We've got a rain day tomorrow on a 2 day stop on our way home from NAC. What's the collective wisdom regarding awnings?
1. Large awning ok up during rain if staying with the coach
2. With regard to big awning what value to anchoring the ends (ground auger and strapping.
2. Window awnings OK up if staying wit( the coach? OK to leave coach with window awnings during rain?
3. OK to store wet or must be dry for travel days?
Thanks
Our large awning ... out is OK in the rain, we frequently tie down the corners. Taught line hitch. Lowering the back corner relative to the front helps drain rain. We roll it up if it gets windy or gusty. Judgement call as to when. We had some pretty windy and gusty days on the coast in Oregon and only rolled it up once.
One time in Big Bend we were out rolling the big awning up at 3AM when gusts were 40 mph. We check weather more carefully now.
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All of the rest of the awnings stay out in the rain. It lets you keep windows open. These are almost always out whether we are at the coch or not. If a really serious storm is expected then roll them up.
If they are wet they get rolled up. At the next opportunity sails are unfurled for some drying time.
This is all part of getting to know your coach and your comfort levels. Ease into it.
Most of us have had that "awning story" where we were snuggled in bed ,had left the big awning out and a storm blew in. I think I made that mistake (after going out half nekkid in the middle of the night and rolling it up) once or twice before I got it. ^.^d
My window awnings seem to be ok, unless the weather gets really extreme. The big awning, seldom used, is NEVER left out at night, I've had to many trips out in my shorts.
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I always stow the large awning if storm likely-- too much sail area to play with (too much first hand experience wrestling with real sails in those conditions). And, generally stow it at night as well as dew plus dirt makes them dirty quickly.
Here in League City, less than an hour ago, as the front came through, we went from calm to 45 MPH wind gusts in less than one minute's time. Sure, that line of storms was visible on radar, so no "surprise". But, if one has their large awning out in that, quite likely there would be bent or broken parts.
Can you store it wet for a couple of days-- yes. Not ideal, but ..... Be sure to completely dry before long-term storage.
Jeff can't hear the clanking of the awnings, so that was always MY job. Wonder how many people have managed to see me in my "almost altogether"? You only leave that big awning open twice ... the second time is because you forgot how annoying it was to rescue it the first time! The other awning that we would need to bring in suddenly was the long one over the slide. There was enough slack that it would get to bouncing around.
I can see you flopping around and it pulling you off your feet while you are out there trying to get it rolled up.. Everyone watching would be like What the ....?
Patio awning is out only if 1) we are present; 2) winds are less than 15 mph; and 3) the sun is shining. I usually put it out in the morning, and take it in at night, but if it is forecast to get windy by noon or we are planning on being gone I'll not bother. The window awnings, though are out almost all of the time. I pull them in if the winds get much over 20 mph. We don't have any slides, so toppers flapping in the breeze isn't an issue.
Awnings ... getting locked out ... Turbo Turd episodes ... I coulda sold tickets.
Oh Carol, I'd buy tickets to your show any day. 🌻. Every day is special.
We choose to put window awnings in during rain or wind. We always put all awnings up when leaving coach.
Window awnings out most all the time, big awning never out unattended. Like others done the late nite dance to many times.
We like having our window awnings out at night when in an RV park where there are overhead lights that can shine in our bedroom windows. We like our bedroom DARK!
A nice feature we have is the blinds can be lowered and then we can lower the top of the blinds. This allows the warmer stratified air to exit and yet we have privacy. Awnings on top and blinds on bottom. ^.^d
If the wind starts blowing I merely slide the screen open, reach out, and unhook the awning and then let it roll up gently. No need to go outside or get dressed or put on some clothes or get wet.
Usually leave the big awning out when we are parked where we will be enjoying it. Only once did we get caught with a wind problem and the "claw" on the front up-rod broke. Inspection shower that it had been cracked and so it just let loose. Of course it fell across the door so getting out was a real joy and then managing to get the thing rolled up without being able to lock that arm down was the icing on the cake. Still leave the awning out but do an inspection when putting it out. Probably get bit again but that's part of the adventure!
I found the little #10-32 stainless bolt that holds the patio awning axle shaft into the end casting wears down to the point where it just "disappears" and then things fall apart and you have a BIG problem.
We came up from Zapata to Crane's Mill Nat'l CG one year and when I unfurled the patio awning I saw the remains of the front #10-32 bolt fall out. I immediately stopped!!! Held my breath, then screamed for Mary to come hold things together while I found a replacement for the 3/16 diameter bolt. Only thing I could find was one of the spring steel clip pins used to hold the 1/2" pins on our tow hookup. I always carry spares of all keeper pins and tow pins. The pin was the perfect size. It popped over the axle shaft and has been up there now for four years.
Andy,
I will add one thing to previous comments on Large awning. If leaving it out during rain, be sure one end is left lower than the other, to keep rain from pooling and bending the tube. My friend had that happen, and I also watched one bend during a rain at a rally. I automatically leave one end low, that way I don't have to remember to lower one end.
Jerry
Love using the awnings in the rain!
Last trip was for two months and we had the window awnings out the entire time including lots of rain storms. Only pulled them in three times for a couple hours when the winds were expected to gust up above 15-20 MPH.
Our large awning is a pain to setup so it clears the top of the door. We don't deploy it. The small window awnings work great and are quick and easy to stow if the winds pickup.
Chris
OK to leave window awnings out when expecting rain unless severe/winds above 15 MPH. Their "sail area" is not enough to cause real problems. And, as Norm said, you can stow them from INSIDE the coach if needed.