Friend of mine was recently driving down the highway when to her dismay she saw her awning opening up and unfurling as she drove along.  Luckily there was room to pull over and an equine dentist happened to stop and help her roll it back up and tie it off.

I think something broke on it causing this to happen, but I bought some of those leather pieces to tie stirrups back with and put them on my awning to keep that from happening.  The one side stays up as it has a piece to keep it from coming down, but the other one slipped down, so I have to figure out a better system for it.

It will only take an extra minute to remove it when I need the awning and the piece of mine sure is worth it. If it happened to one person it could surely happen again. 

I use velcro straps to hold the awning arms together while going down the road.  Works great.

Are they the plastic kind that have a one way stop that the end goes through to tighten it up?

A friend had a problem with her's locking closed a few weeks ago when we packed up to head home. And guess what?  I gave her a stirrup hobble to secure it for the drive home.  I keep several of those leather straps - with lots of holes punched in them - for all sorts of things. Stirrup hobbles work good to secure rolled up tarps, ponchos, etc., to the back of saddles and to hang other "things" from the D-rings on a saddle.  The other handy strap is the woven English spur straps. No holes - just push the buckle tongue through anywhere.

I too have seen the velcro straps - but I think the leather is more secure and less likely to slide down the post.

I recommend using something on all awnings to secure them closed when driving.

EDITING to add some clarification.  When opening the awning, it has 2 arms/support legs that swing out from the trailer. When the awning is rolled up, these arms fold flat against the side of the trailer. The leather strap - or zip tie, velcro, etc. is used to secure the arms closed or to the side of the trailer.

Not all awnings are attached or constructed the same. You may need to fasten a strap to the trailer itself to close around each arm/support leg.

Where did you get your velcro straps,did you  make them?

I'm always imagining senarios like this happening to us.Some of the roads we haul on have no place to get a big rig off in a hurry.

You don't put them around the rolled up awning, you put them around the arms.

LOL.... 

Which is why I prefer a pop-up canopy to an awning.

When my daughter was showing 4H and High School... it was far easier to use an EZ-Up canopy and place it close to the arena if necessary, or to the front of the truck if the show grounds were packed. It was also easier to use when camping - as not all woods-parking (trees) is ideal for parking so that the awning is blocks the SW sun, whereas the canopy can be positioned anywhere - even over a 500 pound picnic table!! : )

I even convinced Hosspuller that the EZ-up was a better investment - especially if you also bought the screen or solid sides (2 of each is a good value)

By looking at this $60 device on this link,now I am confused as to how plain old leather stirrup hobbles,cat collars,velcro straps,ect.would do the job,as they aren't anywhere near the place that this device is on the awning.???

BTW,we have an Exiss 12'Event with a Carefree awning.

Used to ahve a 2step on the Platinum,and I liked it better.

regarding the one at sharm... "Oh yeah, gee... I've got a machine shop in my garage... "  NOT.

$60? 

The $40 one looks okay.

After reading the awning lock site... where is says that the awning actually unrolls - hmmmm....  But I have to believe, if the arms are clamped shut, that should at least prevent the awning from opening, yes?

I'll stick with my EZ-up canopy. : )

So,do you have one on your awning?

If so,how long has it been on there?

Did you know all this before this post? I guess  you must have,because,this is the first time I've ever heard of it,or seen a pin to hold one,ect.

why don't   the awning manufacturers make them if it is a liability issue?

As I understand it, awaning damage is the number one cliam in the RV insurance business.

What I'm saying is: if it is a liability issue,and people in other vehicles have had vehicle damage or have been hurt,or in the case one post on here made,a minister was killed and his family sued the awning manufacturer,why wouldn't they take measures to be sure that it wasn't that easy for an awning to unroll going down the road?

WOuld it be a case of: the awning mfg.word against the owners of the trailer or RV as to whether or not it was properly latched to begin with?

I had an awning come loose years ago and several people told me to tie velcro around the arms when I was traveling. I asked the company about it when I had it replaced and they assured me that velcro was a great idea. I have never had an issue with an awning when traveling since that time.

 As far as liabilty; I don't think that someone could win that battle against a manufacturer.