lazydays
Maysville, Ky.
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Joined: 06/30/2004
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I guess I have one that actually works. Once water starts to pool on the awning the shock lowers and the water runs off. It doesn't take much for the shock to lower so there isn't much weight on the awning.
Very Patient Wife
Two Kids (12 & 4)
2008 Jayco Eagle Super Lite 29.5 RLS
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 DRW Laramie Quad Cab V10 3.73gears
Prodigy Brakecontroller
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Golden Girl
Torrance, CA
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Joined: 06/27/2005
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I love the power awning. The beauty of it is if you are expecting wind or rain, you push a button on it's retracted in seconds. I would never go back to a manual awning. As far as not being able to put lights on it....fine by me. It's less to put away when we're packing up to leave. My husband never wanted to take the time to put up the other awning for a short weekend. Now it's no problem at all. Get the power awning! You will not be sorry.
Karen, Paul, Rocky & Chloe
2007 Bounder 32K
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rocketmomkd
Chester County, Pennsylvania
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Joined: 10/17/2005
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We have a power awning on our Rockwood Sign.Ultralight and we love it. It can be lowered on either side like a manual awning so rain runs off. We don't want to have to put the awning in during rain since all our stuff underneath would get wet. We've also used the traditional tie-downs with it, specifically when we were at Assateauge. As another poster said, we just can't use de-flappers with it. But I am so glad to have the power awning instead of the manual.
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conmoto
Northern Illinois
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Joined: 10/22/2008
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We have the power unit on our Flagstaff and enjoy the ease of use. We are able to lower ours on one side and the water runs off without problem.
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fairhaven
Everson, WA
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Joined: 01/31/2008
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We have a power awning on our new Cougar. Like you I was concerned based on what I have read here. I am so glad we have it! Our awning can be lowered on either side for rain to run off. You can also lower either side as far as you want to provide more or less shade just like a manual awning. I believe it is made by Dometic. Those that have problems either must have older electric awnings or are not designed as well. I see no advantage in the older style manual awning.
2010 Keystone Cougar 30BHS
2008 Ford F250 4x4 Super Duty Crew, 6.4 Power Stroke, 3.73
Myself (Bob) Retired (25 Years USAF)
Tami (Wife)
Ashley-8 (Daughter)
Nick-5 (Our rotty/shepard mix)
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texasclarks
SE Georgia (Fort Stewart)
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Joined: 02/10/2008
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JJBrown wrote:yes that is what we are referring too. And you are correct...it is not ideal. You can't adjust the angle at all with the Travel'r model....I am not impressed with mine. It will cost me $1600 to upgrade my Travel'r to the Eclipse model that is adjustable.
This is no longer the case - even if you have an older A&E power awning. If you have the A&E they will provide a FREE upgrade that has adjustable supports that will allow you to lower one (or both ends) - I just contacted who I bought mine from and they are going to ship me the parts - and my trailer is 18+ months old. Once I install them I will see for sure, but the inability to let down one side has been my only dislike - and if that is now fixed I will definitely enjoy it that much more.
Steven & Stacie, plus 2 (6 & 2 years old)
Beau (new dog)
2006 F150 5.4L, FX4, 3.73
2009 Rockwood 8313SS
Equal-i-zer 10K
Prodigy Brake Controller
Texas not just a State, but a State of mind!
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Arn
Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 06/09/2004
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Just picked up my new trailer today, complete with power awning. It tilts at either end, can be lowered at both ends for cleaning, you can use awning tie downs & if you don't tilt either end the pneumatic cylinder will tilt it for you once the water starts to pool. Research power awnings by the make & model, not just power awnings in general. They are not all created equal.
Arn
1958 Me
1963 Her
Sometimes a 2002 granddaughter
Sometimes a 2004 black lab
2010 Rockwood Ultra-Lite Rear Lounge 2604SS
2005 F-150 XLT Super Crew Cab 4x4, 5.4 Triton, 3.73 LS, tow package, Prodigy Controller
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gregrc75
Massachusetts
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Joined: 02/05/2009
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Another vote for the power awning. This is my first and I like it much better than a manual. Mine also tilts on either side like a manual awning.
2010 Coachmen Freedom Express 242RBS
2006 Nissan Titan SE CC
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chilipyro
CT
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Joined: 01/12/2008
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As you are probably gathering, there are a wide variety of features and abilities in the various power awnings that different manufacturers install on trailers. The 32BHDS you are looking at comes with The Carefree Travel'r Fixed Pitch Awning. The arms are not adjustable, but it does have the rain dump feature - where a piston senses weight on the fabric, and compresses to dump the water. I had the flat pitch Travel'r awning on my previous hybrid. It stuck straigth out - no pitch at all. It was open in torrential downpoars and the rain dump worked flawlessly.
2009 Jayco G2 32BHDS, 2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Crew Max w/tow package, Michelin LTX/AT2 275/65 R18, Load range E., Rancho 9000XL shocks, Air Lifts, Hensley Arrow hitch
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chi6488
florida
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Joined: 03/07/2008
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I love the power awning on my eagle 324 bhds. If the right one is installed on the trailer then it will work great. I have NO experience with auto dump feature but I do know like any house roof the awning needs slope. My care free has a good slope so rain does not pool but runs down the awning like a normal house roof. I have had it out during a decent afternoon thruderstorms or at nite in FL and it held up well. The key is to not let it out sooo much that it slacks. I do not think that even a manual awning that is let out too loose will work properly.
So to generalize that power awnings do not work well is an ignorant/uneducated/ old school thought process.
Let out the awning on the trailer. Does it have good slope so rain runs down the awning?? Personally I would not go with the auto dump but then I have not experienced the fix by manufacturer. IF the fix works properly then I would change my mind. I do know with proper slope the awning does not need the auto dump and keep the awning tight rather then let it all the way out and the fabric slacks.
2009 Jayco Eagle 324BHDS
2008 F250 King Ranch 4wd
2005 GLacier Bay 2670 Cat
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