motorized awning tie downs

[Scanmom]

W e just bought our 1st RV, a 35 foot class A. A 2007 Winnebago Adventurer to be exact. Anyway, I've read about some peoples awnings coming off while they were driving down the highway!! I wouldn't have thought of this problem, but now I am worried. Are there clamps or something to help with this? and are they a headache to get off and on, seeing as the RV is so tall? And, are clamps, or something like that needed since our awning is motorized? Thanks for any advice, we are totally new to all this and are learning as we go!

[georgelesley]

Several years ago I put a DIY awning lock on our awning. While camped a passerby asked about it. I explained the problem. They immediately had theirs so equipped and told some friends about it. Their friends bought the parts and the parts were in a bag in their motorhome when their awning unfurled in Utah.

[4x4van]

wa8yxm wrote:
With manual awnings if you do not lock it down that can happen. not sure how hard it is to override the lock

With motorized awnings there is both a brake and the gearing of the motor. it has never happened.

Wrong. Take a look at this thread: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/the-awning-is-out-omg-i-am-still-driving-down-the-road-330103.html; it HAS happened, even on motorized awnings. And again, locking the legs will not stop it from happening.

[hohenwald48]

I can't imagine it happening on an electric awning. However, if it gives you peace of mind you could install one of these -

https://smile.amazon.com/Camco-42551-Awning-Clamp-White/dp/B00ED9P1RQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1506022948&sr=8-3&keywords=rv+awning+lock

Just be sure to release it before you try to deploy the awning.

[wa8yxm]

With manual awnings if you do not lock it down that can happen. not sure how hard it is to override the lock

With motorized awnings there is both a brake and the gearing of the motor. it has never happened. HOWEVER. if you are worried there are many types of clamps you can apply high as you can reach on the awning arms provided there is a gap behind the thing. Or you could even drill through (Awning closed) and put in a pin.. One of the square-oish Sring pins sold for tow bar attachment should work

Or you can get those in all sorts of sizes at Tractor Supply and other Farm & Fleet type places. this is a bolt, with a spring attached to the head. the other end of the spring SNAPS over the other end of the bolt to lock, VERY secure. Just make sure you don't drill through where the gas shock is if you have that kind of awning.

I use safety ties on mine.

[4x4van]

Old or new, manual or electric, it is and can be a problem. A good wind, at the right angle, while driving, can get inside the rolled awning material. It can then overcome the gear/ratcheting mechanism inside the roller and unroll a bit. At that point, the strength intensifies multiple fold, and can completely open and rip the awning off the side of the RV. Locking the arms against the RV does nothing to prevent it; the roller itself unrolls in the stowed position.

I have had it happen once in the past; driving at 60mph into a strong 2:00 headwind. The arms stayed in place at first until the awning unrolled about 1/4 of the way. Then it forced even the locked arms open and the awning ended up 2/3 unrolled. Luckily I got the rig stopped before it tore everything off the RV. Once stopped, we had to find cover from the wind behind a building, fully unroll then roll up the awning (not an easy task in strong winds). Everything still worked as normal, and I continued to use the awning for 12+ years, showing that nothing was "broken", the wind was just too strong (and perfectly angled).

I have not taken a single trip or owned another RV since without installing an awning lock. I prefer the one from Camco that wraps the entire awning roller to the RV rather than the pin type that just locks the roller in one position, but they both will do the job. $30 is cheap insurance to prevent what, while rare, could be a major and expensive situation.

[Dale_Traveling]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. A fairly rare event but getting a flat tire or a problem with the powertrain that requires a tow is a lot more common.

[egh33]

Ours is an 06 Adventurer The problem is we have, one end that doesn't clip back as tight as the other so I can push it back then stick a piece of Velcro around the one that don't clip as tight. I have a bamboo poll that I use to remove it and also put it back. Best part we don't use the awing that much. The repair man said it would need a new metal cover to fix it. It's over $500.00

[Y-Guy]

It's usually more of an issue with older RVs. The cause seems to be the recoil spring getting old and needing to be tightened for more tension.

You can buy straps and even Awning Locks if you would feel better.

I use a couple straps not so much that I'm worried about the awnings as it forces me to double check that awning has been retracted and locked correctly before I hit the road.

[ScottG]

It really isn't a problem. Once the motroized awning is rolled up, the gearing prevents it from unfurling.
The problem was with some slide-out awning that would billow. I dont think those are a problem anymore either.

[Lwiddis]

I'm a Winnie TT owner and have had zero issues with the awning.