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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / March 2006Awning unraveling during travel
I am having problems with my windchaser awning unraveling while traveling in windy conditions, I followed everything by the book but when windy it starts to unwind, Anybody have this experience or solution? TIA > I am having problems with my windchaser awning unraveling while > traveling in windy conditions, I followed everything by the book but > when windy it starts to unwind, Anybody have this experience or > solution? TIA I've never heard of a Windchaser awning, and neither has Google. What kind of awning is it? Was it made to be permanently attached to the RV? Tom J > I've never heard of a Windchaser awning I wonder if they meant Sunchaser? I have one and have been quite satisfied with it. http://www.dometicusa.com/awnings.php?product=36  Signature:) JR 2000 Skamper Ultra 249 TT 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000 Yes, sorry, I meant Sunchaser. >> I've never heard of a Windchaser awning > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > http://www.dometicusa.com/awnings.php?product=36 >I am having problems with my windchaser awning unraveling while traveling in >windy conditions, I followed everything by the book but when windy it starts >to unwind, Anybody have this experience or solution? >TIA Hi, There is a part you can buy to keep awnings from unwinding. You can also make your own. Try this site for instructions http://www.srhams.org/awning_lock.html Take care and Happy Campin... Just carry some plastic wire ties and put a couple around the arms before you take off. Then just snip them off with a pocketknife or snips when you reach your destination. Very cheap,easy. >>I am having problems with my windchaser awning unraveling while traveling >>in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Take care and Happy Campin... > Just carry some plastic wire ties and put a couple around the arms > before you take off. Then just snip them off with a pocketknife or > snips when you reach your destination. Very cheap,easy. If his awning doesn't have a roller lock it can still unroll with the arms hard against the rig. I've seen it happen several times. Some people seem to be trying to save a little by buying roll up patio awnings. They don't travel well. Tom J Tom,I didn't know that! I thought that the arms had to be loose a bit in order for the unrolling to take place. I always thought the awning fit snug up the sidewalls near the roof and the friction would keep it from unrolling? HP >> Just carry some plastic wire ties and put a couple around the arms >> before you take off. Then just snip them off with a pocketknife or [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Tom J > Tom,I didn't know that! I thought that the arms had to be loose a bit in > order for the unrolling to take place. I always thought the awning fit snug > up the sidewalls near the roof and the friction would keep it from > unrolling? HP No, Just think of a window shade where you hold the bottom of the shade. The wind can get under and unroll the roller. The best lock would be to get up and put a bungee cord around the roller to keep it from turning (now you need a ladder!!). > Tom,I didn't know that! I thought that the arms had to be loose a > bit in order for the unrolling to take place. I always thought the > awning fit snug up the sidewalls near the roof and the friction > would > keep it from unrolling? You and over half the RVers driving down the road are under the same false assumptions. Just read all the post suggesting all types of things to secure the arms to prevent the awning from unrolling!! The 1st awning I saw unroll going down the highway had pins through holes in the arms fastening them together tight against the center rub rail of the trailer. The driver never knew it was unrolling until it was in shreds. (what rear view mirror?) Tom J Yes Tom I think you are right, it is not the arms that are coming down but somehow the roller lock must vibrate loose. RichA, up a couple of notches seem to have a good solution, even though it will take some work. Thanks >> Just carry some plastic wire ties and put a couple around the arms >> before you take off. Then just snip them off with a pocketknife or [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Tom J > Just carry some plastic wire ties and put a couple around the arms > before you take off. Then just snip them off with a pocketknife or > snips when you reach your destination. Very cheap,easy. Some wide Velcro straps would be easier. Cheaper in the long run also since you can get Velcro at any WallyWorld or fabric shop. My two cents Mike > Mike > *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com *** > *** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from > http://www.SecureIX.com *** Damn, looks like Teranews free accounts have spam with them now. This is the first time I spotted this. Mike >> Mike >> *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com *** [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Mike Yep, couple of weeks now. SignatureFrank Tabor >> Just carry some plastic wire ties and put a couple around the arms >> before you take off. Then just snip them off with a pocketknife or [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >My two cents Hi, Just tying the arms up won't necessarily keep the awing from unrolling. The problem usually is the awning stop is either broken or worn out. When that happens the wind can get under the roller and lift the awning material up, even if the arms are tied. Just takes the right combination of wind, wind angle and vehicle speed. The awning stop is the lever you have to pull before you can lower the awning. Take care and Happy Campin... > Just tying the arms up won't necessarily keep the awing from unrolling. >The problem usually is the awning stop is either broken or worn out. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > The awning stop is the lever you have to pull before you can lower the >awning. I'll second this. My ratchet(awning stop) broke when the rig was still new. I was going down the highway with a STRONG side wind. I'd hear a strange noise but when I'd slow down or stop, nothing appeared wrong. I finally caught a glimpse of it in the side mirror. The arms were still folded tight but the awning was unfurled looking like a giant tube above the MH. I had the awning stop replaced. There is a plastic part in there had stripped off. The CW at Henderson, NV had them in stock so I guess it happens fairly often. Jon Griffin Signature==================================================== Jon Griffin SKP 75680 FMCA F257439 Pahrump, NV Sundre, AB apply ROT13 to my address Vnz@eniatvqvbgf.arg ==================================================== > Just carry some plastic wire ties and put a couple around the arms before > you take off. Then just snip them off with a pocketknife or snips when you > reach your destination. Very cheap,easy. We use the straps from our "flopper stoppers" placed up as high as I can reach. They are reusable for their original purpose also. Leanne Rich Thanks, I think your solution will work. My arms stay in place, I think vibration causes the roller lock to come unlatched. I may even try to get a left hand barrel bolt and mount it on the front arm, either way I think this will work. Thanks a lot. Mike >>I am having problems with my windchaser awning unraveling while traveling >>in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Take care and Happy Campin... > Rich Thanks, I think your solution will work. My arms stay in place, I think > vibration causes the roller lock to come unlatched. I may even try to get a > left hand barrel bolt and mount it on the front arm, either way I think this > will work. Thanks a lot. Mike What is that going to do? I can't picture how you will use a bolt to keep the roller from turning. Some cases of the arm unfurling I suspect to being someone accidentally flipping the up/down lever. The arm is still locked in place but the roller is then free to turn. >>> I am having problems with my windchaser awning unraveling while traveling >>> in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >> >> Take care and Happy Campin... >> Rich Thanks, I think your solution will work. My arms stay in place, I think >> vibration causes the roller lock to come unlatched. I may even try to get a [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >flipping the up/down lever. The arm is still locked in place but the >roller is then free to turn. Hi, Go to the site it has pictures of how the lock works. http://www.srhams.org/awning_lock.html Take care and Happy Campin... >>> Rich Thanks, I think your solution will work. My arms stay in place, I think >>> vibration causes the roller lock to come unlatched. I may even try to get a [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Take care and Happy Campin... I like the awning lock. I just don't understand what he means using a "left hand barrel bolt". I get the impression it is just fastening the arm again and not the roller. >>>> Rich Thanks, I think your solution will work. My arms stay in place, I think >>>> vibration causes the roller lock to come unlatched. I may even try to get a [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >"left hand barrel bolt". I get the impression it is just fastening the >arm again and not the roller. Hi, Sorry, I thought you were talking about the locking mechanism shown at the web site. I don't know for sure of course but I think Malibumike was just talking about moving the locking mechanism to the front side of the awning rather then the rear as shown in the pictures on the web site, or right side rather then left when looking at the awning. Take care and Happy Campin... >>> Rich Thanks, I think your solution will work. My arms stay in place, I >>> think [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Take care and Happy Campin... If you are not mechanically inclined or just want to avoid the hassle of fabricating your own awning security device try this company. http://www.awningsaver.com/ I have no interest in this company other than purchasing one. I bought mine BEFORE I had the awning unroll going down the road. But I did test it by trying to unroll the awning with it still tightened. After the strap broke, I remembered that I hadn't loosened the clamp. I only recommend doing this if you want to buy a new awning strap.8-) Terry Parsons >>>> Rich Thanks, I think your solution will work. My arms stay in place, I >>>> think [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > >Terry Parsons Hi Terry, Thanks for posting that. I knew there was a site somewhere selling a roller locking mechanism, just couldn't remember the name. Take Care and Happy Campin... >>>Rich Thanks, I think your solution will work. My arms stay in place, I think >>>vibration causes the roller lock to come unlatched. I may even try to get a [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Take care and Happy Campin... http://murrayranch.com/Upgrades_%26_Quick_Fixes.htm Here's our cure. Awning unfurled about 18" doubled, after several hours of 45 MPH crosswind in AZ. Mary > http://murrayranch.com/Upgrades_%26_Quick_Fixes.htm > > Here's our cure. Awning unfurled about 18" doubled, after several > hours of 45 MPH crosswind in AZ. Couldn't help but notice it was installed next to the broken original lock that can be replaced with an upgrade model that works better. Tom J Tom J wrote: >>http://murrayranch.com/Upgrades_%26_Quick_Fixes.htm >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Tom J It's not worth putting any money into. It tore when it unfurled and our cure works fine. Per Don Mary >> Rich Thanks, I think your solution will work. My arms stay in place, I >> think vibration causes the roller lock to come unlatched. I may even [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > ...snip... That's what I did and that is what happened. Out in the middle of South Dakota with the wind trying to blow me off the road. Watch out for those side winds on the awning side. And boy, what a job to get it back rolled up again so the arms don't get destroyed. I am so dumb that I did it twice! SignatureJohn Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee > >I am having problems with my windchaser awning unraveling while traveling in > >windy conditions, I followed everything by the book but when windy it starts [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Take care and Happy Campin... I've been running with an easy fix for awning unfurling since 2003. It was recommended by a person on this or rv-travel usenet groups, and he [posted details on his website, but I lost the URL. A cheap "Hook Awn" hook intended to attach lights and decorations to awning tubes by sliding the device in the groove on the tube can also be used to attach a rope that wraps around the tube the RIGHT WAY to keep the awning wrapped around the tube and furled, then the rope is tied off at the bottom of the awning frame in easy reach from the ground. When the awning is deployed (seldom in our case) the rope wraps around the tube, to be unwrapped when the awning stows, and tied off again. This is an exerpt from our log when we installed it. "This is an opportunity to install the clever awning anti unfurl "fix" recommended by a guy on Usenet. Our A&E brand awning is noted for occasionally coming open while driving, and we had seen it separate from the coach by 6 inches in strong wind gusts while crossing a bridge on the Texas Coast last winter. When this simple fix appeared, we vowed to install it. We had bought the "Hook Awn" grommetted tabs at Camping World in Phoenix, and this is the first time the awning has been down since. I slid the easy opening pull tab out of the roller groove, slid the "Hook Awn" in the groove, and replaced the pull tab. Then I rethought, and decided I want the pull tab at the front of the RV, and the hook awn in the rear; 30 seconds later it is that way! At dusk we furled the awning, in the morning I'll go on the roof, attach the tie rope, and secure the awning from further wind risk. :-))" A picture of the installation in fully stowed position is on my website at http://www.buzzybee.150m.com/AwningSaver.jpg This has worked fine for us for three years on our A&E awning. HTH, Barrie B > In article <b5ub121m4bbl9q5ate8m209bgo3sdka53k@4ax.com>, > I've been running with an easy fix for awning unfurling since 2003. It [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > HTH, > Barrie B I like that one. Easy to make and easy to use. Happens all the time around Banff Alberta Canada. There is a portion of HWY 1 that has some pretty good gusts that catch the side of a trailer or MH. Get some Velcro straps and wrap them around the top of the legs tightly. I use tie wraps on mine. >I am having problems with my windchaser awning unraveling while traveling >in windy conditions, I followed everything by the book but when windy it >starts to unwind, Anybody have this experience or solution? > TIA > Happens all the time around Banff Alberta Canada. There is a portion > of HWY 1 that has some pretty good gusts that catch the side of a > trailer or MH. > Get some Velcro straps and wrap them around the top of the legs > tightly. I use tie wraps on mine. SIGH!!! How many times does it need saying that the only sure way to keep the awning from unrolling is to SECURE THE ROLLER. If the roller is not secure it can, and in many many cases does, unroll! Tom J The rollers are secure. It is not that it comes unrolled, but unwrapped. The wind comes under the Sun Seekers, lifts up the material, rattles the whole assembly and the lock comes seems to fail. In many cases the lock is still in place, but the whole things just comes reeling out. One of the dealers in Calgary brings in a pile of extras each spring, lines them up in the hallway and waits for the business to just walk in. He never has a single one by mid-summer. He loves Sun Seeker. all the other people on the WRECK that are agreeing with the issue can't be wrong. >> Happens all the time around Banff Alberta Canada. There is a portion >> of HWY 1 that has some pretty good gusts that catch the side of a [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Tom J >The rollers are secure. It is not that it comes unrolled, but unwrapped. The >wind comes under the Sun Seekers, lifts up the material, rattles the whole [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >all the other people on the WRECK that are agreeing with the issue can't be >wrong. Hi, First what is a Sun Seeker? Is it an awning? If so who makes it? Is it for an RV or house? Second what is the WRECK? Why can't they be wrong? If the Sun Seeker is an awning on the side of an RV you can bet what is happening is that the awning is being un-rolled because the lock did not work. It may look locked and may be locked after the fact, but the force put on it simply pulls it loose. There is no way an awning can become unwrapped without the roll turning. Unless it's a very short awning that only goes around the role once or twice. Most awning wrap around the awning roller several times. When you pull the outside wrap you tighten the wraps under it tighter around the roll, the other end of the awning is attached to the roll. Unless the roll turns you will not pull the awning off the roll. You can nail the side rails to the side of the RV and the awing can still unroll, if the lock does not hold. Take care and Happy Campin... >Happens all the time around Banff Alberta Canada. There is a portion of HWY >1 that has some pretty good gusts that catch the side of a trailer or MH. > >Get some Velcro straps and wrap them around the top of the legs tightly. I >use tie wraps on mine. The legs had nothing to do with mine unrolling. My legs are held in the folded position with metal locks. The legs never moved yet the awning unrolled above (not beside) the MH. Jon Signature==================================================== Jon Griffin SKP 75680 FMCA F257439 Pahrump, NV Sundre, AB apply ROT13 to my address Vnz@eniatvqvbgf.arg ==================================================== I use a couple of those small bungee cords with ball ends. They can be added and removed with relative ease but when installed provide a pretty good grip. I usually use one on each arm, but if you've got a really big awning, use two per arm. Good luck to you! >I am having problems with my windchaser awning unraveling while traveling in >windy conditions, I followed everything by the book but when windy it starts >to unwind, Anybody have this experience or solution? >TIA > I use a couple of those small bungee cords with ball ends. They can be > added and removed with relative ease but when installed provide a > pretty good grip. I usually use one on each arm, but if you've got a > really big awning, use two per arm. Good luck to you! As has been said here several times. Just securing the arms will not prevent the awning from unrolling. I use the same type of cords, but to prevent the awing from unrolling you have to secure the rollers. I hook one end into the roller and the wrap it around once or twice (in the direction to roll up the awning) and then hook to the mounting bracket. Real pain having to take something similar to a ladder along. >>>Real pain having to take something similar to a ladder along.<<< Do you have a ladder going to the roof of the RV ? I can use the ladder to get up where I can put a bungee/tie wrap on the awning. SignatureJerryD(upstateNY) I hook one end into the roller and the wrap it around once or twice (in the direction to roll up the awning) and then hook to the mounting bracket. >>>> Real pain having to take something similar to a ladder along.<<< > > Do you have a ladder going to the roof of the RV ? > I can use the ladder to get up where I can put a bungee/tie wrap on > the awning. I just use the awning hook while standing on the ground to flip the original equipment lock open or closed on my 20 year old Zip DEE awning. The awning also has the original fabric that still looks like new. They knew how to build awnings back then!! Tom J wrote: >>>>> Real pain having to take something similar to a ladder along.<<< >> Do you have a ladder going to the roof of the RV ? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > awning. The awning also has the original fabric that still looks like > new. They knew how to build awnings back then!! From what I have seen Zip Dee still knows how, that is complete with travel latch.
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