Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: kb0zke on February 15, 2018, 08:23:45 pm
Title: Wind and awnings
Post by: kb0zke on February 15, 2018, 08:23:45 pm
A couple of years ago our big awning started to come out while driving in very strong winds. Since then we've tried it up as best we could and never had a problem - until today. Again, strong winds on the road, and out ties weren't strong enough. Awning started to come out, and I pulled over immediately. We got it mostly back in place, but not completely. A rest area was just down the highway, though, and we were already planning to stop there, so I drove slowly for almost two miles. Got it rolled all the way up, and put on more and stronger ties.
I normally have been driving at about 1500 rpm, which is about 55 mph, but today I was experimenting with driving at 1700, which is about 63. I had just commented about how it seems that we were using less fuel at the higher speed because we weren't downshifting as much on hills. The better fuel economy was real, and it wasn't because of a tail wind - the wind was from the right the whole way.
Anyway, from now on speed will be 1500 rpm if it is windy and 1700 if it isn't.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: gracerace on February 15, 2018, 08:33:35 pm
A couple of years ago our big awning started to come out while driving in very strong winds. Since then we've tried it up as best we could and never had a problem - until today. Again, strong winds on the road, and out ties weren't strong enough. Awning started to come out, and I pulled over immediately. We got it mostly back in place, but not completely. A rest area was just down the highway, though, and we were already planning to stop there, so I drove slowly for almost two miles. Got it rolled all the way up, and put on more and stronger ties.
I normally have been driving at about 1500 rpm, which is about 55 mph, but today I was experimenting with driving at 1700, which is about 63. I had just commented about how it seems that we were using less fuel at the higher speed because we weren't downshifting as much on hills. The better fuel economy was real, and it wasn't because of a tail wind - the wind was from the right the whole way.
Anyway, from now on speed will be 1500 rpm if it is windy and 1700 if it isn't.
Sounds like the cam locks are broken, and not locking. I have gone 80 , never had any issues.You can also install a crows foot lock at the rear, if it doesn't have one already
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on February 15, 2018, 09:04:42 pm
You can also install a crows foot lock at the rear, if it doesn't have one already...
Crows foot lock? Is that the little hooked doodad that you lock and unlock with the awning pull-down rod? If so, the (original) one on our coach was broken when we got it. I found a replacement hook (kit) at the link below. With the new hook installed, it is very tight and secure.
Crows foot lock? Is that the little hooked doodad that you lock and unlock with the awning pull-down rod? If so, the (original) one on our coach was broken when we got it. I found a replacement hook (kit) at the link below. With the new hook installed, it is very tight and secure.
Yup, that is it. You can add one to the front if you want. FT had issues with the slide topper's bellowing out in the wind. We added those from time to time. Problem solved
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Jeff & Sandy on February 15, 2018, 09:41:42 pm
David, are you using the cam locks? When I roll the awning up the cam locks are in the down/unlocked position. I use the awning tool to push the locks up, locking them. Nothing will cause that to unroll unless I unlock them.
To deploy the awning I pull the cam locks down with the awning tool.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: kb0zke on February 15, 2018, 09:44:14 pm
There is a device similar to the one referenced above near the center of the awning. Unfortunately, the tube is bowed some so that the lock doesn't get close enough to lock. I probably ought to just plan on having that big awning either overhauled or replaced the next time we're in Nac.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: bbeane on February 15, 2018, 09:46:48 pm
David on your Detroit you may find 18-1900 rpm even better. The 2 strokes like rpms.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: kb0zke on February 15, 2018, 09:47:04 pm
Jeff, are you referring to the locks at the ends of the roller? How do you access them when the awning is rolled up?
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Caflashbob on February 15, 2018, 10:10:24 pm
Foretravel put dual locks on the big awning on ours and the crows foot
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Barry & Cindy on February 15, 2018, 11:13:36 pm
Chuck's locks are made by ZipDee and come in two sizes, larger for the big awning and smaller for window awnings. We have two locks on the big patio awning and one on each window awning. Earlier coaches did not have the locks, and later Foretravel's came standard with the locks. We also installed a center awning swivel 'rest' to help support the middle of our long awning. If a lock does not reach the awning, remount one part or another, no need to pay the big bucks. Not hard to add locks. Common to have high winds unwind an awning, sometimes with disastrous results.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Jeff & Sandy on February 15, 2018, 11:13:55 pm
Yes, at the top of each arm, it's a crescent shaped piece of metal with a eyelet on the end the fits the awning tool. It swivels up or down for locked or unlocked.
I'll post a picture tomorrow.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: gracerace on February 15, 2018, 11:29:41 pm
There is a device similar to the one referenced above near the center of the awning. Unfortunately, the tube is bowed some so that the lock doesn't get close enough to lock. I probably ought to just plan on having that big awning either overhauled or replaced the next time we're in Nac.
You can roll it out, set it on 2 ladders, and actually bend the tube straight again. The crows foot can be re-installed again in a new position also. Done this many times
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Ecurb on February 15, 2018, 11:38:06 pm
A big yep on disasterous results. Had the slide awning billow out when a very strong gust of wind hit the port side. Ripped the awning off of the side of the coach and flung it up on top knocking a hole in the roof and one of the solar panels. Made a heck of a racket and it happened so fast there was no time to react. I wish there was a way to put a lock on the slide awning but if you did and forgot when you run out the slide there would be another disasterous result. The window awnings all have the locks and they work well.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Forewheelers on February 16, 2018, 01:02:30 am
We lost our large awning on delivery....thanks to those famous AZ winds. No locks on the awnings when we bought it. Awning locks were one of the first upgrades we did. MOT installed them...after they installed the new awning, of course.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Beowulf on February 16, 2018, 10:20:05 pm
I found a replacement hook (kit) at the link below.
I bought the same kit today from Foretravel parts department. About $10 cheaper too. -Mike-
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: kb0zke on February 22, 2018, 04:57:01 pm
Well, the rain held off for most of the day today, so I decided to go out and see what's what with the awning. Jo Ann was gone shopping, so I had plenty of room beside the coach (site is pretty small, and Jeep sits in the way of the awning). Eventually got the hook on the loop and started pulling. No go. Rear is locked. Moved the picnic table over so I could stand on it and have a better chance to see what I was doing. When the lock is locked the curved arm is below a ridge that looks like it is where the roof mates with the wall. After Jo Ann came home (parked in front of the coach for a few minutes) she pulled on a rope while I got the cam lock unlocked. Awning rolled out just fine. Rolled it back up and couldn't lock the camlock. In order to do that I'll have to put the rope back on, have Jo Ann pull out a bit so I can pull the camlock down. If that's what I'm going to have to do I'll lock the awning in the stowed position and just not use it. I'm guessing that I'm going to have to do something similar to lock the front camlock.
Any better ideas?
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: John Duld on February 22, 2018, 05:45:32 pm
I had one like that. Seems like the engagement device was bent internally so locking pin wouldn't engage unless I moved the awning roller. I purchased a roller lock repair kit from Zip Dee. I may still have one, I will look for it tomorrow.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: nitehawk on February 22, 2018, 07:06:21 pm
Our patio awning came with a large "indent" about midway on the aluminum cover and sagged in the middle when opened. Seems it was bent. Before I was able to straighten it a bit, the front (and only lock) wouldn't go into the lock position very well. After I managed to straighten the main roll--by tying both ends down with ratchet straps to the hitches on two vehicles. Then I jacked up on the center bend to straighten the tube. A bit scarey/intimidating. After the partial straightening the awning rolls up tighter and the front lock engages much, much better.
You did say your awning was bent, didn't you?
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: craneman on February 22, 2018, 07:11:03 pm
You can put ladders under both ends and just pull down on the middle to take the bend out also.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: nitehawk on February 22, 2018, 07:28:05 pm
I couldn't figure out what to hook to in order to "pull down" so I put a stack of cinder blocks under the middle, a short 2x6 on top of this old Model T Acme thread screw jack I have and proceeded to "crank" up the center until I got nervous about how far I had "adjusted" the bend in the main tube. I chickened out and plan on doing it a bit more this summer. So far it rolls up smaller and tighter than before and locks with a much better feel.
Oh, my ratchet straps on each end went on the main tube ends, not the small diameter axles, so stress was only on the tube itself. (Rube Goldberg injunearing if I do say so meself)
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: craneman on February 22, 2018, 07:47:31 pm
Just my weight pulls the middle down on mine, but it is long.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Barry & Cindy on February 22, 2018, 09:31:53 pm
Why put up with patio awning center bend, when you can put in a center support similar to ours...
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: nitehawk on February 22, 2018, 10:03:16 pm
I really don't know how the center support would do a heck of a lot when the patio awning is fully extended and has a decided sag/bow in the middle from someone leaving it out in heavy rain without lowering an end. It was visibly sagging in the middle when we bought our coach.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Barry & Cindy on February 22, 2018, 11:13:35 pm
I never thought about sags when awning is down, which I guess could cause an upside dip so the lower center is now pointing up when rolled back up. We figured that we don't put big awning down, and with the long expanse that a center support would be a good add.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: John Haygarth on February 22, 2018, 11:30:28 pm
We have the locking crows foot ones on each of the awnings, but when I bought the coach I noticed the main awning tube looked like it was sagging in the middle so I made a support for it and as ours (awning) sits above the roof rain gutter this mahogany support sits in the ledge and tightly under the roller of awning. No lock or? as the weight of the awning holds it in place. It has not moved in over 6 years (we do not use this main awning at all) as we use the other window ones. If I wanted to use main then it would need to have this block taken out to allow roller to unwind. Just driving down the hwy will bend the main tube. I will post a picture in morning to let you see what I mean, but I have posted it before. JohnH
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: craneman on February 22, 2018, 11:32:01 pm
The bouncing going down the highway will eventually cause a sag in the middle, that is why the center supports are sold to prevent that. My awning has three holes in the middle near the roller that must be factory, they are grommeted holes and would let water out of the awning as it will sag some just from the weight of the roller.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: John Haygarth on February 22, 2018, 11:40:56 pm
C Man, my comments exactly in the post above yours, and the reason I did it many years ago. JohnH
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: craneman on February 23, 2018, 01:08:29 am
The posts crossed paths John. one of those glitches where it moved it to draft on me and by the time I sent it yours was there.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: stump on February 23, 2018, 07:46:55 am
David on your Detroit you may find 18-1900 rpm even better. The 2 strokes like rpms.
I find about 1725 I am averaging about 8.3 mpg overall. That was to Sturgis, SD and back to Nc. pulling a 16 ft open trailer with 2 Harleys and a golf cart. I was pretty happy with that. 1725 on mine seems to be the sweet spot or in that area...
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: kb0zke on February 23, 2018, 11:24:24 am
Here's what I can see of the rear camlock. The first two pictures are taken with me standing on the picnic table so I'm as close as I can be. The other two pictures are what I see from the ground.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Jeff & Sandy on February 23, 2018, 11:31:43 am
You don't have the locks that I have. There is one on each end of the tube.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Wattalife54 on February 23, 2018, 01:03:34 pm
We replaced our awning/roller assembly in January 2014. We installed a center support for the roller and installed a center rafter. The rafter keeps the roller from bowing in when rain is trying to puddle on the awning and keeps the awning from ballooning out in the wind. It has made the awning much easier to deal with in rain and windy conditions.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: bdale on February 23, 2018, 03:00:17 pm
Here's what I can see of the rear camlock. The first two pictures are taken with me standing on the picnic table so I'm as close as I can be. The other two pictures are what I see from the ground.
Your lock appears to have the same issue that mine did after Xtreme reinstalled it incorrectly. If it is the same problem, it needs to be disconnected and rotated 180 degrees. Then you have to re-tension the awning. It's not hard to do but takes at least 2 people. 3 is better. Zip Dee sent me the attached instructions.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: stump on February 23, 2018, 06:48:41 pm
I only have a lock on may forward side. My rearward side kind of looks like it does not roll up as tight as the front. I also have the center support pole but o not use it because sometimes it falls out. I'm sure I am doing something Not Right. I need to delve into it ore but just have too much other stuff in front o it!
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on February 24, 2018, 10:44:52 am
Our Biggie acts like Stump's does; it has the locker, but does not do anything. When it was painted, all the awnings came off; I have a hunch they did not know much when re-assembled. I do have two strips of velcro down lower to lock the arms together. Not even on "the list", the small awnings work fine for us. If I ever needed awning work, I'd find a independent Airstream dealer, they know Zip Dees up and down, most have parts, as well. ^.^d
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: lgshoup on February 24, 2018, 11:07:57 am
It's a two hour job to install the big awning. I have never understood how people who work on these thing regularly have so much trouble with the awnings but they do.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: steve31 on March 01, 2018, 01:17:37 pm
A quick question for the multitude. Ordering the latch mechanism for the big awning today, however looking at the individual window awnings I do not see a way to mount that type of latch. Also unless I am missing something the window awnings do not have a lock lever to actuate. Any thoughts on this? We have the standard Zip- Dee OEM awnings.
Thanks, Steve
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on March 01, 2018, 01:33:02 pm
Also unless I am missing something the window awnings do not have a lock lever to actuate.
None of my dinky awnings have lockers, no real need for them, IMHO. The only time I've had them come out a tad was in a 80 mph side-gust on the Oregon Coast. Did no damage, other than surprise the heck out of me looking out the mirror! I believe there is a adjustment if they get a little loose.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Barry & Cindy on March 01, 2018, 07:11:49 pm
Hook latches are needed for all awnings. Having a window awning fly out, not only will surprise and distract a driver, the fly out could do damage. Hooks are straight forward to install. Window awning hooks are smaller than the larger patio awning hook. These hooks are not the curved locking levers that are on the ends of patio awning rollers. Hooks mount on coach wall and on bottom of metal awning cover a few inches in from end of window awning. For extra security, we have two of the larger size hooks on the patio awning, one about a foot in from each end.
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: nitehawk on March 01, 2018, 10:05:36 pm
Oh, Oh, this will start it!! I like to think our 1989 Grand Villa is aerodynamically so well shaped the window awnings stay put. Not like the "brick shapes" running the highways these days. >:D >:D
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Barry & Cindy on March 01, 2018, 11:26:35 pm
So that's why we get 7 mpg. . .
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: jcus on March 01, 2018, 11:47:17 pm
Plus, you have to buy more stuff to put in all that extra space you get in the "bricks", bummer!
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: nitehawk on March 02, 2018, 07:55:47 am
Hmmm, wonder if towing a 2006 Saturn Vue that is supposed to be too heavy to be towed behind our aerodynamically shaped GV is what is holding us down to 9.3 MPH. Or could it be that, at 83,300 miles, our diesel engine is still not broken in?
Title: Re: Wind and awnings
Post by: Caflashbob on March 02, 2018, 01:26:21 pm