Wind and awnings

Topic: Wind and awnings (Read 1861 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #25 – 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

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #26 – 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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #27 – 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

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #28 – 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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #29 – February 23, 2018, 07:46:55 am

Quote from: kb0zke – 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?

With your awning tool David,Take the end and put it in the hole in the lock. How are you doing it?

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #30 – February 23, 2018, 07:51:02 am

Quote from: bbeane – February 15, 2018, 09:46:48 pm

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...

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #31 – 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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #32 – 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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #33 – 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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #34 – February 23, 2018, 03:00:17 pm

Quote from: kb0zke – 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.

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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #35 – 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!

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #36 – 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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #37 – 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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #38 – 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

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #39 – March 01, 2018, 01:33:02 pm

Quote from: steve31 – March 01, 2018, 01:17:37 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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #40 – 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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #41 – 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.

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #42 – March 01, 2018, 11:26:35 pm

So that's why we get 7 mpg. . .

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #43 – March 01, 2018, 11:47:17 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – March 01, 2018, 11:26:35 pm

So that's why we get 7 mpg. . .

Plus, you have to buy more stuff to put in all that extra space you get in the "bricks", bummer!

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #44 – 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?

Re: Wind and awnings

Reply #45 – March 02, 2018, 01:26:21 pm

You have a 20k weight empty coach.

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