The Carefree "Travler" flat pitch electric awning is just as bad as the A & E if not worse. Anyone who says they like theirs, has probably not used it much in inclement weather. In rain, the awning holds "gallons" of water before enough weight builds to activate the so called "automatic" dump feature. In reality, its more of a "collapse". All the water pours down at once. What used to be dry, is now wet from the waterfall hitting the ground. If it stops raining before it dumps, then the water stays on the awning causing it to stretch. If it freezes in the middle of the night, you have a giant ice cube. They are very sensitive to wind, and you have to take it in even in moderate breezes. Since it only has one pitch "flat" its pretty much worthless as a sun shade too unless you're on the equator and the sun is directly overhead. I really see no practical application for this design at all. Oh yea, it goes in and out with the push of a button. It must have been quite a song and dance routine to get the manfacturers to use these.
firemedic16 wrote: I have the same problem on my 2008 keystone sprinter. The water pools so much that the awning will not retract. I have to climb onto the picnic table and push the pool off. Also, I think this has caused the supports to warp and not retract all the way to the side of the trailer.
Friday night during a steady rainstorm while we played cards, hubby and I took turns going out to push the water off the awning....luckily it stopped raining before bedtime. What a pain. I don't understand why they can't design a power awning that allows you to slope it too.
jhinojosa wrote: Try retracting it just a little to tighten the fabric. Hopefully this works for you. If I extend mine all the way until the motor stops, it'll sag even dry, the moment I roll it back a little it stretches very nicely.
That's what we do with ours. Haven't had any heavy rains yet with it out, so I'm still reserving judgement.
DW, me and the two pups - Sassy & Andy
2008 Jayco Flight G2 29RLS TT-"Serenity"
2004 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab.
SSG-USAR Retired-Field Artillery
It's said ignorance and apathy cause most of the world's problems, but I don't know and I don't care.
2008Wildcat wrote: After much discussion with a dealer about these A&E electric awnings, A&E stands on the fact that their awnings are "sun shades", not rain awnings.
Yes to me this seems to be the problem. We often use the awning to enjoy the outdoors while it is raining. Seems like the electric awnings designers didn't carefully consider RV'ers wanting to use awning to stay dry.
Our Rockwood came with a Dometic electric awning and I hate it! Same problem as others....with water pooling. When I had my Four Winds with the manula awning, I could adjust the one side downa bit to allow the water to drain off. When it rains with this new one, I have to roll it up.....a big waste! I wouldn't mind replacing it with one that can handle the water....I would even do a manual one!
2008 Rockwood Signature Series 8314SS
2001 Ford Excursion w/V10 6.8L
Reese WD Hitch w/HPDC
The salesman talked us into an electric. The one he demonstrated dumped water and he showed me how it worked. The one he installed does not dump. I did not know that until it rained and filled up during the night. It is now stretched in the middle and wrinkles when rolled up. We hardly ever use it and never leave it out when we are away from the TT or over night.
Has anyone tried to modify the awning with a small grommet, like you would find at the corner of a tarp ? I thought of putting this in the middle, near the deepest part of the pooling, and let water drain. It would stop the pooling, but cause a stream of water to fall into the " dry area " of the awning. I was thinking this might be better than retracting the awning during rain, and could provide some usable space under the awning during a storm.
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