ktoelke
California
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Joined: 06/21/2008
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We are spending several weeks in a high-desert location where winds are the norm. I was wondering how much wind can an awning take without damage. Thanks.
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downtheroad
Tumbling Waters, Washington
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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Not much...be very careful with your awning in the wind. Keep in mind that an awning is really just a horizontal sail.
Tying down the awning may very well secure the roller end and give a false sense of security, but remember that it is not all that hard for the other end of the awning (the side attached to the trailer wall) to rip out and cause some serious damage to your rig.
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Elmoclayman31
So. Cal.
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Joined: 04/25/2008
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We were told that when it started to make noise it was time to take it down. Over easter (before we bought our trailer) I was left in camp in the desert with my sil and our kids while the men were riding...the rig across the way had an awning out and the wind picked up ...that thing went flying over the back and did some damage before my sil and I could even get out of our chairs
First thing I made dh teach me was to put the awning back up. Now I make sure that I am the one doing each and every time so that I know I could do it fast if I needed to.
2007 Chevrolet 2500HD 6.0L
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agesilaus
North Florida
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We don't leave the trailer with the awning down and don't go to bed with it down either. It is a very expensive repair if you have to replace it. And it can damage the rv too if it gets to flailing around.
04 Trail Manor 2619
08 Ford F150 5.4L TV
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Keith M
Cle Elum
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Too many RVers in my opinion never use their awnings because they are afraid they are going to be ripped in the wind. I would say if the winds are going to be above 10-15 mph sustained the awning needs to be rolled up. I would get a long term weather forecast for wind in the area. I would also position the RV so the awning wasnt facing straight into the wind. Finally I would tie the awning dowin in at least two spots or maybe even four using tie down stakes and straps. I use large screw in "dog stakes". You should also use springs with the tie downs to give a little flex so the stakes arent jerked out. Also when you are away or at night if you suspect a breeze will be blowing you can lower the awning to a rather low position so less air gets under it.
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sharker6
Shelbyville, Kentucky
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Joined: 11/05/2006
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Keep the rafter knobs tight and many winds won't hurt it. Also, you don't have to put the awning all the way out. I'll keep mine out 1/2 way in winds over 15mph with no problems. My awning is out more than it's in and stays cleaner.
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Clay L
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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Joined: 07/01/2002
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I am not concerned at 5 to 10 mph but at 10 to 20 mph I either keep a close eye on it or take it in.
Depending on where we are, I may take it in any time we leave for more than a few minutes or before we go to bed.
Clay (WA5NMR), Lee,(Wife) Codi, Brandi (Shelties) and Damncat (damn cat)
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joppa
Massachusetts
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Joined: 09/12/2006
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Ours has a built in sensor it was initially set at minimum wind... which meant if you walked by the coach the darn thing would retract. Contacted Girard and followed their manual by setting sensor to 22 MPH... but having seen them flap around pretty intensely think I'll be dialing that back to around 18 MPH
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine
2007 Foretravel Nimbus
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Opie431
Bellevue, MI
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Joined: 06/19/2004
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We left our trailer with the awning out and the winds reached 30 MPH. Now we check the weather forecasts before we leave. We did have the awning tied to the heavy picnic table and have tie downs. We often tie the awning to nearby trees if the picnic table cannot be moved.
This depends on being somewhere with lots of trees and heavy picnic tables.
We have put the awning up about four times and we camp 80-100 nights a year.
A friend who camps in the same places we do puts his up everytime he leaves the campground or goes to bed. He worries a lot if he takes a nap and does not roll it up. And he also worries about us a lot.
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woody78shovel
So.East Missouri
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Joined: 05/02/2008
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I'm alittle more gutsy about it than DW shes ready to roll up if the clouds start getting grey Ill watch it in mild to litely gusting winds if it the material starts popping up it goes any time we leave up it goes came back to the campground one time when an unexpected summer strom blew threw ours was rolled up but after driving around campground found six had lost their awnings two of the were from breaking limbs off trees they were parked under our new fiver has the magic button so taking it in is no big deal for me or DW But I've been told not to tie down the power awning not sure why other than you might forget its tied when you took it in
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