Awning Not Seating Against Wall Rail When Retracted

[Mikendebbie]

Rolled the front awning in and it is not seating onto the wall rail by maybe 1/2” at the top. How do you get it back plumb? Did the fabric roll up wrong?

 

[C&P RV]

Mine has done that before on one end. You can unroll it and check to make sure the screws are still in place at the top rail where it slides into the rail. There are a couple of screws at either end that are supposed to keep the awning from moving left and right in the upper rail. Also, the wind will occasionally move the awning left or right in the roller. Once it's out of alignment it won't roll straight.

 

[Carl n Susan]

This appears to be the classic problem of the awning rolling up crooked. As C&P wrote, the fabric slides on the roller in the wind. There are Threads discussing the problem and how to correct it. Open the awing, grab a ladder, and lift the roller (to help take of the tension) and slide the awning back to where it should be.

Where is that you ask? Good question. I had used a felt tip marker to draw a line at each end when it was correctly adjusted. ShadePro added clips at each end the last time I had the awning replaced. Lacking those aids you will get to adjust it yourself. AFAIK looking at the awning when rolled up gives you a clue. Your picture shows the left end is covering the underside of the awning. I suspect the right end has the underneath portion of the awing exposed, In this case I would slide the awning , in the roller, to the right a bit. Then roll it up and see if it helped. A couple of tries and yu should get it aligned again.

 

[DutchmenSport]

I have had this on-going problem with my awning ever since the camper was brand new. I've attempted to adjust the "square" of the awning many times and it seems once I get it "square", the next time it's used it "off" again.

Unfortunately, I find it impossible to move the awning on the roller or on the track attached to the trailer. So, removing the screws, I'll simply roll the awning out and roll it back in. The pressure itself will often re-align and the arms will seat back against the camper correctly after a few extends and retracts. So, the screws go back in. We travel to our next location and it does it again. What just happened?

Sometimes, I'll get it working perfect, and then while still at the same site, it goes wonky again. What happened? I think it's a result of frame flex.

Even sitting at the same spot, when the stabilizer / self leveling jacks are down, the pressure points on the corners of the camper cause the awning roller to be out of align slightly. But, if I raise the jacks, sometimes, the awning arms fit perfect.

I'm finally at a loss and just stopped worrying over it. While parked (we are always long-term campers now), if the awning is retracted and it's out of alignment, I just leave it and don't fret.

When actually packing up and moving, I'll have my wife push the button and I'll go outside and add a little extra side pressure on the awning arm and it will fall back in proper alignment.

Also, when traveling, I take a few extra moments, get on the roof, reach over the awning and zip-tie it at the top on both ends to make sure it does not move or unfurl when traveling. At our destination point, I'll cut the zip ties and use the awning again.

So, there are 2 possibilities. The awning itself does shrink over time and it shrinks uneven, causing the awning to be out of alignment (square). Try removing the screws, roll it in and out and let it self adjust (It might, and then, it might not). Second, try retracting with all your jacks in the Up position. See what happens.

Good luck.

 

[Mikendebbie]

The screws you refer to for removing - are they the screws holding the awning at the "gutter" awning extrusion on the trailer wall? or are the on the roller tube?

 

[DutchmenSport]

"The screws" ... When I do my "adjustments, I remove all of them from both the awning roller and the track on the side of the trailer.

If you are doing the "pull-tug" method, then you need to only remove one or the other. I've tried both and in my opinion, both are equally as hard to pull. I honestly don't know how folks do it this way. Maybe with a second helper it's easier, but I don't have a second helper.