Awning usage question

[Hiking Girl]

Good Morning!

We have a 2021 Transcend Xplor 240 ML. I can't remember the manufacturer of the awning, but it is electric.

We were used to securing our manual awning on our old Roo and using it for sun AND weather. We are being told by our dealer that this new fangled awning is only for sun!

Now we'd never leave the awning out with impending severe weather (aka hurricane/tropical storm), but we do like to keep things dry under the awning in case of rain and potentially some wind. Based on info from our dealer, we shouldn't even do that.

I'm curious what people do? Do you leave your awning out during rain? How about wind?

I can't imagine being out for 2 weeks and not being able to keep things dry under the awning.

Thanks in advance for some insight.

For those of you on the road as Elsa makes her way up the East Coast, be careful and stay safe.

[OurNewEra]

We leave ours out in the rain but do not if winds above 10 or so mph are expected. We don't leave them out when we are away from camp and typically don't leave them out over night.

I don't want to chance a strong wind or gust tearing up the awning framework. My understanding is the power awnings are not designed to be tied down.

[Bradnailer]

If there is not much wind with the rain, we leave ours out. I have it adjusted to drain. To keep things dry next to the trailer, I oftentimes only roll it out halfway. We seldom use the awning lights that are on the end of the awning.

On previous trailers, we would secure the awning but I quit doing that as it was a pain if I had to retract it due to wind.

[Hiking Girl]

We leave ours out in the rain but do not if winds above 10 or so mph are expected. We don't leave them out when we are away from camp and typically don't leave them out over night.

I don't want to chance a strong wind or gust tearing up the awning framework. My understanding is the power awnings are not designed to be tied down.

This is what we have been doing as well.
It's just a pain to have to watch the weather. But, I have seen what can happen to an awning during heavy winds while camping ocean side!

It is my understanding as well that the power awnings should not be tied down.

Thank you for your input. I see you are from Florida. I hope you are spared by Elsa.
Take care.

[Hiking Girl]

If there is not much wind with the rain, we leave ours out. I have it adjusted to drain. To keep things dry next to the trailer, I oftentimes only roll it out halfway. We seldom use the awning lights that are on the end of the awning.

On previous trailers, we would secure the awning but I quit doing that as it was a pain if I had to retract it due to wind.

Thank you! This is helpful.

[NB Canada]

I have not been leaving mine out at all
This is definitely what I miss on my 2014 Jayco ( manual awning)

I have been thinking about supports and don’t know if they would help the awning survive but they may help

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00NS7YIMS/...M8RWNCN1EF7A8C


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

[caswelld]

Too bad GD doesn't use the Carefree Latitude we had on our MH. It has a motion detector that will auto-retract the awning if it is moved by the wind. Also it doesn't have the side arms that you bang your head on. It is the next-gen thing in awnings.

I saw that Carefree has a motion sensor that might be retrofitted onto these old style awnings. I think I'll look into that when the trailer arrives.

GD should upgrade if they want to stay ahead of the competition.



Dave

[NB Canada]

Too bad GD doesn't use the Carefree Latitude we had on our MH. It has a motion detector that will auto-retract the awning if it is moved by the wind. Also it doesn't have the side arms that you bang your head on. It is the next-gen thing in awnings.

I saw that Carefree has a motion sensor that might be retrofitted onto these old style awnings. I think I'll look into that when the trailer arrives.

GD should upgrade if they want to stay ahead of the competition.



Dave

I don’t think any other travel trailer makers are installing auto awnings
Sounds very expensive


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

[OurNewEra]

This is what we have been doing as well.
It's just a pain to have to watch the weather. But, I have seen what can happen to an awning during heavy winds while camping ocean side!

It is my understanding as well that the power awnings should not be tied down.

Thank you for your input. I see you are from Florida. I hope you are spared by Elsa.
Take care.

Thanks Hiking Girl. We are doing good. I'll haed out to the storage to check on our trailer this afternoon. I think our storage facility got more weather than we did at home. Elsa was mostly a big rain maker.

I ran across this YouTube video last week. I am certainly not saying this is the right way, but it is a way to add an awning support and strap for your motorized awning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-aiMU38SDA&t=652s

[WhittleBurner]

There is a couple from Quebec that stays across the road from us in FL , he has some supports that are made by another canadian who sells by word of mouth. Along with some ratchet straps it seems to help . Thier best defense is thier trailer is usually back to the wind. They still take the awning in when the winds get near 40mph . So those supports do help but aren't the total answer.

All that said we like others never have the awning out if we are leaving even for an hour.