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02-23-2013, 09:11 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Byron Center, Michigan
Posts: 23
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Power awning
How do you guys like the power awning compared to the manual style? I'm going from a 21' manual on the old trailer to about an 18' powered on the new. I have not picked up the new camper yet so I really have not had much experience to check them out. I hear they can be noisy in the wind?
Toughts?
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Bill
2012 Sprinter 272BHS
2013 Ford F150 Crew Ecoboost
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02-23-2013, 09:31 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,739
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It's my first trailer, so I don't know how it compares. But I love its ease of use.
My power awning bumps around when the wind picks up, so I retract it if we're trying to sleep. If it's really windy, I retract it regardless to prevent damage.
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-Scott, DW, DG, DB, and DD
2011 Passport 2590BH
2009 Ford F150 SuperCrew F X4 5.4L w/Max Tow
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02-23-2013, 11:45 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Winterset, Ia
Posts: 280
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I have had both power is the only way to go.
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02-23-2013, 12:37 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 502
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Power is really convienant but I find the manual was more sturdy. The power seems to buckle at the joints in only a small breeze and have seen a couple that had been bent from wind catching them and blowing over the campers. Not having the solid brace that connect at each side to he top of the awning from my standpoint is lacking. All that said a good set of tye downs solves the problem but takes away the convienant bonus of having a power awning.
Just mt 2 cents with my last camper being manual and the new one power.
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02-23-2013, 12:45 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Dacula, GA
Posts: 620
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Good news, bad news
1st, there is no bad news, all good. Would not go back to manual. Cannot recall how many times I had to scramble in the wind and rain, caught off guard. Now, any doubt, simply smile and push the button. No shouting, HELP, no pinched fingers, i am soooo goood I can do it with a cool one in my hand.
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02-23-2013, 02:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 329
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If your moving campgrounds a lot then it is really convenient , in and out in know time, no sweat. I really like my power awning.
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2011 Keystone Cougar 276RLSWE
1994 Ford F350 7.3L IDI DRW
LoveYourRV.com
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02-23-2013, 03:09 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Byron Center, Michigan
Posts: 23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outbackmel
1st, there is no bad news, all good. Would not go back to manual. Cannot recall how many times I had to scramble in the wind and rain, caught off guard. Now, any doubt, simply smile and push the button. No shouting, HELP, no pinched fingers, i am soooo goood I can do it with a cool one in my hand.
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Well I'm all for anything I can do with a beer in my hand! It sounds like I just won't be able to leave a bunch of stuff out under the awning like I do now; shoes, table with a small fidge, etc; just in case I need to close it up quickly.
What about awning lights? Leave them in the box??
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Bill
2012 Sprinter 272BHS
2013 Ford F150 Crew Ecoboost
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02-23-2013, 03:58 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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Power for me, the only draw back is the wind... You must retract it if the wind comes up a bit... but even with that I would not go back to a manual...
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2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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02-23-2013, 05:50 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Dacula, GA
Posts: 620
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Awning lights
I have seen lights that retract with the awning at RV shows. We prefer rope light strings.
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02-23-2013, 06:00 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Lebanon, PA
Posts: 190
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Convenient, yes. Does not seem quite as stable, but have not had any real issues.
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2011 Passport 280BH Grand Touring Edition
2008 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 5.3L, 3.73 Gears, Z85 Suspension upgrade and Timbren SES Springs
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02-23-2013, 06:32 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 329
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Also would like to add, I'm about six feet and the power awning arms on my fiver are nice and high so I don't bash my head on them.
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2011 Keystone Cougar 276RLSWE
1994 Ford F350 7.3L IDI DRW
LoveYourRV.com
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02-23-2013, 06:49 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern RI
Posts: 205
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my camper came with the electric awing, if I could I would change it out for the manual kind. The frame (arms, brackets) are really flimsy and all ready had to replace motor after 1 year. Luckily it was under warranty.
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2010 Ford F250
2010 Sprinter 299 BHS
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02-23-2013, 08:53 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florence WI.
Posts: 336
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I have had both electric and manual awnings and it seems electric ones come on most all new campers today exept the very bottom (entry level). I prefer electric because of the ease of use. last summer in the middle of the night one of those sudden unexpected thunder storms with lots of wind came up and I just pushed the button and with in seconds the awning was in and I never had to go outside and get wet. I have seen rope lights that attach to the grooves of the awning tube and can be rolled up with the awning. they throw quite a bit of light across the whole front of the awning (lighting up the whole patio area) If you want to hang little race cars or lanterns from a power awning then it would take quite a while to take them off before rolling up your awning. It can be done but depending on you camper it may involve using a ladder.
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02-23-2013, 09:09 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Colonial Heights,VA
Posts: 245
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I've had both, and prefer the electric on my new camper. Gonna look into the LED light strips instead of the swinging lit monkeys or beer cans (as cool as those are). I've seen some real snazzy LED color changing strips with remote on the BE-BAY for around $20.
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Check out my Google Drive for lots of helpful info....Own a 3180RE? Checkout the PASSPORT 3180RE community here at the forums as well!
2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT Crew Cab w ith 2013 Keystone Passport 3180RE
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02-23-2013, 09:47 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TAZ23
I have had both electric and manual awnings and it seems electric ones come on most all new campers today exept the very bottom (entry level)... .
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I'm not sure I'd totally agree with that statement. Airstream is one of the most expensive "luxury" RV's you can buy and it comes with a manual awning. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but saying that electric awnings come on most new campers except the "cheap ones" just isn't an accurate statement. Manual awnings come on some of the most expensive and most noteworthy trailers available on the market.
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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02-24-2013, 04:26 AM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Byron Center, Michigan
Posts: 23
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Am I thinking correcty on the ones you can manually tip if you tighten up the knob on both sides that would help firm up the whole thing? I suppose that would take a ladder to reach both of them?
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Bill
2012 Sprinter 272BHS
2013 Ford F150 Crew Ecoboost
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02-24-2013, 05:37 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florence WI.
Posts: 336
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
I'm not sure I'd totally agree with that statement. Airstream is one of the most expensive "luxury" RV's you can buy and it comes with a manual awning. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but saying that electric awnings come on most new campers except the "cheap ones" just isn't an accurate statement. Manual awnings come on some of the most expensive and most noteworthy trailers available on the market.
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You are right but I was thinking along the lines of the most popular brands such as Keystone,Forest River, Coachman Dutchman, ETC. Those bands if you look at the various lines of travel trailers come with power awnings on most of their units exept the very bottom ones. I did not mean to say or imply that top of the line campers all have power awnings.
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02-24-2013, 08:06 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Here
Posts: 313
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Quote:
Originally Posted by billmill3461
Am I thinking correcty on the ones you can manually tip if you tighten up the knob on both sides that would help firm up the whole thing? I suppose that would take a ladder to reach both of them?
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Yes, it will firm up but I have been reluctant to do that -- I might be wrong as I have not tried it but can see the possibility of damage to the arms if someone forgets and tries to bring in the awning with them still locked.
Ladder for knobs? Not necessary on our TT, possibly on a fiver maybe as awnings are usually mounted higher on a fiver.
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2012 Passport GT 3100RK
Previous Campers:
2010 Trailmanor 2720SL
2003 R-Vision Traillite
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02-24-2013, 09:44 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Battle Creek
Posts: 163
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Electric all the way. I don't know how many times I've had to run out and unhook everything to manually retract the awning. Plus, they have an automatic dump function when it is raining....don't ask me how I know this.
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Bob & Sarah
2013 Bullet 248RKS (Taj Mahaul)
2013 Silverado 2500HD, 6L, 3.73 (Blizzard)
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02-24-2013, 11:04 AM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Byron Center, Michigan
Posts: 23
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Thanks for all the opinions. I'll be able to mess around with it once the snow leaves Michigan and I can get the camper home from the dealer (maybe by June )!!
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Bill
2012 Sprinter 272BHS
2013 Ford F150 Crew Ecoboost
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