Community Forums

MSHappyCampers · 04-17-2012, 02:02 PM

My MH has the Carefree manual awning with the aluminum cover. Do I still need the awning clamps to prevent accidental roll-out or does the aluminum cover prevent that? I will be taking a trip out west soon and don't want those high winds out there to ruin my vacation!

RexAir_3650 · 04-17-2012, 02:18 PM

I wouldn't take a chance. The clamps are cheap insurance and I definitely would not travel without them. I have a carefree omega slide awing without the aluminum cover that unrolled because I forgot to lock the clamps. I was luck no damage and was able to roll in back in correctly along the highway. But dumb luck was all it was and I only had to risk the wifes/own life to fix it while trucks were rumbling by at high speeds.

If you do have an awning mishap it could end up ruining your entire trip especially if you are in some remote place. I know I was getting buffetted around pretty good by winds in Texas and Arizona just last month (40-50 MPH gusting cross winds) when my mishap occurred. In Texas the speed limit is 80 MPH on two lane highways so oncoming trucks sometimes blast you pretty good with wind not to mention the high wind areas through both states where side winds of 35-40MPH are not uncommon. Even 50+ MPH happens in some areas frequently but I call it a day at that point and wait it out. Anyway better safe than sorry and I would not travel without my awning secured ever again.

wildtoad · 04-17-2012, 02:22 PM

When I had a 1994 Airstream Land Yacht MH it had the alum. cover over the awning. Went on a trip through Oklahoma and ran into some very brisk winds and the awning opened right on out. I'd get them.

Tom

Steve N Sal · 04-17-2012, 02:23 PM

Joe, I have the same aluminum cover on ours but I don't think that will prevent it from coming out. When I close the awning I take a velcro strip and go over the lock on the center of the arm. That little swivel thing at the center of the arm that stops the arms from coming out. Then I use a nylon zip tie over that. I don't know if this process is fool proof but I haven't had it come out yet and we've been thru some gusty winds while driving.
They do make a product that can be permanantly installed but I haven't gotten to that point yet.

catonine · 04-17-2012, 02:43 PM

The clamps are cheap, the awning is not. Good insurance to have them.

slickest1 · 04-17-2012, 03:09 PM

Not to steal the tread but do the power awnings need to be clamped too? If you clamp the arms together is that enough?

static · 04-17-2012, 03:13 PM

Funny, but not funny ha ha.....

Our first trip with our MH. The previous owner told me that awning was torn and needed new material. He had a ratchet strap holding it against the MH. We're in the middle of absolutly nowhere and it's windy. I was only going 50 and I hear a sound like a blown tire. Pull over and the awning is out and blowing over the roof. The aluminum covers didn't do anything. I don't know what these clips you are talking about. So here I am in the 40mph wind with air temp of 30 f trying to get it rolled back in. The mechanism was damaged and it wouldn't roll in. So I took it off completley. It was my only choice. Either that or risk damaging the MH as it blew around.

So the moral of the story is if there's something out there that's relatively cheap that will prevent this, take it from someone with experience, GET THEM!

George Schweikle · 04-17-2012, 03:32 PM

Is this what everybody is talking about? Save Your RV Awning with an RV Awning Travel Lock!
Does anyone have experience with the product?

Mr_D · 04-17-2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickest1

Not to steal the tread but do the power awnings need to be clamped too? If you clamp the arms together is that enough?

Clamping the arms does absolutely nothing to stop the awning from unfurling. You have to stop the awning roller from turning which is independent of the arms.
I have never played an attorney on TV but I have given a deposition in a wrongful death suit regarding the operation of RV awnings.

static · 04-17-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Clamping the arms does absolutely nothing to stop the awning from unfurling. You have to stop the awning roller from turning which is independent of the arms.
I have never played an attorney on TV but I have given a deposition in a wrongful death suit regarding the operation of RV awnings.

Yup, my problem exatly. In the link above, the first picture on the home page is just what mine looked like. It seems that the arms stayed in and the awning unrolled and was like a sail over the top of my MH. Then the wind gust died and blew again, at which time one of the arms came unclasped and they began to bend... At this point I'm on my roof trying to figure this out. Next the roller is being slammed against the MH when the wind takes my "sail". Next the ends of the roller begin to come apart.

It was at this time that I said a few words that I'm not proud of.

And I determined that I needed to get this "sail" off the side ASAP.

I can now remove an awning in under 2 minutes flat....

slickest1 · 04-17-2012, 04:03 PM

Thanks D, I see what you mean with clamping the arms. I was looking at the list of lock kits for different awnings and mine says not available. It's a carefree power awning. I had trouble with my rear bedroom window awnings being blown open and made a couple little hooks that fixed that problem.

Dunner · 04-17-2012, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve N Sal

Joe, I have the same aluminum cover on ours but I don't think that will prevent it from coming out. When I close the awning I take a velcro strip and go over the lock on the center of the arm. That little swivel thing at the center of the arm that stops the arms from coming out. Then I use a nylon zip tie over that. I don't know if this process is fool proof but I haven't had it come out yet and we've been thru some gusty winds while driving.
They do make a product that can be permanantly installed but I haven't gotten to that point yet.

Like this? I don't think it will keep an awning from un-furling from air under it, but it won't come open.

MSHappyCampers · 04-17-2012, 04:14 PM

Thanks for the comments guys! I will definitely put on some kind of restraints before making the trip!

George, I thought about that device, but I have read comments about the plunger not always lining up with the hole in the tube cap every time. Anyone have any experience with this!