mountainhiker
Estes Park, CO
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Joined: 04/19/2006
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We own an '06 Beaver Patriot Thunder, with an automatic Girard Awning with wind sensor and remote control.
It's currently parked at our home, as I've been "demobilizing" from a ski trip we took last week.
This morning, I looked outside and saw that the awning was out. I'm sure it was not out when I was last in the motorhome yesterday afternoon, but it was definitly out this morning, with a dusting of fresh snow on top of it. Lucky for us, it wasn't windy last night, and the motorhome was parked far enough away from a tree that it didn't hit the tree when the awning deployed.
We're hooked up to shore power, (and the ignition is in the off position), but I could not get it to retract with either the rocker switch or the remote control. It had to be manually cranked closed, once the snow melted off later this morning.
My husband is going to try to figure out 1) why it won't work now, and 2) why it might have deployed earlier; when he gets home later today.
Has anyone out there had a similar experience? Any ideas as to why it deployed? (We of course want to make sure it doesn't happen again, especially when the motorhome is in storage, where there isn't much room on the awning side, certainly not enough for it to extend!)
Thanks,
Cheryl
Estes Park, CO
Doug and Cheryl
Estes Park, CO
2006 Beaver Patriot Thunder
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George B
Northern CA
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I have the same on my Eagle. If I shut off the engine and then cycle the key back on both the main Girard and the automatic outside window shades will deploy about a foot. In about 2 minutes they will return to the stowed position on their own.
George B
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Jim@HiTek
Gresham, OR, USA
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There will be a fuse that you can pull that will prevent it from moving before you put it in storage while you try to figure out what's going wrong. Find that first.
Do you have a manual for it? That might help. If you don't, you might try to find one on the internet at the manufacturers web site.
Good luck.
 Jim@HiTek
Have shop, will travel!
Visit my travel & RV repair blog site.
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luck would have it
Dimondale (Lansing), MI
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hmmm....Maybe your garage door opener is doing it....
Dave.
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flhtci-rider
Montreal, Canada
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no idea how it opened. But if your key is in the ON position or the engine is running the awning switches will not work
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Twomed
On the road USA
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Call Major Pogue at 949-456-0386 at Girard, the guy's a wizard. email major@girardrv.com Company site www.girardrv.com
It happens, sometimes when in motion, you were lucky. Lifetime warranty so they will take care of it and you will be so happy you have a Girard. 
Happy Trails
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mountainhiker
Estes Park, CO
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I called Major, he was a great help. Turned out he was visiting a Girard commercial customer near Estes Park and coming here for the day today! He offered to stop by and take a look. That's customer service!
He suspects some type of radio signal made the awning open, although he doesn't know yet why it wouldn't retract.
In any case, I'm going to install a power switch to turn off the awning's 110v power when it is not being used. Very simple to do, he said Safari used to do that on all their coaches.
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stouffer
N Central, Tx
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Joined: 09/13/2003
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I had mine open while I was doing 65 miles and hour. Damage was in excess of $4,000; $1,800 for cosmetics alone.
My experience won't help you much though since in my case it was discovered that the cutout on the ignition, the one that shuts down the TV when the ignition is on, had been bypassed by a helpful mechanic who didn't know that the awing was on the same circuit. Our cat had managed to step on the remote control and out the awing came. We never could figure out why the wind sensor didn't overrule the activation.
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The Fireball
Fort Myers, Florida
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All motor homes have Gremlins.
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HDrider44
Merlin, Oregon,USA
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I had the same thing happen. It turned out it was a worn sprocket that allowed the awning to go out on it's own. Actually it wasn't worn because it was new but it was bad just the same.
I did put velcro aronr the awning in a couple places until it was repaired under warranty.
DaveK
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