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Old 06-24-2015, 06:33 AM   #1
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FWS topper awning damage

Camping in our 2014 DS in SD last week a severe thunderstorm popped up at 2:30am, the awning was already extending and contracting under tension as designed in the wind, I was retracting couch to pull slide in but was too late, awning unraveled to its stop twice then broke loose at both ends and now the roller tube was beating top of roof in the wind. After repairs are made I think in the future I will retract awning anytime it starts to bellow. Anybody have any other ideas? Thanks in advance for any ideas. It ripped the aluminum trim from the top of the slide out completely off at each end for about 3ft. I will post pictures if I can figure how to.
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Old 06-24-2015, 07:06 AM   #2
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I will bring my living room slide in half way to keep the slide topper from ripping in heavy winds.
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Old 06-24-2015, 07:14 AM   #3
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Sorry to hear about your mishap! We had something similar happen to our CS last year in Amarillo.

On our coach, the slide topper bracket was attached to the trim piece that runs the length of the top of the slide wall. An "L" bracket attaches this trim piece to the slide. The wind was sufficient to pull out the screws holding the "L" bracket for a couple of feet at the rear end of the slide.

We had Newmar make the repair. They told us that, on the 2015 CS coaches, the slide topper bracket is no longer attached to the trim piece. Instead it attaches directly to the slide wall. This should be stronger. They retrofitted our coach to this new approach.

We haven't had a problem since. In windy areas, I try to position the coach to protect the FWS. If I can't, and the wind gets gusty, say above 35 mph, we now bring in the slide.

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Old 06-24-2015, 07:14 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bonzocfi View Post
I will bring my living room slide in half way to keep the slide topper from ripping in heavy winds.
Are you fully sealed at 1/2 in? I once considered that on my non-FWS but there were enough small gaps I just pulled all the way in.

BTW...on that subject, you might consider rolling up any of the longer window awnings. Over the course of time I have found strong winds will cause the material to slide to one side or the other. They will also really shake enough to make me nervous. I think it is the long distance from the pull down strap to the arms that allows it to do this. I don't see that so much on my shorter window awning.
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Old 06-24-2015, 07:19 AM   #5
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My Bounder FWS topper was always flapping in the wind. I would have to pull it in during gusty winds. I replaced it with a Carefree awning that has a gust protective cover and now no more flapping. Expensive but worth it. It is probably the same topper that the Mountain Aire uses.
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Old 06-24-2015, 07:26 AM   #6
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Sky Boss,
No, I'm not sealed. But with just wind all I want to do is save my slide topper. Now if we're talking about a thunderstorm or heavy rain/wind then I'll bring the slide in.
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Old 06-24-2015, 08:24 AM   #7
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Thanks for the ideas those are all helpful!
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Old 06-24-2015, 08:53 PM   #8
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We bring ours in anytime we hear it start bellowing.

A 27' awning can catch a lot of air.
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Old 06-24-2015, 09:48 PM   #9
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We bring ours in anytime we hear it start bellowing.



A 27' awning can catch a lot of air.

Same here.


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Old 06-24-2015, 10:52 PM   #10
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Centerfire must have been in the Badlands. I can attest that the winds were pretty terrific. Wind gusts up to 90mph according to weather alert. I was amazed that some of the smaller 5th weeks in the park did not turn over.
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Old 06-25-2015, 05:39 AM   #11
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Hey DavidP,Selah yes we were in western South Dakota and David thanks for the tip on the 2015 bracket, went and looked and when my repairs are made they said they can attach the new awning to the slide instead of trim so that will be a nice upgrade, thanks again for great advice.
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Old 06-25-2015, 12:20 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pcurt23 View Post
My Bounder FWS topper was always flapping in the wind. I would have to pull it in during gusty winds. I replaced it with a Carefree awning that has a gust protective cover and now no more flapping. Ho but worth it. It is probably the same topper that the Mountain Aire uses.
Can you share more about the gust protective covers?
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