Awning

[lrazzano]

I have a 2022 Keystone Montana 3231ck. Is it safe to install the awning anchor kits? also, should both awnings be tilted for water runoff?

 

[DutchmenSport]

Unlike manual operated awnings, the electric motorized ones are really fickle.

It's annoying, but when wind kicks up, the awning comes in. And when we are not physically at the camper, the awning comes in, even if is going to be a few minutes.

About tilting? That depends on the rain. Mine has a dump feature and it does work pretty well. However, when it dumps, the water comes pouring down like an ocean wave, and then when the water is gone, the arm raises back up with a ker-plop. It sounds like the entire awning is being torn away. But it's not.

So, tilting works very, very well, as long as it's not windy. However, I have found, that with a very mild wind, tipping one side of the awning into the wind works pretty good and the wind doesn't cause it to pop. But when the wind reaches a certain point, even tilted, the awning can be damaged.

Tilting both sides at the same time allows the best run off. But tilting one side only works equally as well.

I don't know of too many people that actually use the awning anchors and straps with electric awnings though. I may be wrong, but not too many do.

 

[jsb5717]

Personally, I don't like the anchor kits. If the wind is an issue then I don't want my awning out. I've seen fabric torn or awnings blown over the top of the trailer. Fortunately, it's never happened to us but I've learned by watching others deal with the damage. Our friends and our son both lost awnings to the wind. When it's windy, you never know when that one gust will wreak havoc of the awning. I can see that having awning anchors could help protect the hardware but the fabric could still be at risk...and maybe more so if the awning arms can't move. I like having an awning out but if the wind starts to kick it around then I bring it in. YMMV.

I only have one awning but I would tilt both to shed rain or block sun. If my awning is out...it's tilted.

 

[lrazzano]

thank you very much!!

 

[Dave W-FRF]

An anchor kit saved ours last year when a storm brewed up. In less then 5 minutes it went from beautiful sunshine to one of the most violent storms we ever encountered in 40+ years of RVing. The MH across from us had everything thrown over the roof.


For water drainage, tilt the awning using the adjusting knobs on the awning. I generally tilt it 50% of the possible amount, 100% if it's raining

 

[lrazzano]

thanks for the feedback, Dave.

 

[DQDick]

We've used anchors over the years, but if gusts are forecast over 30 mph they come in.

 

[Andy Smith]

I'm struggling with the convenience versus wind here. I've got electric awnings and sun shades, and a south facing camp site with no trees, so ideally I'd have the awnings out shading the camper because it creates a noticeably cooler interior. The wind is really whippy here though, so I had anchored them with ratchet straps into the sand. Even then, though, the gusts are generally higher than I like and I usually stay cautious and bring them in. I wish they had a way to let some of the excess wind through.

 

[mlh]

Any time I leave my camper the awning comes in. If it’s windy I don’t put it out. I always lower the awning on one end to allow water to run off.
Lynwood

 

[twindman]

I was in W. Yellowstone one year. Left the awning out as there was little wind. Came back hours later and the wind had picked up. The 'flopping' of the awning had jammed the release lever (manual awning). A camp worker brought a ladder and hit the lever with a hammer and got it going, but it was 90 degrees off from the original. I held my breath when he was hitting it as it looked like a cast aluminum piece. Worked fine after that but now i always put my awning up when I leave.

 

[Big Ed-THOR]

We have used with springs on the lines. We still keep a close eye on them

 

[bigred715]

I've used the awning tie downs when I know it won't be windy. Leaving for the day I put awning in. At the coast you never know when the wind might come up. When I can't anchor to the ground with twist corkscrew I fasten to 5 gal bucket filled with water.

 

[Amy Jones]

I have a 2022 Keystone Montana 3231ck. Is it safe to install the awning anchor kits? also, should both awnings be tilted for water runoff?

We have a 2022 Montana High Country 331rl and we have the Sun shades on both awnings and my husband anchors them down also . When we leave he unzips the shades the quick release on the anchor straps and pull in the awning just to be safe . Awnings are to expensive to replace .