Lippert awning question

**Soundsailor** · 08-09-2022, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by Wildbill57

Pick up our new 2022 grand design imagine and brought it home after a couple rainy days I extended the awning out went back into the house and came back out about 15 minutes later and the left side arm of the awning was pitched so the awning was almost hitting the door when you opened the door I straightened it backup but then 15 minutes later it had dropped again about 6" not sure what the problem is could it be the strut I'm just not sure anybody out there with a suggestion

So sorry to hear about your problem, it does seem like the awning should be able to withstand some rain. On ours, the awning didn't do what yours did, and instead, the rain pooled on the awning until the drive side strut collapsed. Lippert is going to replace the entire awning under warranty. However, it seems like these awnings have too many issues. The manual says to retract the awning when it rains. Isn't one of the purposes of the awning to supply a dry place when it rains? On my old TT, one could easily tilt the assembly to one side and even the heaviest downpour would drain right off. That doesn't seem possible with the Solera/Lippert ones.

**Rabbit** · 08-09-2022, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Wildbill57

Just contacted the dealer's service department. They told me it could be a bad piston. This is brand new. You think it would have been tested at the factory.

Don’t count on it being a bad piston. If that arm can be moved up and down with little resistance, the joint is defective.

**RV Sailor** · 08-10-2022, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by Soundsailor

So sorry to hear about your problem, it does seem like the awning should be able to withstand some rain. On ours, the awning didn't do what yours did, and instead, the rain pooled on the awning until the drive side strut collapsed. Lippert is going to replace the entire awning under warranty. However, it seems like these awnings have too many issues. The manual says to retract the awning when it rains. Isn't one of the purposes of the awning to supply a dry place when it rains? On my old TT, one could easily tilt the assembly to one side and even the heaviest downpour would drain right off. That doesn't seem possible with the Solera/Lippert ones.

I never gave any thought to it protecting us in the rain. If that was its purpose why would they make it with thin vinyl as opposed to sunbrella canvas. I use it for what it intended for…. To keep sun off you. Ours at 21 ft on the flimsy struts cone in at night, come in with wind, comes in when we leave the trailer,

**more tired since retired** · 08-10-2022, 08:00 PM

Do you understand the proper way to extend an awning. You run it partway out, wait a few seconds for the gas in the shock to finish adjusting internally and then extend full. These are not car/truck shocks. A lot of shocks die early deaths from misuse.

**RV Sailor** · 08-11-2022, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by more tired since retired

Do you understand the proper way to extend an awning. You run it partway out, wait a few seconds for the gas in the shock to finish adjusting internally and then extend full. These are not car/truck shocks. A lot of shocks die early deaths from misuse.

That’s a really great point. I’ll bet a lot don’t do that.

**Hoopy Frood** · 08-11-2022, 07:38 AM

I've never done it, and most likely never will.

**Ynot4me2** · 08-11-2022, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by more tired since retired

Do you understand the proper way to extend an awning. You run it partway out, wait a few seconds for the gas in the shock to finish adjusting internally and then extend full. These are not car/truck shocks. A lot of shocks die early deaths from misuse.

I honestly didn't know this. I guess I should of read the manual. I've never had any issues. I'll start doing this to try and avoid future issues.

**Ynot4me2** · 08-11-2022, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by RV Sailor

I never gave any thought to it protecting us in the rain. If that was its purpose why would they make it with thin vinyl as opposed to sunbrella canvas. I use it for what it intended for…. To keep sun off you. Ours at 21 ft on the flimsy struts cone in at night, come in with wind, comes in when we leave the trailer,

We use ours when it rains for a little dry spot. They are made to auto dump when water starts to pool and you can lower either side to direct the water. And like you, it comes in at night, in windy days and when we are not there. They're like made like the old days where 2 people were required to roll it out and weight a ton.

**huntindog** · 08-11-2022, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by more tired since retired

Do you understand the proper way to extend an awning. You run it partway out, wait a few seconds for the gas in the shock to finish adjusting internally and then extend full. These are not car/truck shocks. A lot of shocks die early deaths from misuse.

I have never heard of this. I had my last TT for ten years and used it a LOT. It still had the original struts when I sold it

**more tired since retired** · 08-11-2022, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by huntindog

I have never heard of this. I had my last TT for ten years and used it a LOT. It still had the original struts when I sold it

I've never seen this in an owner's manual or hear it from a salesman. I was given this information by a long time full-timer RVer. He told me he learned the hard way, replacing 5 of these shocks until a tech told him how to own and close his awning.