Well, after an eventful trip to HWH the winds picked up. The week started with the slide not pinning then driving to Iowa from PA in a day. Then arriving at HWH at 7am. Then in the bay and my oldest pup waited ten mins and had a stroke. She threw up and could not stand. HWH receptionist told us Where a vet was and after calling we brought her there. There was no question what to do. It was sad but is at peace now. they were very nice. Then note way to visit family we hit huge wind. 54 mph gusts and sustained in the 40s and maybe higher. This wind caused the LR slide awning to start to roll out. It would go out a foot and slap back in. Sucked big time. Dropped speed to 35 frim 45 and it still did it when it gusted. So when I got to a hardware store I got a 18 inch zip tie and ran it unde the awnin and tied it shut. Now in SD the wind is howling again. The slide awning is holding tight.
John,
Very sad to hear about your family friend passing on to doggie heaven. There's nothing that can replace that kind of love.
Keep a stiff upper lip and all the best.
And yes, this is the time of year when the changes from spring to summer weather creates nasty windy conditions. Drive safely.
If the awning popped out in a wind the latch is probably broken or was not latched. If it is a zip dee awning you can get replacement parts, maybe other brands too. Their website has instructions on repairs. I forgot to latch mine, it blew out, went across the top of the coach and retracted all in about 3 seconds. Ripped out the seam along the roller except at the ends. The strap disappeared in the 40 mph crosswind. It took my DW and myself several hours of hand stiching to sew it back; on opposite sides pushing a needle and thread back and forth. Not a fun job. Too bad about the dog.
I don't think Slide awnings have a lock like our window awnings.
I don't know if ours are the same as John's; ours double as window awnings as well so there are arms at either end. It's not the same lock, but ours have a little tab that rotates to keep the arms from extending. I don't see it on the Zip Dee website though.
Michelle
John,
Sorry to hear about your pup. Do you remember "Mr. Bojangles" and the lyrics, "after twenty years he still grieves"? Yuli died ten years ago and I miss him just like the song. Got a new family member last year. Will put him in our profile photo soon.
Sorry again for your loss.
Those tabs keep the arms from moving but the awning can still unfurl. Guess how I know. :o
Sorry missed the part about it being a slide awning.
John, Sorry to hear about the loss of you dog, never easy under any circumstances and even worse far from home. I've got one of the Shih Tzu's with problems and while I am laid up with my new hip Jane has her hands full caring for all of us. Drive careful.
Gary B
Yes it is the slide awning. No locks, just the latches the fold down. It allows about an inch up top and that wassail it needed.
Thanks for the kind words about Susie.
I am going to figure out a way to permanently put a latch that is tighter. Something for a summer plan.
John,
It will be easy to repair the awning latches, but not as easy to repair the hole in your heart left by the passing of your wonderful dog. I commiserate with your loss.
Thanks George. You are right.
Headwind dropped fuel milage down to 5.5 from 7.8. Tough trip. Talked to a Winnie driver and she lost 4 mpg too. Said she had to stop and sig out some of the afternoon and drive at night.
John, I believe Suzie is the pooch we met when we saw you in Nac. Sorry for the loss. I know she had a great life. I can't remember whether we had Max our 155 lb. German Shepard/Rottweiler but he suffered a similar demise. It was tough to see. Loosing him was really rough and I still miss him even though our new travel partner, Trip, is the best dog ever, except for his shedding.
By the way, the afternoon breeze you've been experiencing can be really aggravating. Remember, we are in Oklahoma where the wind goes, oh never mind.
Yes Kent, she was the one you guys met.
I know about the afternoon breezes but this one started the night before and kept up all day. Gusts well over 55mph. Thru it now as it was the front moving in. Now it is 50 degrees.
Steve and I were very saddened to learn about Susie's passing. We have made a donation in Susie's name to Cavalier Rescue.
Cavalier Rescue USA (http://www.cavalierrescueusa.org/)
Michelle
Hi John, I know your feeling all too well.I've been there twice. I still can't read the "rainbow bridge" piece without tearing up.
I have two vise grip brand vice grips that are for round pipe. When the wind is strong on the left side, I go to the roof and clamp them on the awning tube ends with the handles touching the curve on the roof.There is no way the tube can turn and allow the fabric to SAIL OUT. I also pull the key to the slide room. My memory is usually bad at the destination. If you like the idea, don't go cheap. Get the vise gripe brand.
What did HWH do for you? Was a problem found and solved?
Gary O
Thank you. That was very nice. We all appreciate it.
That is a great idea. I am not sure how you attached them though. A picture would be wonderful. As to HWH. They found one screw holding in the room in sensor that was steel and should be brass. It was interfering with the magnetic field. That is a maybe though. I talked with three engineers as they said what happened to me can nt happen. Said odd it happened twice.