Awning LED light Strip Ripped Loose by Awning

[mdmarmd]

I just winterized my 2017 Montana 3720 RL last month. As I was retracting the front awning, I heard this abnormal grinding like sound and wondered what was happening. Because I was having the RV towed to storage the next day I didn't want to extend the awning to examine it because I didn't want to chance having it get stuck in a partially extended position.

Later, as I was spraying off the adjacent slideout I noticed that a partially broken wire was hanging out from the end of the retracted awning. One of the two wire leads was completely broken.

I will have to get it looked at next spring but I am wondering if anyone on the forum has an idea of what might have gone wrong here?
I have attached a picture but it doesn't really show the end of the awning as I took it while in the middle of spraying off the slideout.

Thanks,

Doug

 

[Mikendebbie]

Just a guess - but I don’t think that thing is a wire…it looks like the vinyl insert that pops into the aluminum trim extrusion. Pics below show examples of the aluminum trim extrusion and the vinyl insert. If it is the vinyl insert- it looks like it got caught by something (tree limb?) and partially pulled out of trim. Look at the opposite end of that aluminum extrusion and see if it is missing about 24” of vinyl. Your unit is a 2017 model - so the vinyl insert may be a bit roached and crispy from sun exposure, and it split when it was yanked on by the “tree limb” or whatever it was.

As to what the grinding sound you heard might have been…hopefully someone else here that is familiar with repairing awnings might help with that. My answer would be “Oh sh*t - what the **** was that?” I would look for evidence on the awning for damage caused by the same thing/tree limb that grabbed the vinyl. It’s not easy to pull that vinyl trim out of the extrusion - so that same force may have done something to knock the awning motor cock-eyed, and therefore the motor gears were out of alignment and produced the sound. Since you are headed to storage with your unit - look at the forward section of aluminum trim that is missing the vinyl insert to make sure the screws have a dab of sealant over them so they won’t leak over the winter. If it looks good - then the awning and trim repair can wait until spring. This is pure speculation. Can you take some pics of the other end of things and post them?

 

[Dhuhn]

I agree with Mike that's your vinyl insert that covers screws. I just replaced a bunch of it on my rig. its an easy job to do

 

[RMcNeal]

I was thinking the same yesterday, but just assumed the wrong picture got uploaded.

 

[mdmarmd]

Thanks for the input. I'm not sure what damaged it because there are really no trees or branches near this location on the RV. There are some over the rear cap area.

How did the insert get pulled out latterally. Did it somehow get caught up in the awning and get wound up and pulled out?

I can't show any new pictures because the RV is now in a warehouse up north, 300 miles from me for the winter. Once I get up there in the spring and can take the chance of extening the awning hopefully I'll know more and update this thread if necessary.

Doug