Awning damage?

[Shearwater]

Our manual awning caught a gust of wind yesterday and the rear support arm was lifted almost straight up. I had to loosen the black knob to let it drop back into position. There was no damage to the brackets or awning itself, but I did notice the round piece that holds the lock/unlock toggle isn't quite seating flush into the round awning holder. It appears to be locking okay. We're on the road so I would prefer not to attempt field repairs. Thoughts?

 

[Centex]

Not sure if it's any help, but FYI I recently posted the Fiesta (manual awning) Service Manual here:

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=114

Good Luck!

 

[Thane-ESC]

Suggest you wrap a short rope or bungee cord around each of the front and rear arm sets when the awning is stowed to ensure the canopy does not unwind while driving. This will help the travel lock keep the awning secure.
That should get you get home where you will have more time to figure it out.

 

[Rockhead]

Several have installed this awning lock to prevent the awning from unraveling in case the locking mechanism fails like it did us on the way home from picking up our 21. Easy to instal. Takes about 30/45 mins

 

[fudge_brownie]

I use a Velcro strap to keep the latch from releasing. A CPA Harley fix. Having the older [manual] awnings I use a second Velcro strap to fasten the awning arm to the awning bracket.

 

[Rossue]

Several have installed this awning lock to prevent the awning from unraveling in case the locking mechanism fails like it did us on the way home from picking up our 21. Easy to instal. Takes about 30/45 mins

I am one of them. My awning started unfurling from the rear area close to home at Hwy 41 & I-5. We had just passed a sign that said Caution Windy Area Next 20 Miles.

 

[Rossue]

I use a Velcro strap to keep the latch from releasing. A CPA Harley fix. Having the older [manual] awnings I use a second Velcro strap to fasten the awning arm to the awning bracket.

Hi Paul- Jim Norman, aka CPA Harley posted a photo of his awning unfurling with the straps on.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Suggest you wrap a short rope or bungee cord around each of the front and rear arm sets when the awning is stowed to ensure the canopy does not unwind while driving. This will help the travel lock keep the awning secure.
That should get you get home where you will have more time to figure it out.

Tying the arms as you suggest will do NOTHING to prevent the awning from unwinding should the forces be strong enough to override the ratchet mechanism in the front of the drum.

I installed the RV awning lock as shown in a post above. I posted photos of my Bigfoot installation in this thread however, This thread has more info on mounting on an Escape.

I, however, found the guy selling the awning lock (Keith Williams) to not be particularly helpful. I bought the lock, realized it was not going to be an easy install due to the type of rafter braces I had on mine, and did nothing. Months later I sent an email asking about how to do this, and got a phone call within minutes. He suggested the "Escape folks" had conjured up a solution (which is how I first found this forum). What I did is posted in the link above and later I set him descriptive text and pictures and got........ crickets....... meaning nothing, no response. About a month later, I again sent an email thinking mine might have gone to spam, still nothing. Its a good idea and product however, all you gotta do is make it fit.

Charles

 

[Rockhead]

One other thing I did was to fashion a clip out of spring steel to keep the latch in the locked position while traveling.

 

[Shearwater]

Thanks everyone. No issues yet (after 200 miles) but we'll keep a close eye on things until we get home and can take a closer look.

 

[Rossue]

Here is a recent update from Mfg. of RV Lock. Glad I have one and thanks again Pat for the bracket!

https://www.awninglock.com/

 

[W@nderer]

Awning lock

Several have installed this awning lock to prevent the awning from unraveling in case the locking mechanism fails like it did us on the way home from picking up our 21. Easy to instal. Takes about 30/45 mins

Hi Rockhead, where did you purchase the lock? Happen to have a link please?

 

[Rockhead]

Link in the post above yours

 

[rcsb]

I installed the awning lock, but had to make my own mounting bracket as the one supplied doesn't fit. it does give me peace of mind while traveling.

 

[Ron in BC]

I use a heavy Velcro strap around the arm and bracket.

Unlike a lot of folks I don't allow the pull strap to wind under the awning fabric. Just stretches it for no reason. The strap is coiled up at the end. I attached a 2' cord to it. The cord goes through the awning bracket and is tied around the arm.

Simple and both the awning and the arm can't go anywhere.

Ron

 

[rcsb]

I use a heavy Velcro strap around the arm and bracket.

Unlike a lot of folks I don't allow the pull strap to wind under the awning fabric. Just stretches it for no reason. The strap is coiled up at the end. I attached a 2' cord to it. The cord goes through the awning bracket and is tied around the arm.

Simple and both the awning and the arm can't go anywhere.

Ron

I like your idea of securing the pull strap up to the front so it doesn't stretch the awning fabric, I may do the same thing.

Question to anyone on the forum with the awning locking lever...When locked, the awning roller can't rotate or move. IF the locking lever fails for whatever reason, what prevents the awning from unfurling (unrolling) because as I understand it, that front locking lever is the ONLY thing to prevent the awning from rotating (that's why I installed the extra awning lock at the rear). On my 2021 21C there is a section of awning material located at top about 4 inches or so wide from the fiberglass trailer shell to the awning round roller that is not attached to anything, this 4" section can act like a sail & would be most vulnerable to any wind or turbulence from passing semi-trucks. I think this is where the past failures had occurred even though the awning arms were strapped tightly with no movement.

I welcome any other ideas or comments.

 

[jnfrombigt]

Hope it works

Three section awning cover with "Bankers Clips" securing cover to awning fabric at each end. Bungee cord securing awning arm to top leading edge bracket

 

[Flat Lander]

After I lost an awning to a farm field 30 years ago I used tie wraps on the awning arms near the roller tube. But that trailer has been sold about 25 years ago.

 

[Rockhead]

Here the clip I fashioned out of spring steel to keep latch in the locked position while traveling and when the awning is not in use incase a strong wind comes up

 

[WillyB]

Three section awning cover with "Bankers Clips" securing cover to awning fabric at each end. Bungee cord securing awning arm to top leading edge bracket

I used zip ties in lieu of bungee cords as a test. That really made the connection point very solid. If I run into a concern I will definitely use them.

The fans of Roadkill Garage already know about the "Zip Ties Moment".