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Old 07-01-2017, 03:28 PM   #1
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New Awning & Rain - No Problem

As long as you have an adjustable tarp pole and a hard hat.
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Old 07-01-2017, 04:05 PM   #2
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I made a pole once, out of two canoe paddles to hold up a tarp. Had the paddle blade wedged in the picnic table. Wind came up and I had one canoe paddle.
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Old 07-01-2017, 04:09 PM   #3
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We have used canoe paddles many times for tarp poles. They are usually too short though.
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Old 07-01-2017, 04:20 PM   #4
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I tied two together with wrapped poly rope.
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Old 07-01-2017, 04:35 PM   #5
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Canoeing

Hoping you weren't canoeing creeks that weekend.
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Old 07-01-2017, 07:31 PM   #6
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Perhaps just a rumor, but I heard through the grapevine that some of the problems people experienced with the new awnings not retracting properly (and even resulting in damage) could have been due to the owners tying various things to the awning while extended (sun screens, insect netting, etc., etc.), and sometimes even anchoring those screens/nettings at the bottom. Then when the awning tries to auto-retract in sudden foul weather conditions, the extra weight of the hanging things, and/or the downward pull from the anchors, twists the awning all out of whack while retracting. Moral of the story is to not do or attach anything to the awning that might alter it's ability to retract correctly - especially if you leave the campsite with the awning extended. Again, just a rumor, but unfortunately, it sounds like something that could happen if you're not careful. So be careful out there....
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Old 07-01-2017, 08:18 PM   #7
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Or turn the awning power off.
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Old 07-01-2017, 08:24 PM   #8
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I would never leave the awning unattended if deployed and turned off. Even if on, the pile setup I did would just fall over if it retracted.
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Old 07-01-2017, 08:49 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett View Post
I would never leave the awning unattended if deployed and turned off. Even if on, the pile setup I did would just fall over if it retracted.
I like the expression on the face of the woman sitting closest to the support pole. I think she's wondering where the hard hat is that you suggested in your original post.
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Old 07-01-2017, 09:16 PM   #10
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I like the expression on the face of the woman sitting closest to the support pole. I think she's wondering where the hard hat is that you suggested in your original post. [emoji23]
That would be my youngest daughter, Caitlin, looking up at it and laughing. My first thought was to use a Frisbee, but it would slip off the pointed end to easily, and I found a hard hat in our tool shed.
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Old 07-01-2017, 10:01 PM   #11
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That would be my youngest daughter, Caitlin, looking up at it and laughing. My first thought was to use a Frisbee, but it would slip off the pointed end to easily, and I found a hard hat in our tool shed.
My bad!! I hadn't even noticed that that was a hard hat on the top of the pole! I thought you were talking about the people under the awning wearing hard hats in case the pole fell on their heads!!
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Old 07-01-2017, 10:07 PM   #12
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If you lack a hard hat, I used an empty beer can. Always seem to be some laying around somewhere.
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Old 07-02-2017, 01:01 AM   #13
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I like the hard hat idea - I've often wondered what "very blunt object" would work well for that.

War Eagle, I can assure you that when the damage occurred to my awning after not dumping water, there was absolutely nothing attached in any way.
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Old 07-02-2017, 01:32 AM   #14
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My bad!! I hadn't even noticed that that was a hard hat on the top of the pole! I thought you were talking about the people under the awning wearing hard hats in case the pole fell on their heads!!
I guess I was a bit vague.
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Old 07-02-2017, 03:06 AM   #15
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After seeing this and the "A word of caution" thread, I take it the automatic awning in the rain has issues?
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Old 07-02-2017, 03:20 AM   #16
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So all I need is a hard hat and a pole am I'm all set for rain!
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Old 07-02-2017, 05:44 AM   #17
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After seeing this and the "A word of caution" thread, I take it the automatic awning in the rain has issues?
Yes, most awnings are for shade protection, not water.
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Old 07-02-2017, 07:26 AM   #18
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After seeing this and the "A word of caution" thread, I take it the automatic awning in the rain has issues?
Hi: padlin... IMHO power awnings are quite like power windows... Use with CAUTION!!! Alf
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Old 07-02-2017, 07:28 AM   #19
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We have used canoe paddles many times for tarp poles. They are usually too short though.
Hi Jim - Here's something we're already thinking about for our new 5.0 to solve the issue - a do-it-yourself telescoping awning pole. We'll add a "T" connection at the top with PVC extensions instead of the hardhat (nice touch, though). Here's a link on how to make one: Telescoping Pvc Tent or Awning Poles: 5 Steps
Please note, this is all my conjecture as we don't even have our 5.0 (July 19th!) and haven't tried making one of these poles yet.

I must say, I'm kind of wishing I was getting the old, traditional type awning so we could have adjusted it according to the sun's angle or during rainy weather. Sometimes mechanized, automatic technology isn't all it's cracked up to be. We'll see. Hopefully we'll adjust to the new type awning.
John
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Old 07-02-2017, 08:27 AM   #20
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John and Joy, if you do something like that, make very sure that you have turned the power off to the awning. If it auto retracts and those poles interfere with that process you may destroy your awning.

If we plan to sit under the awning when it is raining, I will use the "Eric get off your butt" method, of getting up every few minutes and manually dump off the accumulated water.
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