning roller with a home made version of the one you can buy. Didn't work. A 60 mile an hour side wind burst slammed into that awning and hauled the cloth out of the roller while the arms were locked against the coach, and the roller was locked with the locking pin. We finally put these on: RV Awning Clamp - Product - Camping World Absolutely, positively the solution.

I like the looks of that one too, but hate to drill holes in the side of the RV. It has aluminum instead of wood studs and I don't think a studfinder will work on that. It sounds simpler to use the other model and just drill one hole in the roller tube cap. Thanks for the tip though!

[ljr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jminyard Hi Michelle! I've thought about this lock, but wondered if you have to drill a hole in the awning tube cap to match the position of the plunger? If no one here knows I will call the company tommorrow with the question. Thanks!

Yes.

I had mine open on the road once a long time ago. I've had one on every RV I've owned since.

[targaboat]

Stud finders work on alum studs. I am not so sure if the sides are alum also.

[bldrbob]

I use the pull down rod to secure the tube. By putting the end into the slot in the end of the tube and securing the other end to the strut it can not rotate.