Mark and Linda
Smyrna, Tennessee
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Joined: 11/06/2011
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We have had temps in the 100's here with no rain. I needed to reseal my driveway so I thought I would take the tt to a local campground for 5 nights of taking it easy. DW was going to be gone south towards Florida for a few days. Friday morning the 13th I took the tt over, parked it, no problems and set up camp. Saturday morning, it was sprinkling some...so I thought I would go back over to the old homeplace and commence with my resealing project. The awning on the tt was angled down and I tied it off so a wind would not blow it. I finished the home project and started back towards the campground when I noticed large amounts of water in the streets. As I pulled into the campground I looked over to where I was parked....I seen my awning. It had accumulated so much water in the center and bent my big roller rod. I managed to get a table pulled over close to the awning and get it rolled back up after dumping all the water. You can imagine what went through my mind..$$$$. Two campsites over the folks lost their satellite antenna after it tipped over in the water surrounding their site. I called my insurance agent on Monday...thank goodness it is covered, no deductible. Next time I will lower it all the way down, tilt it over or just roll it. up. 
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rjf7g
Virginia
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Joined: 01/18/2007
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I feel your pain, except I have a deductible! I have had two awning mishaps - one that resulted in replacing an arm and one that resulted in replacing the fabric. I am more cautious now.
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2006 Palomino Puma 27FQ Bunkhouse
2007 Gulfstream Innsbruck 36FRS Park Trailer
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roster2
Enid, Ok
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Joined: 01/07/2007
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Worn that t-shirt! Only mine happened at night and we didn't hear it raining(sound sleepers). I even had the awning tilted to the left. Fabric was almost to the ground and the roller tube looked like a bow. Was able to roll it up with some effort.
2012 Montana 3402RL
2009 GMC 2500HD CC Duramax/Allison 6 spd 3:73/1 gears
Bob-USAF (Ret) Barbara-Retired DeCA
Chaplain, Christian Resort Ministries, Int'l
No pets, just two beautiful granddaughters
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netaq
Atlanta, GA
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Joined: 02/14/2012
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Uhoh.....I'm paranoid of awning damage, I keep it rolled up unless someone is sitting underneath it.
2012 Ford F-250 XLT 6.2 FX4
2012 Keystone Cougar HC321RES
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ch-ta
MN
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Joined: 06/11/2012
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netaq wrote:Uhoh.....I'm paranoid of awning damage, I keep it rolled up unless someone is sitting underneath it.
Me too! Seen damaged awnings too many times! Thankfully, none were mine!
2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD CC 4WD LTZ
2013 Keystone Sprinter 266RBS
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Artum Snowbird
Campbell River, B.C., Canada
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Joined: 05/28/2004
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Looked at a fifth with an electric awning. Am I wrong in thinking that they cannot be lowered to a low angle?
Mike and Carole
2007 Snowbird 9'6" Super Slide
2005 16.6 Double Eagle
2000 F350 7.3 SC 4X4
previously 8'10" Snowbird Camper
2006 Triple E Regency 27 foot SXL SOLD!
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ch-ta
MN
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Artum Snowbird wrote:Looked at a fifth with an electric awning. Am I wrong in thinking that they cannot be lowered to a low angle?
The electric awnings are adjustable, but not any where near the angle you can get with a manuanl. If you have electric though, it is so easy to push a button for in / out, why would you leave it out unattended?
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rockhillmanor
On the Road
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Joined: 12/06/2003
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Sorry you've got a big repair bill on your hands.
When I was new everyone told me you had to roll your awning up in the rain or tip your awning to prevent water filling it up. To err on the safe side I opted for rolling it up all the time.
Then as I traveled I sat and watched first hand, several tipped awnings fill up with water and crash and burn. My observance is that a tipped awning 'loosens' the tightness of the fabric so it DOES have a soft pocket for water.
Now that I am a seasoned ole RV'er and know what my RV can and can not do, when it rains I lower my awning to the lowest position which is pretty low. Attached to the awning at ALL times are 2 anti-flappers on each side keeping the fabric tight I can safely leave it out for up to a 50 mph winds and rain storm.
It did survive one 65 mph storm but I don't want to go there ever again. Filling up with water wasn't the problem, ripping the hinges off the side of the MH was! 
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".
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JJBIRISH
Butler, PA, USA
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Joined: 10/06/2002
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There may not be a failsafe way to use the awning, but use it I do…
With the awning deployed tight enough and with enough tilt will not pool water… it only takes a little pooling to cause big pooling…
Good staking and tying can reduce most risk but there are differing ideas on how to do that… unexpected wind and falling branches can destroy them for sure, I have even seen they damaged while rolled up even… nature happens everywhere… but very few that are properly deployed and tied get damaged although generally most would argue theirs was when they lost it… if your in the roll up camp that great but rolling it up after its windy can itself be dangerous and not a good option…
The awning material they use today is good for maybe 5 to 8 years before it delaminates and I have seen brand new ones already beginning to delaminate… careful use and rolling up for sever weather will work for most and insurance is designed for peril and our mistakes… your insurance just extended the life of your 09 awning for you…
Someone said learning is a part of the fun… I don’t know…
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
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evanrem
WI
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Joined: 10/19/2010
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I just spent 800 replacing mine. Filled with water and not thinking I lowered the arm and whoosh crash break. Taking the awning on its maiden trip this weekend.
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