It Happened Again - Awning Crash

[Disney Campers]

While at the fort last week we had a afternoon storm with some pretty heavy rain, saw another awning that collapsed.

When your awning is level on both sides the water will pool in the middle until the weight of the water destroys your awning, sometimes to the point of having to cut the awning off the trailer. I have seen this at least twice at the fort, so lower one side when leaving your trailer to be on the safe side.

 

[fanofmickey]

Thanks for the reminder!

 

[stillh2o]

We always keep are awning 3 notches down on one side, We have seen people with level awning lose them in heavy rain storm also.

 

[Memph1s]

Yet another unfortunate rookie mistake. One I made myself but was lucky enough to have been there and see the water pooling. Then light dawned on marble head. I realized all those other campers were not visually challenged after all. There was a method to their madness and slanted awnings.

I have seen the same thing with poorly erected tents, picnic covers, and homemade tarps tied up in trees. You HAVE to give the water someway to drain or it will come down.

 

[John VN]

This time of year can also bring very high wind gusts in addition to rain. If the awning is not tied down it might be lifted up and over your RV. Many veteran RVers put up their awnings when they leave. This is also the reason for wind sensors on some awnings.

John

 

[campingcorgi]

Oh, yeah, that old 'awning sweat'! We started back from Epcot one day when a thunderstorm blew up. This was a big storm--wind and hail and rain. We sweated it all the way back but our awning was okay. We did see that several people at the end/beginning of the loops had lost theirs, though. Now we tend to put our awning up before we leave in the summer.

How do cheesy lights work with the wind sensor--or do you just not put up lights?

 

[twinklebug]

Yet another unfortunate rookie mistake. One I made myself but was lucky enough to have been there and see the water pooling. Then light dawned on marble head. I realized all those other campers were not visually challenged after all.

That's a great one for the tag fairy to go fishing through if I ever saw one. Pray she/he's not watching.

 

[Live4FW]

This is exactly where and how my awning tube got it's permanent bend....

This was my rookie mistake

 

[MMLong3996]

OMgoodness! OK, now I understand why others have "lopsided" awnings. And it drives me nuts to look at them but now I know why. This past Friday night, we had a good rain while camping and DH had to drain it off. It would NEVER have dawned on either of us to erect it crooked. Thanks for the tip!

 

[John VN]

...How do cheesy lights work with the wind sensor--or do you just not put up lights?

I would imagine they would work fine until the awning rolled up, then they would be kind of mashed lights.

John

 

[JPG]

I would imagine they would work fine until the awning rolled up, then they would be kind of mashed lights.

John

 

[SandrA9810]

But it's always fun to poke a stick in the middle and create a waterfall after the rain stops... I used to do that all the time with the car cover at home.
And I thought it was wierd too that every one had a tilted awning, and couldn't understand it.
I've learned my lesson though with the vinyl cover on the pick up truck. I was shopping at publix and it poured down so much that it pooled up in the middle of the cover and was literally pulling the side bars off. I've learned my lesson to always keep the cross bars in.

 

[MMLong3996]

I've learned my lesson to always keep the cross bars in.

BTW, do they make any type of "crossbars" for camper awnings? I asked my DH this over the weekend.

 

[wildernessfamily]

Once when we were at FW back in 1992 we had a terrible afternoon storm and a camper on our loop actually flipped over!! Awning was out, don't know if it was weight of water or wind that did it. I argue with my husband over this point a lot..he loves the awning out...but when you are away all day I want it up..I am sure many debate over this. Our 19 ft awning now has a middle support but rains still can collect on both sides. No cross bars.

 

[CindyT]

We always put our awning up during the day in FL, we are always there in summer so storms pop up pretty consistently. We would rather have no lights on our awning, than no awning for lights.

 

[tjmw2727]

BTW, do they make any type of "crossbars" for camper awnings? I asked my DH this over the weekend.

I haven't read to the end so my apologies if this is a duplicate response. We use a "hurricane strap" for weekend/week camping along with a lopsided awning 1-4 notches depending on the weather/place.

For seasonal we use a 1-2 notch with a hurricane strap and a wood frame for inside support. The hurricane strap can be purchased at a camping supply store and I think that is the actual name. Its a thick strap that goes over the awning and is anchored on each side. That along with the tilt shoul cover most awnings.

In addition we make sure our camper insruance covers awnings and have had a couple replaced despite our best efforts.

Tj

 

[DMRick]

BTW, do they make any type of "crossbars" for camper awnings? I asked my DH this over the weekend.

They do have something similar to the inside of an umbrella, but it takes much longer to put up your awning and take it down, and it doesn't stop the wind from runing the awning. It also stretches the heck out of your awning, and once you use them, you'll always have to use them. You rawning is lose on roll up if you have used them. We use tie downs, and flap holders on the ends, and I know some people use webbing, like on chairs to go across the entire awning. We have about 6-7 holes difference on our awning when away, and put it away, if we suspect a bad storm coming.

Just an aside, for those who may not have known this. In NYS, the insurance for your awning is separate..for a $1,000 awning, it's about $15 a year, and added to your policy. Most insurance companies don't even know this and pay out anyway. When I asked for it in writing, that it was covered, my insurance company said sure, and then called back later, and said much to their surprise, it was an add on. I worked with the NYS insurance board with this, because I didn't believe it..none of our previous RV's had it separate, and the board said yes, in NYS it is suppose to be listed separate.

 

[rbork]

Just loved the "awning sweat" post!
Been there, still do it occasionally. Especially at night when a big storm rolls in, your all comfy in bed and dread going out in the wind/hail to roll in the awning!
In FW we had 2 awnings lost due to wind /hail/ branches falling in our loop alone. I think it happens often in FW. Awning repair man is probably employed FT in FW alone!