Posted 2007-07-13 8:44 PM (#63872 - in reply to #63743) Subject: RE: Awning Caution for everyone
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Leave the awning arms up, flick the little lever on the awning to the down position and take off down the road and see if it don't start to deploy itself. It will open up like a parachute!! If the spring breaks in the awning roller while traveling on the road...........It will start to unroll and by the time you realize that it's rolling out it may be too late. That's the reason adding that $60.00 sliding pin up on the roll of fabric, to hold it in place in case the up/down lever is moved, or the spring were to break in the rolled up awning.
Posted 2007-07-14 8:46 AM (#63884 - in reply to #63743) Subject: RE: Awning Caution for everyone
Veteran
Posts: 246 Location: Northern IN.
I can vouch for that, I use to be an R.V. Tech. a while back, and boy did we replace awnings! It didn't matter on what, pull behind, 5th wheel, park models, motor homes, pushers, some that didn't move in years, but were used like a cottage and the wind would take the awnings out! Yup, they can be a PIA. But with some common sense (and some luck) they sure can be a joy to have. It's a simple answer as to why they don't come with a lock from the manufacturer... when one "breaks" they sell the customer a new one, weather they pay for it or the insurance does, THEY SELL ANOTHER! Oh well, watcha gonna do? Talk to y'all later...
Posted 2007-07-14 12:05 PM (#63888 - in reply to #63884) Subject: RE: Awning Caution for everyone
Expert
Posts: 2615
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?
Posted 2007-07-14 10:55 PM (#63899 - in reply to #63743) Subject: RE: Awning Caution for everyone
Veteran
Posts: 192 Location: Kentucky
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.
Posted 2007-07-15 7:39 AM (#63909 - in reply to #63743) Subject: RE: Awning Caution for everyone
Veteran
Posts: 246 Location: Northern IN.
probably not, it came out of the factory with locks on both arms and the internal lock in the tube (basicaly the up/down lever). So if it has been used at all, then the argument could be made that it was due to a lack of proper maintenace on the part of the owner/user. OTOH, we all know how twisted things can get in the court of law now days. Kinda hard to say, isn't it? Talk to y'all later...
Posted 2007-07-17 10:28 PM (#64055 - in reply to #63743) Subject: RE: Awning Caution for everyone
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
First, let me readily admit that I have a horse in this race, so to speak. I sell the popular RV Awning Travel Lock via the Internet.
Second, I'd like to thank the couple dozen of you who have already visited my site. I appreciate your visits, because visitors eventually become customers and then I'll make a few bucks and know that there is one less awning to cause its owner grief.
Third, I have written a five articles, four of which might be of interest to readers of this Forum. Because there is so much discussion as to the cause and speculation as to the cure for lost awnings, I think the article "The Greatest Myth in RVing---and What You Can Do About It" may be of special interest to this group.
Awning Caution for everyone
