Drooping Awning when winding out a few inches

CaliforniaPete · Sep 5, 2023

Hi - has anyone had an issue when winding the awing out a few inches and its now started drooping down a few inches at the front. Has something become loose broken or needs adjusting ??
Thanks

Perfectos · Sep 5, 2023

Pull out the two support legs, support the awning and wind out the awning a few feet.

look at both the main Arms (thick folding arms ) there are two nuts located on the arms closest to the awning casing (nylock nuts) nip these up when the awning is being supported and level.
That should stop the droop.
always support the awning, only open the casing enough to get the support legs out of the casing before winding out the fabric.

Stu@rt · Sep 5, 2023

CaliforniaPete said:
Hi - has anyone had an issue when winding the awing out a few inches and its now started drooping down a few inches at the front. Has something become loose broken or needs adjusting ??
Thanks

How far are talking? The legs should be used to take the weight once its out by 30cms or so, if I recall?

Perfectos · Sep 5, 2023

See photo of the two nuts per arm and their location

the casting is elongated to allow a bit of adjustment, if the nuts are loose not tight enough) the weight of the awning arms and material will pull the whole lot forward.

do not over do the tightening otherwise the arms will not operate correctly

look at the sticker In The photo , showing the awning drooping !

Stu@rt · Sep 5, 2023

Thanks @Perfectos . Max .5m before putting the legs in place

Jabberwocky · Sep 5, 2023

Stu@rt said:
How far are talking? The legs should be used to take the weight once its out by 30cms or so, if I recall?

50cms. There is a sticker on my awning.

BigJohn · Sep 5, 2023

Perfectos said:
See photo of the two nuts per arm and their location

the casting is elongated to allow a bit of adjustment, if the nuts are loose not tight enough) the weight of the awning arms and material will pull the whole lot forward.

do not over do the tightening otherwise the arms will not operate correctly

View attachment 114005

look at the sticker In The photo , showing the awning drooping !

Tell me more about that led striplight you have fitted - where does it plug in? Where does the plug live when the awning is rolled up??

dspuk · Sep 5, 2023

CaliforniaPete said:
Hi - has anyone had an issue when winding the awing out a few inches and its now started drooping down a few inches at the front. Has something become loose broken or needs adjusting ??
Thanks

Expected and by design. The awning will always droop when out due to it’s weight until it is supported by the legs. Ours has always “drooped”. I put it down to physics and gravity. We put the legs out after we have wound it out a few inches to counter those external forces.

Perfectos · Sep 5, 2023

BigJohn said:
Tell me more about that led striplight you have fitted - where does it plug in? Where does the plug live when the awning is rolled up??

It is Not my awning / photo.

if you search the site you will find multiple threads regarding Awning lights, fitting etc

Hawthorn37 · Sep 6, 2023

We have the same adhesive led strip on our awning, but fitted to the inside edge of the cover (that winds out). We connect a 3m usb extension cable when using it, run along the awning arm and into a usb adaptor in the 12v socket by the sliding door. The little usb connector fits neatly inside the profile of the cover. It gives a great light, but you do need the sliding door open, or window open. It can attract plenty of nighttime bugs!

The strip cost about £10, and the usb cable similar. Both off Amazon.

RedWhiteMonkey · Sep 6, 2023

Semi related question about the awning.

One side of ours sticks when winding in and winding out. It appears to be slightly too far across and jams a bit against the housing. Looking the picture below am I correct in thinking that loosening the screw (red) will allow some repositioning of the arm position to correct the problem? I assume that the screw (red) tightens against the flange (blue) to secure everything in place?

dspuk · Sep 6, 2023

RedWhiteMonkey said:
Semi related question about the awning.

One side of ours sticks when winding in and winding out. It appears to be slightly too far across and jams a bit against the housing. Looking the picture below am I correct in thinking that loosening the screw (red) will allow some repositioning of the arm position to correct the problem? I assume that the screw (red) tightens against the flange (blue) to secure everything in place?

View attachment 114026

I'm pretty sure you're right but I'd also say there is meant to be some give in what is a moving and flexible unit - so I'd be careful about tightening it so far that the unit cannot "breathe". One imagines there is an install guide for this awning from Thule that says what the gap and give should be.

As an aside - the picture on the arm is a good guide for the "droop" that some have mentioned and distance to get the legs out. It's meant to.

Edit - instalation guide - https://files.ecommercedns.uk/226590/44e9e4b33bc12a26c385c06e010233f1.pdf

RedWhiteMonkey · Sep 6, 2023

Thanks for that. I think mine just needs a very minor move to the right to stop it catching on the outer housing when opening and closing.

Currently, looking at led strips, I like the idea of that.

CaliforniaPete · Sep 6, 2023

dspuk said:
Expected and by design. The awning will always droop when out due to it’s weight until it is supported by the legs. Ours has always “drooped”. I put it down to physics and gravity. We put the legs out after we have wound it out a few inches to counter those external forces.

Thanks - but this is something new and only on the drivers (front ) end.

Stu@rt · Sep 6, 2023

I'm guessing we might need some pictures to see what the issue is ?

dspuk · Sep 6, 2023

CaliforniaPete said:
Thanks - but this is something new and only on the drivers (front ) end.

Have a look at the link I posted above - awning installation guide. There might be enough info in there to pinpoint the issue.

Ting Tong · Sep 7, 2023

BigJohn said:
Tell me more about that led striplight you have fitted - where does it plug in? Where does the plug live when the awning is rolled up??

It’s my photo that @Perfectos posted! The left hand end of the LED strip has a short wire and a plug which tuck inside the awning when folded. It then gets power via a lead from the cigarette lighter socket by the door.

Ours still sags after it collapsed in the rain despite replacing numerous parts!

Gina-B · Sep 9, 2023

Ting Tong said:
It’s my photo that @Perfectos posted! The left hand end of the LED strip has a short wire and a plug which tuck inside the awning when folded. It then gets power via a lead from the cigarette lighter socket by the door.

Ours still sags after it collapsed in the rain despite replacing numerous parts!

Hi Ting Tong - any chance you could post a photo of where you tuck the wire with the plug inside the awning please. Thanks, Gina.

Gina-B · Sep 9, 2023

Ting Tong said:
It’s my photo that @Perfectos posted! The left hand end of the LED strip has a short wire and a plug which tuck inside the awning when folded. It then gets power via a lead from the cigarette lighter socket by the door.

Ours still sags after it collapsed in the rain despite replacing numerous parts!

.......and did you run the LED strip behind the metal casting at the end of the awning arm closest to the van? It looks like it.

Ting Tong · Sep 9, 2023

Gina-B said:
.......and did you run the LED strip behind the metal casting at the end of the awning arm closest to the van? It looks like it.

Yes I did run it behind the front block. The connector tucks behind the back one but I’ll take a photo tomorrow. You need to draw a line in pencil along the awning as a guide otherwise the strip light will be visibly wonky.

Drooping Awning when winding out a few inches

CaliforniaPete

Perfectos

Stu@rt

Perfectos

Stu@rt

Jabberwocky

Forever young (ish!)

BigJohn

dspuk

Dave

Perfectos

Hawthorn37

Retired, and working hard at it

RedWhiteMonkey

dspuk

Dave

RedWhiteMonkey

CaliforniaPete

Stu@rt

dspuk

Dave

Ting Tong

Gina-B

Gina-B

Ting Tong

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