Awning opened during travel

[Leesway]

While traveling, our front awning opened up and tore, arms broke. We had to rip the thing down to continue our trip. Anyone else have this happen? Ideas on what may have happened?

 

[Hoopy Frood]

I've not had it happen to me, but have read accounts of it happening. It seems to occur when the wind gets under the awning fabric and overcomes the resistance of the springs, and just unrolls the fabric. There are locks that are supposed to prevent this. The same thing has supposedly happened with slide toppers.

 

[Twcardin]

While traveling, our front awning opened up and tore, arms broke. We had to rip the thing down to continue our trip. Anyone else have this happen? Ideas on what may have happened?

Happened to me when I pulled into a truck stop for fuel. Luckily I was able to get it to retract.

 

[jcschultz01]

our rear awning over the slideout on the door side does not like to close completely. I keep an eye on it and make sure it is closed before starting to travel. This awning has two folding arms to extend/retract the awning and I don't trust them.

 

[Skilletface]

Do a search for products under “RV Awning Travel Lock” . I used one for three years and I guess between road construction and nature the retainer pin or spring gave up.
Thanks for bringing this up as I will be ordering another one soon.

 

[Steven@147]

I've heard about this happening and I always wondered if the awning rolled out while traveling because somehow power got applied to the awning motor, or if the awning just slowly rolled out on its own because the awning motor could free spin and the arm piston springs pushed it out.

 

[Leesway]

Do a search for products under “RV Awning Travel Lock” . I used one for three years and I guess between road construction and nature the retainer pin or spring gave up.
Thanks for bringing this up as I will be ordering another one soon.

Thanks for the suggestion. Never knew there an awning lock we could add.

 

[Leesway]

I've heard about this happening and I always wondered if the awning rolled out while traveling because somehow power got applied to the awning motor, or if the awning just slowly rolled out on its own because the awning motor could free spin and the arm piston springs pushed it out.

Another commenter mentioned an RV Awning Travel Lock. Wish we'd known about them. Seems like a smart idea!

 

[Leesway]

While traveling, our front awning opened up and tore, arms broke. We had to rip the thing down to continue our trip. Anyone else have this happen? Ideas on what may have happened?

UPDATE: There seems to be an awning recall for some Solitudes made between 2022-2023. We contacted Grand Design to see if ours qualified. The answer was, NO, however, they offered to pay for the awning. We just have to pay for installation. This is the second time GD has stepped up unexpectedly.