MSHappyCampers
Columbus, MS
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Joined: 04/22/2001
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My Carefree manual awning has a solid plastic end cap so there are no holes to insert a rod. I'm reluctant to drill a hole without knowing what's on the other side! I like to idea of the rod if I can make it work. I don't like the idea of drilling into the side of the MH to use one of the clamp-type devices. I guess the next step will be to call Carefree to see if they can tell me if I can drill a hole and if a rod can be inserted far enough to lock the mechanism.
Joe & Annette
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT
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Clay L
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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Joined: 07/01/2002
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I made my own for ten bucks or so. You can see how HERE.
Clay (WA5NMR), Lee (Wife), Katie (cat).
Full Timing in a 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N, Workhorse chassis, Honda Accord toad
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HuckFinn410
Kansas City
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Joined: 11/16/2005
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MSHappyCampers wrote:downtheroad wrote:Strapping the arms is a myth.
I installed one of these (there are others on the market as well).
The install was straight forward and it is easy to use...
Awning Lock>>>HERE
I thought about one of those, but have read some reports that sometimes the plunger doesn't line up with the hole in the end cap when the awning is rolled up. Anyone have any experience with this?
I've used one of these for the last few years.....ever since I followed a friend down the highway and watched his awning unfold and rip out at 70 mph. The repair cost a couple of hundred dollars.
To answer your question about the holes not lining up. You're right, sometimes when I roll up the awning the hole is not lined up with the plunger pin on the awning saver device. Some of the time I can just step up on my entry step and reach up and twist the awning an inch or so to make the holes align. Other times I need to unroll and reroll the awning to try and get a match. I'll be honest that sometimes it's a pain to have to reroll the awning 3 or 4 times to get a match. To combat that, I did drill an additional hole in the roller cap to try and up the odds of a match.
While the product is not perfect in its operation, the part is does very well is hold the awning tight and give me 100% piece of mind when I'm going down the road. The awning saver is straight forward, easy to install and does what it says. It's just not absolutely foolproof in its use.
2005 GMC 1500 Sierra Crew Cab Z71 4X4
2005 KZ Frontier 2405
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Joined: 06/20/2009
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MSHappyCampers wrote:My Carefree manual awning has a solid plastic end cap so there are no holes to insert a rod. I'm reluctant to drill a hole without knowing what's on the other side! I like to idea of the rod if I can make it work. I don't like the idea of drilling into the side of the MH to use one of the clamp-type devices. I guess the next step will be to call Carefree to see if they can tell me if I can drill a hole and if a rod can be inserted far enough to lock the mechanism.
Isn't there a 'grove' in the roller & end cap where the awning material slides in?
That's where I stick the hook end of my awning rod.
If no grove.....you can drill a 1/4" hole in end cap (doesn't have to be done on end cap where lock lever is). The tension spring goes down the center of roller tube.
Carefree Manual Awning Service Manual
All Carefree Products Tech Docs
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jaycocamprs
Ringgold Georgia
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Joined: 03/28/2004
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The Carefree awnings have a much better latch than the A&E's And with the release down on the arms where it can't be flipped by tree branches I never worried about it.
2005 Silverado 3500 DRW
2011 Montana Mountaineer 285RLD
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ryanallie1
Magalia, Calif
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Joined: 04/12/2005
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Clay L wrote:I made my own for ten bucks or so. You can see how HERE.
Hi All.
X2. We made our own also. This one will never fail in any kind of wind, Period.
When we made ours, we made on for each end of the Rooler Tube. Only takes a second to hook-up or to un-hook.
Good Luck. Happy Travels. Dan & Jill
1998-33.5 Rexhall, Rexair SL. 460 EFI. F-53. 7.3 MPG. TST TPMS. HWH Levelers. 5.5G Gen. Convection/Microwave Water Purifier/Water Softner. 2 A/C's. Alarm Systems. Honda EU2000i's W/Kit. Steer-Safe. CR-V W/SMI System. FMCA #F414397 Nam-Vet, 66-67-68&70-71
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MSHappyCampers
Columbus, MS
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Joined: 04/22/2001
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Old-Biscuit wrote:MSHappyCampers wrote:My Carefree manual awning has a solid plastic end cap so there are no holes to insert a rod. I'm reluctant to drill a hole without knowing what's on the other side! I like to idea of the rod if I can make it work. I don't like the idea of drilling into the side of the MH to use one of the clamp-type devices. I guess the next step will be to call Carefree to see if they can tell me if I can drill a hole and if a rod can be inserted far enough to lock the mechanism.
Isn't there a 'grove' in the roller & end cap where the awning material slides in?
That's where I stick the hook end of my awning rod.
If no grove.....you can drill a 1/4" hole in end cap (doesn't have to be done on end cap where lock lever is). The tension spring goes down the center of roller tube.
Carefree Manual Awning Service Manual
All Carefree Products Tech Docs
Yeah, the hole was on the other end of the awning tube. 
I bought a 1/4" x 3' plated steel rod at Lowes and a piece of clear plastic tubing to cover it with. I put a 4" bend in the top to insert into the hole in the end of the awning tube. I will strap the rod to the awning support in two places with straps or flat bungee cords. This seems to me the simplist yet secure method of solving this problem. Does anyone see a problem with this type of fix? If there is something I'm overlooking I want to know it now, not after I've lost an awning! Thanks! 
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theoakman
Hereford, AZ, USA
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Joined: 01/09/2005
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I guess we've been lucky.....my 1995 Alpenlite fiver has an A&E 8500 awning. We've been out in some pretty fierce winds here in SE Arizona and during our 250,000+ miles of travel. We've never had this problem, although a couple of my friends have lost their awnings.
I replaced the cam mechanism several years ago, but unfurling was not the problem for the replacement.
We're having new awning material installed next week and I'll probably put on some kind of locking device.....probably using the awning rod as this is quite a bit less expensive than a commercial lock.
Cya l8r,
the oakman
funny, I don't remember being absent minded
funny, I don't remember being absent minded
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Deb and Ed M
SW MI, USA
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Joined: 06/07/2004
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MSHappyCampers wrote:
I thought about one of those, but have read some reports that sometimes the plunger doesn't line up with the hole in the end cap when the awning is rolled up. Anyone have any experience with this?
I don't worry about it. Sometimes our awning has stretched a bit because it's been in the sun - when I roll it up, the hole is not lined up. But I figure if that roller starts to spin, the lock will catch when the hole comes in alignment. And it DOES move a bit, because almost always, when we arrive at our destination, the pin IS in the hole.
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Esacnj
NJ
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Joined: 11/03/2002
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If you read my posts you will see that I have installed 3 of these awning locks and have had problems with all 3 not lining up hole to pin.Had many conversations with pictures sent to manufacturer with no solution. As previous poster said rolling awning in and out several times to try to align is a pain. I would not recommend this lock.
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