babyprep
Travel nursing in the USA
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Joined: 10/06/2005
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About 6 months ago, my main awning billowed on an interstate. I've lashed it down with straps which works great.
Now, on this trip, one of my slide out awnings billowed. I think the vinyl awning stretched over time, and so didn't tighten up enough when the slide out was retracted. I've tried adjusting the tension on the spring without any luck.
What I would really like to do is remove all of my awnings for good. We never use our main awning anyway, and I'm tired of getting up in the middle of the night to retract the slide outs because of a heavy wind developing in the middle of the night.
My understanding is that the primary reason for awnings on a slide out is to prevent rain from leaking into the RV through the slide out.
Question: Has anyone found a way to remove the slide out awnings permanently, yet still have a water tight seal on the slide out?
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downtheroad
Pacific Northwest
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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You have a couple of things going on here...
First, your slides should not leak with or without slide awnings...The main purpose of a slide awning is to help prevent water and debris from coming in when the slides are retracted...
Awnings should not billow when your are towing..if they are, there is something wrong with the mechanism. For the main awning there are aftermarket awning locks available.
Removing all your awnings is certainly your choice and why not if you never use them and they are causing you grief.
I see people camping without awnings and they seem to be having a pretty good time.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane"
GMC Duramax/Allison (LBZ)
Komfort .... Our Rig Picture>>Click.
Reese Dual Cam HP
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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YUP! Sounds like you have some neglected maintenance items. Take them all off if that is what you want to do. Just be sure to leave the brackets in place or figure some method of sealing all the holes to prevent water leaks.
Donn,Lorri,Max (rescued Lab)
Saigon International Airport 1966/67
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frankdamp
Anacortes, or wherever we've gone.
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Joined: 05/04/2005
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Based on our experience, the only alternative to slide toppers is water leaks. Maybe some manufacurers have cracked the code, but Georgetown certainly didn't. The long rubber blade seals at the top and bottom of the slide-out aperture are vey prone to rolling over, leaving a gap through which rainwater can get through (at the top) ad small critters can get through at the bottom.
We got our top seal on the living room slide fixed, but had to rip out and replace the overhead cabinets due to mold infestation. I've since applied dry-lube to the outside surface of the slide ceiling (roof?) so that the risk of the seal rolling over is minimised. I'll be doing the same with the upper seal on the bedroom slide and both lower seals before the next season starts.
Frank Damp, DW - Eileen
Anacortes, WA
'02 Georgetown 325, F53, V-10
Dog - 1 Male Yellow Lab (Bailey 9 next July).
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pkunk
Questa, NM
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Joined: 12/28/2007
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My slide has never had a slide awning, has never leaked, and has never brought in any debris.('cause I check if I'm parked under trees) Sometimes, less is more.
1999 Coachman Mirada 34 ft.V10-F53 chassis
12ft.LR slide-2 gp31 AGM 12V @220AH
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chastho
arkansas
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Joined: 07/27/2005
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It's a lot easier to install the slide locks than it is to remove the awnings.
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Joined: 06/20/2009
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pkunk wrote:My slide has never had a slide awning, has never leaked, and has never brought in any debris.('cause I check if I'm parked under trees) Sometimes, less is more.
5 yrs. FT in current 5'vr......3 slides/no toppers/no leaks/no debris
K.I.S.S.
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Earl E
Green Valley, AZ
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Joined: 04/16/2007
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Shouldn't leak without toppers. I have had slides on the last three units and had only one develop a leak and it had to do with the side of slide not the roof. That said, I sure wish I had an awning over the bedroom slide because when it rains hard it sure makes a lot of noise hitting the plastic roof on the slide. We still end up pulling in the slide so we don't have that noise right about my ears.
But take 'em off if you want...no reason not to.
2007 Northwoods Arctic Fox 32 5S Fifth Wheel
2007 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Diesel
Prodigy brake control
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ArchHoagland
Clovis, CA, USA
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Joined: 11/28/2004
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The only advantage I see is shade when it's very hot out. Helps keep the roof of the slide out cooler.
As far as keeping water out that is controlled by your gaskets, not the awning. I had a leak twice in the bedroom slideout and the awning didn't help one bit.
I had all my awnings replaced last year.....Pretty expensive shade....
2004 Monaco
La Palma 36DBD
Two Slides
2 Potties
Workhorse W22 Chassis
8.1 gas engine & Allison 1000 transmission
7.1 MPG based on fuel used over 46,000 miles
TOADS
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
US Gear Brakes
1991 Mazda Miata 5 speed 33MPG 2,310 LBS
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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I've never had a Slide Awning cause any problems , however on one rig the lack of one was a pain to keep the roof clean.
If Your Main awning billows the mechanism that locks it is broken. The simple solution and something that I do all the time is to insert the Pull down Rod into the open channel ,then bungee that to the Awning Rafter.
If the Tube can't rotate the Awning material can't billow.
I did have to modify the Rod by bending the shaft slightly to get it to fit properly.
Rob & Jean
98 Dutch Star Diesel Pusher ..92 Tracker 4X2
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