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Old 02-03-2016, 02:04 AM   #1
DQDick
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Tie the awning or not?

Up in Kansas and out in New Mexico and Arizona where we usually are we seldom see the awnings tied down. Now that we're in Florida at least a third of the awnings are tied down so I have questions. Is tying the awning a good or bad idea and, if tied, when is the wind forecast too strong and you roll them up? Thanks in advance!
 
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Old 02-03-2016, 02:13 AM   #2
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Being a fellow Kansan and knowing all about Mother Nature's wind ... if it's so windy out it needs tied down ... it probably shouldn't be out to start with. My thoughts are territorial of course.
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Old 02-03-2016, 02:27 AM   #3
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We live in southwest Florida and the wind that precedes the storms are huge to say the least. We tie our awning religiously in 3 places the ends and in the middle. I have seen many rollers snapped in half because only the ends are tied. As with Michigan, Florida is the same, the winds are unpredictable. even seen the expensive box awning go whiff and over somebody's unit and they roll up automatically when the winds start. but there not fast enough.
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Old 02-03-2016, 02:59 AM   #4
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My motto is "when in doubt, don't put it out."
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Old 02-03-2016, 03:08 AM   #5
K0LCB
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I've never tied an electric awning. Years ago I had a carefree awning that had arms that could be removed and nailed to the ground with landscape nails. I tied it down. It survived some pretty good storms
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Old 02-03-2016, 03:27 AM   #6
WaltBennett
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I have tied down manual awnings many times with no problems in up to 40 mph winds. Those were manual ones though, with much stronger arms. The electric ones we've got are no where near as strong and I wouldn't even attempt it.
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Old 02-03-2016, 04:12 AM   #7
Happycamperscolorado
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we tie down the electric awing . made pvc pipes that extend under both sides and we anchor from the back of it, over the awing and down to the ground with tie down strap. 2" pvc with 1 1/2 in pic in it with a saddle pvc at the very top for the awing to sit on. holes drilled thru both poles at one inch intervals. makes it like the manual awing where you can extend the arm and stake it in the ground. not that heavy at all.

been in some nasty winds 40+ with no issue.
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Old 02-03-2016, 05:02 AM   #8
tony d
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I wouldn't leave mine out if it's that windy and don't see why anyone would need to. if it's that windy out I wouldn't be sitting out under it anyway.
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Old 02-03-2016, 05:25 AM   #9
bigskyjimmy
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We live on the Coast and high winds are common when I got my first electric awning i tried tying it down....NEVER AGAIN it still acts like a Parachute no matter how good I secured it and I thought it was going to rip off... lesson learned
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Old 02-03-2016, 06:34 AM   #10
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We never tie down
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Old 02-03-2016, 06:50 AM   #11
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Thanks for all the input. I think I'll keep doing what I've always done. Saw so many tied down here I thought maybe I was behind the times.
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Old 02-03-2016, 08:35 AM   #12
Mark N.
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I NEVER tie mine down. But then, I NEVER have it extended if I'm not home. It's just too risky and takes but a moment to extend or retract it. I learned the hard way on a previous camp trailer. I was out fishing, the awning was extended and tied down. Very securely tied down. A sudden micro-burst wind storm developed while I was gone, and trashed my awning, fabric and metal framework and all. Trust me. You don't want to do it. Ever.
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Old 02-03-2016, 11:31 AM   #13
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If you don't tie it down, never leave the area with it out or you may find it on the other side of the RV.
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Old 02-03-2016, 12:02 PM   #14
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We never tie ours down. Was told a long time ago to never tie down an electric awning as the arms are not strong enough to hold it. I also figure that if it is blowing strong enough to need being tied down it is a lot easier to just roll it up. How hard is it to just push a button?!
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Old 02-03-2016, 12:08 PM   #15
mlh
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I have tied mine down but would rather not put it out when it's windy or when I'm not at the camper.
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Old 02-03-2016, 01:22 PM   #16
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Even in light winds our electric awning bounces around. Is there a trick to somewhat stabilize it??
We have a 2015 3610
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Old 02-03-2016, 02:39 PM   #17
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If I'm around the unit I open it up and secure it with 6' a bungie cord attached to a 2 1/2 gallon DEF jug filled with water. The bungie give the awning some shock absorber but if the winds start to really bounce the awning I unhook the bungies from the awning and bring it in.
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Old 02-03-2016, 04:19 PM   #18
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A bit of a different idea is the auto retract device that is made for awning. I have looked at a few units that had an auto retractor for the awning. It retracts the awning if it is getting to windy. Probably not cheap but it is another idea..

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Old 02-03-2016, 05:17 PM   #19
h2ojocky
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I am with Tony. If it is windy out, most people aren't sitting outside. It is so easy to retract even the manual ones. Every time I leave or retire for the night I roll it up.
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Old 02-04-2016, 12:40 AM   #20
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by h2ojocky

I am with Tony. If it is windy out, most people aren't sitting outside. It is so easy to retract even the manual ones. Every time I leave or retire for the night I roll it up.
Well said
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