youth4him
Belgrade, MT
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Joined: 07/29/2004
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Agree on the cleaning aspect, but probably not too big of a deal. As far as adjusting, it doesn't take much gradient to successfully get water run off, and mine at least easily accomplishes that with pulling one side down a bit and locking it in.
We're staying here in FL and have gotten some decent winds, but I added some good tie downs, and no issues yet.
Love the electric awning, I can't think of a good reason to go back manual once I've had this one.
KD
Trip of a Lifetime Blog - 12000 Miles, 100 Days, 34 States, 4 Humans, 1 Mini Daschund...FUN!
2007 GMC Yukon XL Denali - 6.2L, 6-speed
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phone man
Round Rock, Tx
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Joined: 08/08/2003
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All I can say about my electric awning is that I'm on my 2nd one on a 2011 model trailer. Not so big wind gust tore mine up before I had the chance to roll it up or stake it down. Be careful Dometic will only sell the support arms in pairs.
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DiaperDude
Southeast Missouri
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Joined: 02/01/2011
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Our 2010 Passport 300BH came with an electric awning and I can honestly say I would rather have the old manual style that we had on our first camper. The Dometic awning has failed on me twice. Once the awning was very sluggish in extending. Was not too big of a deal since I was able to use my hand and get it rolled back up. Never did extend it that trip. Took it into the dealer and they fixed it for one trip. The next trip (Labor Day weekend) we got to our site and extended the awning and that was where it planned to stay. It had locked up tight. Had to drive to the nearest town and buy a set of allen wrenches to unbolt the motor from the housing and roll the unit back up by hand. Was a real pain getting the motor to line back up with the bolt holes in the housing so I could lock it down. Took it back to the dealer and they fixed it once more. Oddly Dometic told the dealer that if they did not want to keep seeing me come back they should install a self resetting breaker in the power supply to the awning motor. The dealer asked me if I wanted this done and told them to do whatever they had to do to get the awning to work correctly. The first exerience was not so bad, but after the second experience I would much rather deal with a little hassle every time I use the awning than to deal with the a huge pain the butt once or twice in a season.
I will not own another power awning.
'08 Ford F150 Supercrew Lariat 4x4 w/6.5' bed 5.4L Triton, 3.73 rear, tow package, K&N air filter
'10 Passport 300BH w/Bulldog acc hitch, Valley bike rack, rev lights
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mlts22
Austin, Texas
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Joined: 11/15/2010
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#1 rule about awnings: Make sure that sucker is up if you get any type of wind. Some electric awnings are supposed to retract, but I've seen both electric awning arms right by manual awning arms wrapped around trees after a windstorm, so when in doubt, move them in.
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Ken O
I live half way between Grayling and Cadillac, MI
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Joined: 10/03/2009
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Have one on the trailer in my sig. I also was skeptical because of problems I've heard on this forum, but have to say its been a pleasure to have. It has the adjustable rails to pitch it any way you want for water run off, just like my manual ones in the past. I have no idea who makes it.
I use it a lot more than I did the manual because its so easy to deploy. I'm on a snowbird trip in AZ right now and use it every day.
Silverado 250HD '07 LBZ SB
'12 Jayco Jay Flight 19RD
"Much better to have more truck and less trailer, than less truck and more trailer"
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Proudcanuck
Red Deer, AB Canada
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Joined: 12/28/2011
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I have a power awning and find it super easy to set up as I am usually on my own. My sister has a 27' trailer with a 22' manual awning - even with the two of us it is a difficult job setting up as the trailer has a flipped axle and extra tall roof (she is only 5'2"). When rolling it in she almost gets lifted off the ground!!
Mine doesn't have a wind sensor so every time I leave the site or at night I pull it in. Takes about 7 seconds  )
Take only photographs; leave only footprints
1996 Toyota 4Runner
2010 Fun Finder X210WBS
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Just the happy hound and me 
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MY4KIDZ
Niagara
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Joined: 01/21/2012
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We just purchased a 2008 KZ Spree 289 with an electric awning, I've been used to a manual and tying it down on every trip. 1 less thing to worry about during the night or when away for the day.
*My question is can I tie down the electric awning like I've done in the past?
I've been thinking about one of those shade/wind panels that run the length of the awning spool.
Eventhough we haven't even gone out with it yet I can already see it that I'll miss my manual unit.
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Randu
South Central Michigan
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Joined: 01/26/2005
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One thing I learned is to back up the roller a few inches from full extend. This prevents the roller from holding water back and making it run out at ends. Heavy rain and the water just runs right down and over the roller, not diverted to the ends and no chance of pooling. Randu
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT CC 8'BOX
8.1 Gas/Allison
2008 Mobile Suites 36TK3 Unit# 3983 -- new to me 8/12/11
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