Posted 2012-04-02 5:34 AM (#142724) Subject: awnings
Member
Posts: 39 Location: Glenford, Oh
Hi, I am planning to get an awning put on my trailer. I'd like to know how people feel about the 2 step vs. the regular type pull out awning. Are they worth the extra money? Thanks!
Posted 2012-04-02 8:38 AM (#142727 - in reply to #142724) Subject: RE: awnings
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
I have the regular (original) style. While I like the easy of the two step our friend has, when it rains, she has to roll hers up while I can tip one side down and sit outside.
Posted 2012-04-03 11:30 AM (#142768 - in reply to #142724) Subject: RE: awnings
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560 Location: Mena, AR
The two steps are really easy to put up and down. I have a manual one on my small trailer and complain to myself every time I put it up and down. It's small, so it's not a huge effort, but still not much fun.
Posted 2012-04-03 2:57 PM (#142772 - in reply to #142724) Subject: RE: awnings
Member
Posts: 10
Location: Indiana
The 2-step awning, made by Dometic/A&E, has a feature that allows one side to tilt automatically when a certain amount of rain has accumulated, allowing the water to run off, then it rises back up on its own. It also has a knee-flex action, allowing it to flex in the wind more so than the standard awnings. My last 2 trailers have had 2-step awnings; I wouldn't go back to the standard A&E 8500 awning as there are too many steps involved, and if you forget to tilt it before it rains, you could be in trouble; with the 2-step you don't have to worry about it.
Posted 2012-04-04 8:48 AM (#142794 - in reply to #142724) Subject: RE: awnings
Elite Veteran
Posts: 800 Location: Tenn/Ala.
But with the 2 step, when the sun gets a bit low, you can't drop the awning some to block the sun like you can with the basic 8500 series. Just a thought.
Posted 2012-04-04 4:21 PM (#142803 - in reply to #142724) Subject: RE: awnings
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322 Location: Fort Madison, Iowa
When I put my awning on it came down to if I could justify the price difference considering how often I use mine. I don't usually use it on my local weekend campouts because there's plenty of shade unless it's raining. I usually use mine mainly on my vacations and unless the wind picks up, I leave it up all week.
I can say with my new awning it goes up and down easier than my last one but it would be a nice convenience to have. If I hadn't just bought the trailer maybe the price difference wouldn't have made as much of a difference. I'd also consider how much longer I plan to keep the trailer which when I bought my last trailer I figured I'd have it for ten years and wanted an awning.
awnings
