Power Awning?

[rebellious78]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if we would be able to install a Power Awning on a T264?
We were just curious.

[Sunline Fan]

Does your front awning bar go over the window when closed? If it does, the answer is no. Most power awnings available today have a solid part that attaches to the sidewall permanently. It would cover part of the window then. Also, the window sticks out quite a bit which results in that part not being able to be mounted completely flat, which wouldn't work.

I suppose you could move it some to install it somewhere flat, but then you'd have eight significant holes to fill which leaves potential for water to come in.

Jon

[Steve Collins]

Another point is that Sunline placed extra wooden reinforcements in the shell where ever things like awning arms are attached to the trailer.

Since the arms on the power awnings attach in a different place than the arms on a conventional RV awning, it is likely that there would be nothing to connect to except aluminum skin and insulation.

However, A&E makes several different models specifically for the RV market so it would be best to consult a RV service shop that is familiar with them.

I can see where you might have to go for a different size awning to avoid the window problem that Jon mentions.

So I am guessing the answer is, "Maybe."

[kanyonkitty]

This is funny, as I have told Gary I hope our manual awning never needs replacing as I DON'T want a power awning. I like being able to adjust the angle that the awning is on, and it's my understanding that you can't do that with the power awnings.

[Irishcamper]

I saw a power awning on a friend of mines brand new 5th wheel this fall and to say the least, it was a piece of garbage. He was not happy with it and I could see why. Any slight wind and he would have to put it up. It was made very poorly and I would have ripped it off and put on a manual, or I would have had them do it before I made the deal on it.

Dave & Sue

[clueless campers]

My brother has a power awning on his SOB and I (and he) would agree with the points made by both Kitty and Irishcamper. I also don't think it is as large (from the the side of his 5er to the edge of the awning) as our manual awning. Jon and Steve make very good points about the additional mounting holes and extra reinforcement also. The idea of just pushing a button is nice, but I think these other issues far outweigh that ease.

[kanyonkitty]

So, to avoid having to roll an awning up or down you get one of the automatic flimsy things. I guess they might be a good thing if you go away for the day and the wind picks up, it "is supposed" to roll up. But to get one just so it deploys/retracts at the push of a button, no thanks. Gary does a great job of putting the awning up & down anytime I need him to do it, so in reality, I guess I really do have a power awning I just have a different kind of button

[Sunline Fan]

I remember we looked into the A&E two-step back when we had the 2653 and we lost the awning the first time. It was a brand new product on the market and required a flat surface for the rail to mount up against to. Most of the power ones now use the same design, but just with a motor attached.

Carefree of Colorado had an awning a couple years ago (they still may) that looked just like a normal awning, but was power. The normal sliding rafters were just split in half and hinged. The motor just turned the awning tube and the awning went out. It still had main arms going down to bottom brackets, so you'd still have to watch out for them so you didn't hit your head. That's the advantage to the modern awnings is they can get out of the way so you have coverage with no obstructions.

Some of the new awnings even have tilt features so that they can adjust the pitch for rain. These are nice, but still not very sturdy. I've had experience with both styles of these power awnings, and they are both very flimsy compared to a *staked out* manual. I think the upper folding arm style power awning could be tied down easier, but it also had wind bars to install to keep those arms from folding. The bad part was that the fabric was loose enough though that it still flapped a lot in wind, so the bars didn't comfort me at all.

The newer scissor style power awnings don't have wind bars, but they do have gas shocks/struts to keep pressure on the awning to keep it open. The awning does flap some in the wind, but it does stay generally tight in wind. My biggest concern is that there's no good way to anchor it to the ground, so if a big enough wind came up, the gas struts couldn't support it and it would go flying over the roof.

Jon

[rebellious78]

It was just a thought. We were thinking of things to improve the camper without being too evasive. Thinking about a power jack instead.

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by kanyonkitty

I like being able to adjust the angle that the awning is on, and it's my understanding that you can't do that with the power awnings.

You are keerect!
I also like being able to pull it out with the rafter poles as short as possible, decreasing area when the wind kicks up. Being an ol' salt, i call it "reefing" the awning.

Teach