Awning Auto Deployment on M6 !!! Forums

ScotJimland · Last edited by ScotJimland on Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:00 pm; edited 1 time in total

While travelling this morning on the M6 our awning decided to give us a helping hand .. yes, you've guessed.. it deployed itself while we were doing 50 mph Shocked

I heard the awful bang, looked over and saw it flapping, fully out .. my heart almost stopped.. I pulled into the hard shoulder and jumped out fearing the worse..

With Paul's help we managed to get the arms back against the van but the fabric was all in a mess.. just at this point the Police pulled up and parked with the blue lights flashing.. he helped secure and suggested we get off the motorway to inspect and secure properly..

He escorted us to the next exit, I drove on the hard shoulder, he in the first lane ..

Parked safely up, I pulled the awning out again and straightened the fabric and managed to re roll it properly.. it is torn at each end but I think repairable with some awning repair tape..

I then used cable ties to bind the legs and stays together..

How this can happen I don't know, I've read about it happening to US RVers but always thought it must be carelessness when stowing .. Rolling Eyes

Not so, I know I stowed it properly..

Be aware of this problem .. its an A & E system by Dometic ..

Short term I'll use cable ties but long term I think proper webbing straps would be good..

Safe travels all..

Jim

Note to Mods

Perhaps make this a sticky?
.. I was extremely lucky, if a truck or bus had been overtaking I dread to think of the consequencies..

SandJ · Specs DB Admin

Glad to hear you have not had too much of a problem Jim. The main thing you and yours are safe.

Steve

zaskar · Last edited by zaskar on Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:07 pm; edited 1 time in total

This is EXACTLY what happen to me on top of Shap at 60!!!!!!
Frightened the hell out of me. We were caught by a side wind and ended up with a spinicker (sp) sail hanging off the rig whilst the artics did handstands in the middle lane!!!!! Very Happy

Even though the up rights are locked, what happens is that air pressure gets under the folds of the rolled up awning and the spring tension on the roller is simply not strong enough to fight against the air pressure to keep the awning rolled up. I designed and made my own clamp for the roller which has worked well so far.

It's made from 8mm stainless steel bar which is basically a pin in one end (which plugs into the hole in the grey end cap of the awning roller and then the other end is bent into a sort of "U" shape which wraps around the awning upright.
this means that is is IMPOSSIBLE for the roller to unroll without snapping the stainless steel bar.

As your away form home (IYSWIM!!!! Very Happy

) a temporary fix would be to do what I did on top of Shap.
Plug a screw driver into the hole in the end cap and then tie wrap the handle around the awning upright.

Glad your all OK mate, a VERY dodgy and frightening situation.

edit = Note that due to vibration whilst on the move, over a period of time, the stainless bar has removed the white paint from the top of the upright where it touches but even tho i like a tidy rig, personally I think this is a small price to pay for safety.

jimjam · Account Deactivated

Glad everything is OK. Good job you weren't on the M6 Toll Jim, they charge extra for awnings Very Happy

Think I'll invest in a velcro strap or two as well.

Waleem

Sounds like a frightening experience! At least the Police were there when you needed them. Where does one buy awning repair tape ? My Omnistor has a couple of tears which need fixing.

ScotJimland

I thought this fulltiming lark was supposed to be relaxing Rolling Eyes

Good idea Zaskar .. a pic would be useful.. Wink

and thanks for the site info.. great place.. I'm going to need a week of R&R to recover Confused

zaskar

HelenB · Moderator

Phew and I had a heart attack when the rooflight popped up whilst on the M5 when coming back from picking up the van Shocked

Glad you and the van are ok Cool

kands · Account Deactivated

WOW...............
Glad that you and yours (and everyone close to you) is ok Jim, must have been a terrifying few minutes there??? You must be happy that the boys in blue didn't ticket you for something Laughing

Thanks for the heads up so that we can all rush out and buy straps to stop it happening to anyone else.
Have a great R&R mate Laughing

Keith