Awning pawl picture - why they open on the road

[SnoKing]

I saw a RV awning next the dumpster this morning in Hardin, Mt. Many have posted the need to a secondary lock on the roller. Note the arms do not hold the awning to the side of the RV, it is just the spring and small pawl in the end cap. See attached picture. SNOKING

 

[SnoKing]

Lock Picture

So, this is how I have been locking my roller! SNOKING

 

[CUMMINZ]

I have heard a few horror stories of awnings coming open on the road. I carry a hand full of plastic zip ties to place as high as I can reach on the awning supports. It holds them tight. I cut them off when setup. :-laf

 

[JFaulkner]

I've never seen an awning open but I have followed a guy with his passenger side slide out extended. I'm assuming he knew it and maybe it broke. I didn't get to follow him through the construction zone. The concrete wall should have fixed it nice. :-laf

 

[SnoKing]

I have heard a few horror stories of awnings coming open on the road. I carry a hand full of plastic zip ties to place as high as I can reach on the awning supports. It holds them tight. I cut them off when setup. :-laf

Sorry to be the one to tell you, but that will not prevent the pawl from slipping and the awning balloning out, with the arms tight against the slide of the trailer. SNOKING

 

[jelag]

The key here is to keep the device clean and lubricated, and than use it correctly... . The ones I've seen that have been loose and broken are rusty, and the owners don't have a clue how they work... .



In over 30 years of RVing first with a motorhome and now trailers I've never had a problem... . but than again I take care of my stuff...

 

[RVPILOT]

awnings

After delivering hundreds of R V's using tie raps is the answer to this problem. at first the delivery drivers were required to strap the the awings when picking up units at the factory, now all units are strapped with tie

raps by factory personel, this elimanates driver forgetfullness. I think it's time for a redisign. Stormy

 

[SnoKing]

After delivering hundreds of R V's using tie raps is the answer to this problem. at first the delivery drivers were required to strap the the awings when picking up units at the factory, now all units are strapped with tie

raps by factory personel, this elimanates driver forgetfullness. I think it's time for a redisign. Stormy

Again if you study the design, locking the arm does NOT keep the pawl for failing or slipping and the roller for unwinding the awning with the arm still against the side of the RV. SNOKING

 

[CUMMINZ]

It may not keep it from failing but it will keep the arms from flying out 15 feet and creating a huge parachute.



CUMMINZ

 

[B.G. Smith]

Again if you study the design, locking the arm does NOT keep the pawl for failing or slipping and the roller for unwinding the awning with the arm still against the side of the RV. SNOKING

Well I finally woke up and realized what you have done in the picture above. What is the strap and how is the terminal end/ends secured? Thanks, bg

 

[SBettencourt]

I have a similar setup to what SNOKING has. I used a 72" long 1/4dia rod from ACE hardware with a little over 90 bend on one end and a U bend on the other. The 90 slips into the awning tube and a bungee cord secures the U bend to a hole in the base of the awning arm. I also use a velcro strap to secure the rod to the awning arm. I have been using this setup with my Dutchmen for 4 years and find it much easier to release the lock because it does not clamp down on itself from vibration.

 

[DValentine]

Snoking... I may be a little behind the rest of you all... can you describe what you have done in the picture? I haven't figured it out yet.

Thanks.

 

[SnoKing]

Here is a picture of the arm, it hooks behind the awning arm at the lower end. Note my back door is right below the awning end. SNOKING

 

[MHorner]

Check out this link.

awninglock.com

 

[rweis]

Anyone used one of the "awning lock's". Looks simple enough. It says only 1 needed on left end (as you face the RV). Does the pin pull then stay pulled as the awning is unrolled? What about the tightness of the rerolled awning?, seems to HAVE to be in exactely the same place each time.



Thoughts?



Bob Weis



SNOKING - I understand the 90* bend to get into the "unused by the awning fabric" part of the awning track on the tube. What is the idea behind the other end with the 90* bends?



Do you also use it when the awning is unrolled? or only when it is re-rolled up for transport?



When you put your "awning lock" in place do you have to have a ladder (or equivalent) to physically get up to the awning roll in the travel position to install the lock?

 

[Newt]

awninglock.com is Keith. He's the webmaster for the Nuwa owners forum. He's a good guy. He wouldn't sell you a POS.

 

[SnoKing]

Again, the left end for my awning is right below the doorway, so I can reach the lock bar. The other end hooks behind the arm. Used only for travel. I have had to close it a couple times once when it was cold and stiff to get in back to the original "home" position.



SNOKING

 

[CCBrady]

One thing about how an awning works. Its not that little paw that holds your awning closed, it holds it open. It's the two big springs at each end that closes and holds your awning closed.

I have been working on RVs for the last 5 years and have been using them for alot longer and I have yet to meet the person that had one blow out. A few friend of a friend, but never the one.

Most of the ones you see beside the road are there because of the tree, gaurd rail, other fixed object a few yards back up the road. The only way for an awning to blow out is for both of the springs to break, and if they do, you will know it in a big way when you try to close your awning.

The best advice has already been given. Take care of your toys. All of the straps and ties on the arms are a waist of time and the tube locks are just for your peace of mind. So enjoy your awning. But don't sweat the dreaded blow out.

Chris

 

[SnoKing]

Sorry Chris, but you are wrong. I do have a friend that had his blow out on the road, and he did not hit anything. If you do not think the pawl does anything, then the next time you go out, switch the pawl to the other position and hit the road in some high winds. If the wind gets it starting to unroll, the spring(s) will not stop it from forming a sail. The pawl does stop it from roll in each direction.



Another issue is that early units only had two pop rivits and the newer ones have three. So on early units the end caps can get out of alienment with the tube. If you only have two pop rivits, and two more. SNOKING

 

[KBalzuweit]

I have owned several rv's and never had an issue. I have also logged hundreds of thousands of miles towing new units and again never an issue. I agree with Chris in that most failures are caused by the owner and a foreign object. I am sure though since this is a man made object there have been some failures on there own, but they are very rare.