Yesterday coming from Dodge City, KS to Oklahoma City, OK on 270 near Woodward, OK my main patio awning came open partially. All the sudden we hear a loud bang(not a blow out) and DW says I saw something fall off the MH. I look in the passenger mirror and I see the main awning support flapping in the wind. I stopped, DW and I jump out to hold the awning. The wind was coming and hitting the passenger side at about 45 deg. angle. We got her strapped back up in place. I got the piece that fell off. No harm done to any of it. It deployed when the strength of the wind over came the spring in the front support arm. It only came out about 3' . Got help and stapps from nice man Braden.
I have now noticed that the small curved latch at the rear of the awning that goes from the awning metal cover to the side of the MH does very little good at the back when you drive forward at 60MPH in a 45 deg side wind of 60MPH(real strong heavy wind all day). Why put the latch on the rear/back of the awning??
Pat,
Both ends have cam locks (awning locks) on our coach. FT found the crows foot at the rear, helps, when the wind tries to billow out the awning.
I would say your front cam lock wasn't latched, or your cam lock in front is broken.
You may try Velcro straps around the arms, to give it extra strength in the wind.
Chris
I use the ball and tie straps on it. Never had one come open in 25 years even thru Utah's nasty Spring wind gusts. Velcro would also work
Pat,
Our coach came with only the aft cam lock on the patio awning like yours. I have since added one at the front also.
Richard
Pat,
Are you sure the cam locks at the front and back of the awning WERE fully engaged-- absolutely no clearance to the roller.
Easy for them to look locked and still be just clear of locking. Sometimes need to pull on the arm(s) to allow full lock.
Even the high rollers have 'awning stories'.
Hi All,
I have owned my Blue Angle for 13 yrs. First time had this happen. Scared the puddin out of DW and I. I only have one cam lock and it is at the rear. the awning deployed when the strength of the wind over came the spring in the front support arm. I guess the locks on the roller must have stopped it at about 3' I suspect that the rear cam lock was not locked as it seams to always come unlocked. I also think that the awning did not fully deploy due to the fact that my awning is bent. I think the PO pulled straight down and not out on the awning and bent it. It rolls up but you can see the bend and you have to get it going.
Pat,
Only one cam lock??? Not seen that one. Front one missing? broken?
Picture of the front if convenient to get/post one.
Thanks.
The wind is a blowing here now! We tell all who come into the park, no awnings of any kind should be put out, left out, etc.!
We were parked when a sudden gust flipped out patio awning up. Two neighbors came over to help, and we got it all back and closed up. Unfortunately, the "claw" hook at the front broke, so I'm going to have to get another one one of these days. The back edge has pulled out of the metal for about two feet, but that is easily put back. We've had winds and/or rain since we left The Ranch three weeks ago, so no desire for the big awning anyway. The little awnings do fine up to about 35 mph.
Never seen an awning installed on a coach with no front cam lock (Z lock). I would venture to say, someone installed a non locking Z lock spring on the front of your awning.
Yes, they do make them (non locking), they are for left side (drivers side) awnings. I have a drivers side Zip Dee laying in my back, came off Randell Brinks coach, which had 4 awnings. Neither left side awnings have locks at the rear.
Chris
Hi Brett,
Here are some pics,
Pat
Since I live in OK, and have visited AZ and TX, I am familiar with occasional high winds. My Girard has a spinner that supposedly detects high wind and closes the awning, but I am not sure it is working properly.
I have often thought of deploying my awning and attaching ropes from the two outer corners to those screw-into-the-grass anchors. Has anyone tried that for leaving your patio awning out in windy conditions? If it works, it seems like a good way to utilize your patio awning for extended stays while using an alternative to winterizing.
All tips, hints, suggestions, and observations are greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Trent
Pat,
The second picture sure looks like there is a cam lock on the front of the patio awning.
Again, sometimes you have to look carefully to make sure they are completely engaged (totally against the roller tube).
Trent, even if the spinner is working correctly, it will be a sudden gust that will put your patio awning on the roof.
It looks like the lever for the front z lock is broken off. You can get a new one from zipdee. The spring for your awning is in the rear not the front.
Yes Brett, there is a roller lock on both ends of the awning. I thought you were talking about the small lock from metal cover to side of MH. I think if their were one on both ends would have helped. Here is what I was talking about.
Window awnings didn't have zlocks
Very unusual for a cam lock that IS secured open on its own. But very easy to have one appear locked when it has not actually engaged.
Always look carefully to see that there is ZERO air gap between the cam lock and the roller tube.
Or it's failed inside?
An awning tied down at both ends of the roller tube can become an airfoil if the wind is coming from the right direction generating incredible force. Don't trust leaving the awning deployed in wind no matter what.
I dip one end always when leaving a campsite without rolling the awning up completely
After leaving MOT and have them do service work and awning repair we headed west to California. Ran into 60 mph wind in Texas. Passing a semi the patio awning blew out and came slamming back into the coach. Could see the eyes of the semi driver. Pulled over safely with hearts pounding and got the awning back in with much effort. What we found was both locks open and the latch was not fixed.
MOT sent us a new front locking assembly which I repaired myself.
I check the awning security every time i go to the coach now.
MOT did apologize.
I am looking at your picture and it appears that your awning lock is installed backwards. mine locks from the front to the back. and as I look at the reflection in your awning tube I can see the locking hook reflecting in the open position...
Yes Gerry, that is right. The pic was taken here at home after I had the awning open. The latch is in the open position.
Pat,
This was the 1st year I had an issue with the long front D/S window awning. Big wind on hwy 40 in the desert. Awning billowed out, slammed back in, no damage. Drove 45 MPH till Havasu turn off.
Foretravel customers told me about this many times. It is daunting for sure!
Coach came with 2 Dee Zee crows feet, I installed one on each of the 2 front window awning when I got to Yuma.
Bruce Bean has crows feet on all his window awnings.
Changing subjects:
5 gallon buckets full of rocks, will hold the awning down in the most sever wind. Do it all the time.
Bob is correct. tilt it slightly for possible rain
Chris
An open Awning on the side of the road can be very dangerous. A friend of mine died when his awning unrolled, He fell off a short ladder trying to secure it, EMT's checked him out, said he was fine, later that day he died of head injury. I don't have a solution, only that extreme caution is needed in this very bad type of situation.
Gary B
Larry, your words of caution should be listened to by all. I know of more than two rv people that sustained concussions from suddenly being hit by a sometimes spring loaded falling awning, just from when they were deploying it to use.
Ours has the same locks at each end of the roller, but no hook type locks on front or back at all. We have driven in some pretty high winds and never had a problem. Luck apparently??? I'll be getting some straps to go around the 3 tubes in the area where Pat shows the green strap.
We had locks on all our window awnings and the patio awning. Used velcro wrap straps on the patio awing arms for extra measure!
I hear that Dave, I will also get a strap to replace the green tie downs. I say again that Braden was a fine man that gave them to me.
Pat,
We have two large awning hook latches, 2nd one we added. One near front and one near rear. We also keep top end locks in place and put a tight Velcro strap part way up on front & rear awning support arms, all designed to prevent Pat's dangerous problem.