Bordercollie
Garden Grove, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/07/2002
View Profile
 Offline
|
Our 3 week trip from Socal up the coast to as far as Tillamook, OR went well except for the part where our awning came unlatched at 60 mph on a rough road and became shredded in heavy winds. Ours was an A&E 18 foot OEM brown and white version. Brett, from South Coast RV Repairs ( mobile repair service) is coming out today to look at details but said that new fabric and installation will be around $800. He also said that the latch mechanism was somewhat unreliable on this vintage awning and it may need a $100 upgrade. I was quoted some $1400 at an RV repair place in Santa Maria, glad I waited. I'll also have him replace the bathroom roof vent lid that shattered on the way. Our rig now has some 9000 miles on it and did not use any oil. US 101 has many very tortuous two-lane winding mountain roads with lots of road repairs and stops, bicyclists, on the sides. Truckers were courteous and safety conscious. Some idiot slammed on the brakes on I-580around Oakland , but I managed to stop and not get hit from behind. We picked up a beautiful Border Collie pup in Brookings,OR. Got stuck for hours on I-405 from LA Wilshire district to Long Beach. Should have taken GPS directions and gone home via I-5
|
rbrand
Victoria, BC, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 01/15/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I've never had much faith in the locking knobs so I put a plastic zip tie on whenever we hit the road and cut it off when we want to put out the awning.
The less you plan the more options you have.
GMC Sierra HD 2500 Duramax
Jayco Eagle 28l
Ex Navy Diver
Ex Archaeologist
Ex Museologist
Actively retired
|
hotbyte
Barnesville GA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/31/2004
View Profile
|
Bummer!
Our Web Albums Temporary Web Albums
2006 Yellowstone SE, 1998 Dodge Durango SLT 5.2L and 2011 Tidewater 1900 Bay Max
|
sh410
Northwest
Senior Member
Joined: 08/29/2007
View Profile
|
QUOTE
"He also said that the latch mechanism was somewhat unreliable on this vintage awning"
The locking knobs and zip ties will not prevent the awning from unfurling. The awning tube needs to be locked to prevent unfurling.
Search for awning locks.
|
IAMICHABOD
Sunny So Cal
Senior Member
Joined: 12/12/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Sorry to hear about that.I had this happen on my old Class A.
But on my new one which is just like yours I put one of these on.
Awning Lock
Cost about $40 but you wont lose another one. And it is made in the USA.
Welcome back.
2006 TIOGA 26Q CHEVY 6.0 VORTEC
Recycled El Monte RV Rental
Buying A Rental Class C
|
|
|
Bordercollie
Garden Grove, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/07/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Anti-unrolling locks make good sense. I see that this kind of episode is not unusual especially in high winds. I did notice that plastic covering material was cracking away from front half of rolled up awning before the unfurling and billowing occurred but didn't know enough to take it as a warning. We had an awning on an old van conversion that was enclosed in a metal box, that would have prevented billowing.
|
Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
Senior Member
Joined: 06/16/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
We use an awning lock, works great, and no way can awning unroll with lock pin in place.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
|
Queens Carriage
Treasure Coast, FLorida
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Try camping world think might get a better price. They will drop ship and put on yourself.
|
rockhillmanor
On the Road
Senior Member
Joined: 12/06/2003
View Profile
|
I don't have the awning lock that locks the top part but I DO put what I call safety belts on my awning around the arms when up for traveling. If the top breaks free it will come down but the awning can't unfurl because its tied to the arm brackets so they can't open. I figure it'll at least save the fabric and arms.
I use the velcro strap from the anti flappers. It works perfectly around the arms and is easy to put on and off.
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".
|
old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
Senior Member
Joined: 03/15/2006
View Profile
|
I am one of those that use additional locking devices on my awning arms. have read here on the forum about others who don't and they have lost their awning because of high winds.
|
|
|
