Bounder: Electric awning and rain

[clyon51]

This is about 2 weeks now with our present coach with a new to us electric (automatic) awning. Woke up this morning after a night of rain. There must have been 30 gals of water up there, main roller was bowed 6 inches and both support arms were bowed. I first tried just retracting it and of course the motor couldn't handle it. I then got a broom and push up on the awning and eventually got all the water off. I thought oh shite, it's now toast! Luckily, all seems well and lesson learned. I knew with this thing 12ft in the air and as short as it is, it would be just about useless. Never dreamed it would be useless in the rain! So it gives no shade and you can't use it in the rain?

Aggravated in Arizona :-D

[stink]

What brand of awning do you have? I have a carefree of colorado elect 21 ft on my discovery. The carefree awnings have an adjustment so you can lower the roller when extended and I leave the rear one lower than the front so water will run off.

[Full.Monte]

At least you got a nice refreshing rain-water shower out of the deal!

[clyon51]

This is an A&E/Dometic WeatherPro.

[pcurt23]

If the awning is working correctly it is supposed to dump the water automatically.

[JC2]

Originally Posted by pcurt23

If the awning is working correctly it is supposed to dump the water automatically.

So very true. About (2) years ago, we were at Ft Davis State Park in western Texas having a cookout with 4-5 other couples when the daily brief thunderstorm came up. After the rain had filled up one corner of the big awning, it preceded to tilt and dump its contents on, "you guessed it" the people that just happen to be under it. Nothing like baked beans floating in water with potatoe salad and brauts/sausage.

[TXiceman]

Jerry, you forgot to add that it also rolled up the awning automatically. One lady can attest to the temperature of the water.....

Ken

[Tha_Rooster]

It's to late now but my advise is never leave a electric awning out during heavy rains, high winds or at night if you want to lose sleep closing it up or unattended.

[Statgeek]

Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster

It's to late now but my advise is never leave a electric awning out during heavy rains, high winds or at night if you want to lose sleep closing it up or unattended.

I echo the recommendation... and often wonder why the heck a GOOD wind & rain mechanism hasn't yet been invented! Everyone that I know who has an auto-retract feature fails to trust it, and for good reason. They usually don't work, or they are so sensitive that they'll retract if a butterfly happens to wonder within 15' of the RV.

[Mac99]

X2 on the last two posts. I have the same awning, when gone
I retract it.
At night, and in the rain, I only leave it out about 2'-3' depending
on the winds. Carefree does make a shade that slips into the
channel that hangs down and will give you a lot more shade.
Here is link:
Carefree SunBlocker & SideBlocker

I trimmed the folded edges and and I leave it rolled up and in
the awing year round.

[Hikerdogs]

Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster

It's to late now but my advise is never leave a electric awning out during heavy rains, high winds or at night if you want to lose sleep closing it up or unattended.

We have the Weather Pro on our 2013 Adventurer. When we were doing the walk thru the salesman told us point blank not to trust it would close properly in the wind. His statement was something to the effect that "by the time the awning attempts to close after the first gust of wind the second gust has already torn it off".

[Muddypaws]

A truthful RV salesman!

[JC2]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Jerry, you forgot to add that it also rolled up the awning automatically. One lady can attest to the temperature of the water.....

Ken

I know nothing.

[stink]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Jerry, you forgot to add that it also rolled up the awning automatically. One lady can attest to the temperature of the water.....

Ken

Seen dad roll up awning full of water, dumped on play pen with kids inside. You could hear DW scream across the campground!!