i also throw a bungee cord over each end and tie down with tie straps. but i go to stakes in the ground. not strait down, out at an angle away from the awning. the worst that has ever happened while doing that, is a gust came one day and was hard enough to pull one of the stakes. it smacked the tt pretty hard, and lucky that is all it smacked. i use those big green stakes that you would tie a dog chain to. the reason i use the bungee cord is so that there is some flex. i do role it up if i know a big storm is coming, or one just comes up.
Edit: i should of said that is how i used to do it with not to many problems. now that i got a power awning i still do it the same way, but it don't work as well.
the nice feature of those tie downs is that they fit into the utility slot on the roller tube and not only keep tension on the awning but keeps roll out tension on the tube itself.
That's exactly why I got those particular tie downs was that they keep the tension on the roller tube.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
If you've ever camped near the ocean, you've likely experienced the high winds that can occur in the middle of the night, and no, NOT a storm!
When I know a storm is approaching, I'll roll up the awning. Problem is, if I'm away, I'm not there to do this. And high winds aren't always associated with storms.
So I strap them down, and use the deflappers (not pictured).
Different RV now, but same method. Even when I wasn't "home" when storms have hit, no damage.
Yep I tie our down. Once while just on walk thru the CG (only gone a few minutes) a gust of wind came up and nearly took ours off. The sky was clear and there was no previous warning.
I just some cork-screw 'dog tieouts' and 2 ratcheting straps. I tighten down snugly, but not too tight.
I also use deflappers.
Courious - what's the benefit/philosophy for using bungee cords?
Mark & Tammy
'01 Excursion Limited, 4x4, V10, RoadMaster Active Suspension
'01 Prowler 31G
Equal-i-zer Hitch - Prodigy Brake Controller
Iteachmiddleschool wrote: We use 2 super deflappers on each end at the beach, don't tie down; roll up for an anticipated windy storm. If it's a bad enough storm, it will bend your awning arms back or break them, tie down, or no tie down.
Never tie down here either for same reason, plus it takes a lot of time to undo tie downs and get your awning up if needed asap.
I always park with the awning facing east, you won't have the flapping problems in gentle wind conditions, better chance of your awning surviving a storm if you happen to not be there, and it's much easier to roll it up if a sudden storm hits if you are not on the side of the prevailing winds when doing so.
31 ft Four Winds
Chevy Tracker 4x4 Blue Ox We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
I de-flap, but I am more likely to roll up than to tie down. I have had to replace one that went over the top, taking out the TV antenna, the refrigerator roof vent, the AC cover, and the hood of the new Dodge truck in the next campsite over. It was too exciting to do a second time.
Tieing down also merely relocates the stress points to the 8 bolts holding the awning to the trailer. All of that neat grey painted zinc diecast breaks off if the bolts don't pull out.
kraushad wrote: Ever since I camped as a little kid with my parents we never used any type of awning tie downs. During the storm you just roll them up.
That's it! If it's windy enough to need tie downs, it's windy enough to roll the awning up.
2001 Airstream Safari 25SS tugged by 2001 GMC Yukon 5.3L 3.73
Hensley Arrow • Jordan Ultima • Barker 3000 • Mckesh
WOW! I was surprised at some of the responses. My awning is 16 feet and when I roll it out, I put TWO flappers on each side AND a tie down strap that anchors in the ground on one side, wraps around the awning arm, and then drapes over the awning to the other side, wraps around that arm, and then is anchored to a spring screw in the ground on the other side. I do this every time, religiously. Maybe that's overkill, but it works for me.
'99 E-350 HiTop Companion Van Conversion SD 7.3, factory order rcvd Dec. '98: SuperChip, twin K&N air filters, 203* mod, Deraler tubed trannie pan, B&M trannie cooler, AirLift air bags, Bilsteins, 4" DiamondEye turbo back exhaust.
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